Understanding Frequent Transfers in Women’s College Basketball: Beyond Financial Motives

Women’s college basketball is going through some pretty wild changes right now. *The San Francisco Chronicle* recently pointed out how a federal judge’s ruling and the House settlement have shaken up the transfer scene and financial landscape for non-NCAA athletes and mid-major programs.

Let’s dig into what’s happening and what it means for players and coaches who are just trying to keep up.

The Impact of the Federal Judge’s Ruling

Meghan McIntyre, who played at Southern Oregon in the NAIA, figured her basketball career had wrapped up. Then a federal judge approved a temporary eligibility waiver, and suddenly, she got another year to play—this time at the Division I level.

She hadn’t been recruited by Division I schools before and didn’t really know anyone in that world. So, she took a shot in the dark, sent out a bunch of emails to coaches, and eventually landed at USF.

Challenges for Non-NCAA Athletes

McIntyre’s situation isn’t some rare thing. Plenty of women’s basketball players outside the Power Four conferences run into similar roadblocks.

Big NIL deals might get all the attention, but most transfers happen quietly among mid-majors, junior colleges, and NAIA programs. Now, with this new eligibility waiver, the transfer process feels even more complicated—and honestly, both tougher and more interesting for these athletes.

The Role of the Transfer Portal

Before 2021, transferring meant sitting out a whole season. The one-time exception rule changed that, so players could move without losing a year, and suddenly, mid-major programs saw a lot more action.

WBB Blog reported that 46 players jumped from NAIA to Division I this offseason. Out of nearly 1,400 Division I transfers, most just switched to another Division I school, but 257 went to a lower level. The majority of these moves happened between mid-majors, which says a lot about how competitive things have gotten.

The New Revenue Sharing Model

The House settlement shook things up by letting NCAA athletic departments share revenue with athletes. Now, mid-major basketball programs can actually compete for players financially—something that felt impossible before.

Schools like St. Mary’s, USF, and Santa Clara wouldn’t share their revenue-sharing details, but players confirmed they’re getting paid. For a lot of athletes, this new financial model is a game-changer when they’re weighing their options.

Coaching Perspectives on the New Landscape

Jonas Chatterton, now in his first year coaching at San Jose State, has seen both sides of college basketball. He spent last season at Oklahoma and ten years at Oregon State, and now he’s taking over an SJSU team that’s had four losing seasons in a row.

Chatterton knows mid-majors can’t match the million-dollar budgets of the Power Four schools. Still, he says they’ve got to face the facts and adapt to this new world.

Recruiting Strategies

He talks about staying open to players from all different levels and recruiting with the idea that mid-majors are often just a stop on the way to the Power Four. If you can’t accept that, you’re probably going to struggle to keep your roster strong or develop top talent.

Player Experiences and Decisions

For players like Malia Latu, a graduate guard at St. Mary’s, getting paid has changed how they think about transferring. Latu played at USF and Santa Clara before ending up at St. Mary’s, and while the money was nice, she cared just as much—maybe more—about the coaching staff and getting a bigger role on the team.

The Importance of Experience

Coaches really value the experience that transfers bring. Loree Payne, Santa Clara’s new coach, inherited a roster with just two returning players and says it’s important to dig into why players have bounced around so much.

Getting that insight helps coaches figure out who to recruit and how to fit them into the team.

The Future of Mid-Major Programs

Mid-majors have definitely taken some hits with all this transfer portal chaos. At the same time, though, they’ve got more ways than ever to keep their rosters competitive and give players more control over their careers.

If these programs can roll with the changes, stay financially competitive, and keep things flexible, they’ve got a real shot at holding onto talent in this new era.

Adapting to Change

Chatterton says mid-majors shouldn’t fear the new landscape. Instead, they need to adapt.