WBB: 2026 Transfer Portal

[ClonesMagic1]

This isn’t about NIL. Half our men’s team could have left for more money. But they took less because they believe in their coach and believe he’s maximizing their ability. There’s a lot to be said about being in a great situation.

That’s clearly not the case here and I wouldn’t expect anyone to take a discount to ride this mess out.

Completely false, the starters are getting paid what they are worth, that 5mil is keeping talent here.

 

[ISU_Guy]

Holy crap, have not looked at this all day. So is everyone gone except Audi and she is still deciding?

 

[psycln11]

You forgot… Comito misses a free throw, gets benched

Can't bench her when she missed the free throw. No stoppage in play and Bill refuses to call timeouts!

 

[jbhtexas]

Here's the deal. Fennely hasn't really had a competitive team since 2010. He's had a couple good players through, always the local kids. He's terrible at recruiting outside of about a 250 mile radius. He's the women's basketball equivalent of Tom Osborne at Nebraska. The game has changed. Jada Williams is the only real athlete we've had in years. Quick, can hustle, and play great defense. You can throw Emily Ryan into the group as well. But for the most part, our teams are slower, our offense older, and our team is just a step behind the top teams. The big 12 has fallen as far as women's basketball goes and we still finish seventh.
I truly enjoyed watching Jada play this year as she had such a quick twitch to her. Sadly, as much as I like J.P., the answer is right in front of him and he refuses to do it. Make beer available at all sporting events and use the money for NIL.

The game has changed a couple of times over the past 20 years, and BF hasn't really ever adapted. Back around the late 2000s - early 2010s when the game became really physical for some years, he never adapted and ISU was just overmatched strengthwise. And as mentioned above the game has changed again over the past few years to more athletic players, and he hasn't adapted to that either.

 

[ISUCubswin]

Holy crap, have not looked at this all day. So is everyone gone except Audi and she is still deciding?

Audi (will transfer)
Alissa (figured she would but maybe thinks she will get time now?)
Paulk
AJ
Hare

 

[jcisuclones]

I think Bill has earned the right to end things on his own terms whenever he feels it's time, which I believe is soon. That said, I dread the idea of him handing the job over to Billy. Give me a fresh start whenever it's time.

 

[Buckminster]

This is what happened with Jada Williams, according to someone who is dating one of the players on the Iowa WBB team. Jan and Raina wanted Jada. She visited. Numbers were discussed. When you visit during portal season, you basically get an offer, so yes, she received an offer.

However, the girls on the team did not feel she was a team player and it was communicated to the captains (Kylie F and Taylor S) that they didn’t feel comfortable with her joining. Many of them had casually encountered her in AAU and reportedly some parents weren’t into the idea either.

So the captains told Jan that and Jan listened to her players, pulling the offer after what she thought was a good visit. I’m sure she would have loved to sign Jada, Iowa was desperate for a PG and JW is the kind of athlete Jan is trying to increasingly target. But her loyalty is to her team.

Idk that Jada would have chosen Iowa over ISU (I know she was friends with Addi, I don’t believe she had a real relationship with anyone at Iowa).

This rings true. I know that Jada has some skills, but she also brought major issues to the team in my opinion. She was willing to pass the ball to Audi to pad her assists numbers, but in general did not even acknowledge that other players existed (especially when Brown was injured). So many times she would shoot (and typically miss) a 3-pointer early in the possession rather than find a teammate if Audi was covered.

 

[Buckminster]

I think Bill has earned the right to end things on his own terms whenever he feels it's time, which I believe is soon. That said, I dread the idea of him handing the job over to Billy. Give me a fresh start whenever it's time.

I agree with you with the time is within one week.

 

[NWICY]

Not to sound anti cyclone but Audi better leave. Next year she could average 35 and she will be known as the good player on a crappy team. Bill should do the right thing and step down . Saying that I would make them buy me out also. Bill is not rich like the men’s coaches. He’s not broke by any means but he don’t have millions

He doesn't make millions per yr. But after the length of his career and the COL in Ames, I'd be stunned if he isn't worth tens of millions.

 

[JK4ISU]

Technically, correct. But there is NIL money that comes from the school and there is endorsement money that comes from endorsing a product.. We need different names for them, but sadly endorsing a product is an NIL but there are two batches of NIL money.

I’m no expert, but I think there are two names. The money that comes from the athletic department is revenue share and the money that comes from endorsements is NIL.

 

[acoustimac]

If money was king Kentucky would be still in the tournament. But the truth is coaching still matters. An if you’d pull your lips off BF’s ass you’d see he’s not doing a good coaching job

If you pulled your head out of your own ass you’d know I’ve written on multiple occasions about the problems with Fennelly. But some of you can’t bother to read. My comment just made the point that money makes the job much easier. Duh, of course you still have to coach. But take a good coach and give him top players and he or she will have greater success.

 

[NWICY]

Sydney Huber - Evansville

Cedar Rapids native. Averaged 8.5 ppg in 28 mpg. Not elite defensive numbers but attempted 6 threes a game. Seems right up Bills alley.

Stacy Frese's daughter I'm pretty sure.

 

[RoseClone]

Why would Addy or Jada want to stay when the ENTIRETY of the program is based around Audi. Those girls have skill and have worked hard they should have plays designed for them, they should be allowed options besides pass to Audi. Jada did eventually start making her own plays, but she was on her own. Not only would it suck for them...... it didn't work...... at all.

Why would Jada come here when she knew the offense was focused around Audi? It was no secret.

 

[Buckminster]

Why would Jada come here when she knew the offense was focused around Audi? It was no secret.

1 - She thought she was coming to a winning team
2 - She thought she would get tons of easy assists to pad her numbers

 

[psycln11]

I think Bill has earned the right to end things on his own terms whenever he feels it's time, which I believe is soon. That said, I dread the idea of him handing the job over to Billy. Give me a fresh start whenever it's time.

Pollard will NOT hand it to Billy. An clean break from the entire coaching staff except maybe Emily is needed at this point.

 

[Amac12]

He doesn't make millions per yr. But after the length of his career and the COL in Ames, I'd be stunned if he isn't worth tens of millions.

Plus a pretty sweet IPERs monthly check.

 

[ZorkClone]

Plus a pretty sweet IPERs monthly check.

Good point. He must have hit his rule of 88 years ago.

 

[Buckminster]

Assuming that we drop down to 2-3 returning players and Bill is gone, the future of ISU WBB is a major concern. But assuming that Bill's entire staff leaves, the silver lining that we may no longer have to listen to Jamie Steyer Johnson do radio.

 

[RoseClone]

Assuming that we drop down to 2-3 returning players and Bill is gone, the future of ISU WBB is a major concern. But assuming that Bill's entire staff leaves, the silver lining that we may no longer have to listen to Jamie Steyer Johnson do radio.

I don't like all this other stuff but that I would buy into.

 

[flycy]

I hope Audi stays, firmly establishes her legacy as an ISU alum, and has her banner hanging in the rafters some day. She is an extremely talented young lady on so many levels. I believe she can have some success in the WNBA for the right team. Afterward, if she desires, I think she would be welcomed in a color analyst role in ISU radio/video telecasts.

Contrary to some, I believe the WBB team can be successful (and entertaining) with Audi at center, surrounded by 4 active guards (Jada, AJ, Hare, AP) with a bench of A Williams and freshman/portal recruits. Losing Addy is rough but mostly for her rebounding. AP has shown she can fill rebounding and defensive gaps but will need to improve her 3 Pt and FT skills over the summer. The rest of the guards have shown the ability to hit the 3 pt shot and, with proper scheme/coaching, are athletic enough to play solid defense.

I hope this is how it plays out but, of course, it will depend on Audi's decision to finish her career as a Cyclone.

She's too slow with no ups to be competitive at a high level only thing that might help that is a Niang type body transformation which would likely take a 40 lb weight loss. Very doable if she would commit to it.