Hailey Van Liss, a year away from tying the bow in her traditional college career in Louisville, has solidified as one of the most decorated four-year starters in Cardinals history. She led the team to her third Elite 8 appearance, bringing her career-high numbers, including 19.7 points per game.
But the risers in Wenatchee, Washington, had other plans. and WNBA’s wishes In her mind, Van Liss trades Louisville Red for LSU purple and gold and embarks on a new journey in Baton Rouge. Her only season included another run to the Elite 8, which was back to the transfer portal.
Director Mark Campbell’s professional style offense caught the eye, and she decided that her fifth and final year qualifications would be spent at TCU.
While university sports were once rooted in tradition, school pride and loyalty, these expectations are changing even if they are not fading in the landscape where athletes have acquired the ability to transition into seasons each year. Some are portrayed as dishonest or selfish Van Lis And others don’t see it that way.
“Every time you transfer, always expect a pushback,” Vanlis told the Associated Press. “I don’t know how many podcasts I’ve seen that all the theories thrown there are wrong, and the people who are discussing my choice to go to this school and that school, but it learns to live in harmony with it.
One of the biggest misconceptions, according to Van Liss, is that her transfer decision was led by zero compensation. She was able to see past accusations of being a “money chaser” or “trophy chaser” and find comfort to know that onlookers don’t have a big picture.
“I’ve never actually been checked out at multiple schools I went to,” she said. “In today’s transfer culture, a lot of people automatically think it’s about collective money or now it’s revenue share. But it just depends on that person and for me it was all basketball decisions.”
Equal stadiums
Anskeet, senior director of leadership ethics at Santa Clara’s Applied Ethics Mark Kra Center, said all parties should be bound by the same standards. The coach and athletic director take on new jobs and navigate the acquisitions and maliciousness along the way.
“I think one of the reality of sports in this era and age is that people make changes more frequently than before,” Skeet said. “I think it’s fair to let coach and players know how much time they give people, how often they’re changing teams, what they should consider all of that and keep coaches and players on equal standards.”
Skeet acknowledged the pressure on athletes navigating new professional-like industries at a younger age. Since July 1st, compensation for names, images and portraits has already flowed, even before schools cut checks. NCAA antitrust settlement.
“The reality is that Nir brings market pressure on university sports in ways we’ve never experienced before, so players have to think about what works for their personal interests and what works for their teams in ways they haven’t considered before,” she said.
Complex decisions
Van Lis decided her future and ran away Ray Davis I was waiting for him. In his only season at Kentucky, Davis ran for 1,129 yards on 199 carries and led the SEC with 21 touchdowns from scrimmage. His production was enough to attract attention from NFL scouts.
Like Van Lis, Davis’s winding path to professionals involved several stops. Before Kentucky, he had a two-year stint with Temple (2019-2021) and Vanderbilt (2021-2023). Transferring to Kentucky means Davis will fit into the third team in five years, and he knew moving from one SEC school to the next could stir the pot. The decision was not easy.
“It was very difficult,” Davis said. “It took me literally almost weeks to actually make a decision, and when I made it, I had to live with it. I never thought about it again. I had to be confident.”
The movement paid off. Davis attracted the attention of the people and was chosen by it. Buffalo Bills The fourth round of the 2024 draft. However, while his draft stock was surged, the rebound from the second transfer was at a loss.
“Psychologically, you’re 18, 19, etc., and you’re told when you were a child, “He’s gone because he’s dishonest.” That’s not the case,” Davis said.
He focused on what he could control.
“I think it’s about how you handle it yourself, how you internalize yourself, and how you walk around the building every day.
Impact
Transfer decisions can lead to unfavourable public opinion regardless of underlying factors – Or even worse. a 2024 Research I found a cross section of Abusive content It is directed towards university athletes on social media.
“It’s certainly their right to transfer, but they cultivate any reputation they have developed as a result of the choices they make. So people who transfer multiple times like that will be identified,” Skeet said. “It goes with the territory, as they say.”
Both Van Lis and Davis pointed out the irony of receiving blowbacks when team staff can search for new ventures without any impact.
“The coaches are leaving. The directors are leaving. Everyone has the opportunity to leave. So for the sake of the players, we have to have that opportunity too,” Davis said.
Added by Van Lis: “Loyalty is often placed on the player’s responsibility, but coaches always leave to improve their financial situation, earn more money and get better for their families.
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AP College Sports: https://apnews.com/hub/college-sports
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