Auriemma Warns of Transfer Portal's Threat to Mid-Major Programs

UConn coach says revenue sharing and NIL are 'death of the mid-majors' and high school recruits.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 5:29am

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting the dynamic action of a women's college basketball game, with the players' forms broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in a vibrant color palette, conveying the shifting competitive landscape of the sport.Auriemma's warnings about the transfer portal's impact on mid-major programs underscore the evolving power dynamics in women's college basketball.Auburn Today

UConn women's basketball head coach Geno Auriemma provided a blunt assessment of how the NCAA transfer portal is negatively impacting mid-major programs and limiting opportunities for high school recruits. Auriemma argued the rise of player movement and revenue sharing has made it harder for mid-majors to compete, with more coaches opting to add experienced college transfers over high school prospects. He proposed changes to NCAA tournament selection criteria to provide more opportunities for mid-major teams.

Why it matters

Auriemma's comments highlight the growing divide between college basketball's haves and have-nots, as the transfer portal and NIL deals concentrate talent at the sport's powerhouse programs. This trend threatens to further marginalize mid-major schools, which have historically provided Cinderella stories and opportunities for high school players to shine.

The details

Auriemma noted that after the 2024-25 season, over 1,500 players entered the transfer portal, with nearly 600 more expected to do so ahead of the April 7 opening this year. With the NCAA also removing the sit-out rule in 2024, player movement has accelerated tremendously. Auriemma said many coaches now prefer to add experienced college transfers over high school recruits, further depleting mid-major rosters. In the 2026 NCAA Tournament, 27 mid-major teams made the field, but none advanced past the first round.

  • After the 2024-25 season, over 1,500 players entered the transfer portal.
  • Nearly 600 players have reportedly already indicated plans to transfer ahead of the April 7, 2026 portal opening.
  • The NCAA removed the sit-out rule for transfers in 2024.

The players

Geno Auriemma

The head coach of the UConn Huskies women's basketball team, a powerhouse program that has won 11 national championships.

Kayleigh Heckel

A transfer player who joined the UConn Huskies women's basketball team.

Serah Williams

A transfer player who joined the UConn Huskies women's basketball team.

Blanca Quinonez

A freshman player who has seen considerable action for the UConn Huskies women's basketball team.

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What they’re saying

“The portal and the revenue share, I think that was the death of the mid-majors, the death of high school players coming to play college basketball. It's never been harder for a high school kid to have the same opportunities that an existing college player already has.”

— Geno Auriemma, Head Coach, UConn Huskies Women's Basketball

“When your choice is, go get a high school senior or go get a college sophomore for your team, a lot of coaches are deciding that getting a college sophomore is way better. The place where they usually go to get them is a mid-major. So you're going to see less and less of those mid-majors competing in the NCAA tournament.”

— Geno Auriemma, Head Coach, UConn Huskies Women's Basketball

“If you would eliminate all those teams that have a losing record in their league and say, 'Listen, if you have a losing record in your league, you don't deserve to play for a national championship,' give more opportunities to those mid-majors, you know … like the discussion between Miami of Ohio, when Auburn (in men's basketball) – like in what world are you discussing that, right? That's a big problem.”

— Geno Auriemma, Head Coach, UConn Huskies Women's Basketball

What’s next

Auriemma's proposal to change NCAA tournament selection criteria to favor mid-major teams with winning conference records could be a topic of discussion among college basketball leaders in the coming months.

The takeaway

Auriemma's blunt assessment highlights the growing challenges mid-major programs face in an era of increased player mobility and revenue concentration at the sport's elite programs. His comments underscore the need for the NCAA to address the widening gap between the haves and have-nots in women's college basketball.