Money Drives Transfer Portal Recruiting Talks, Says South Carolina's Dawn Staley

Gamecocks coach says finances are now the top priority for many recruits, especially those in the transfer portal.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 3:34pm

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting the dynamic movements and energy of a women's basketball game, with the players and court rendered in sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes.The transfer portal has transformed women's basketball recruiting, with finances now the top priority for many players.Today in Sacramento

South Carolina women's basketball coach Dawn Staley says her conversations with recruits have shifted in recent years, with finances becoming the primary focus, especially for players in the transfer portal. Staley says she now has to quickly address the question of how much money the program can offer, as many players are more concerned about compensation than earning a college degree.

Why it matters

The rise of name, image and likeness (NIL) deals has fundamentally changed the recruiting landscape, with money now a central consideration for many players, especially those in the transfer portal. This shift poses challenges for coaches like Staley, who must balance financial realities with their traditional emphasis on holistic player development and graduation.

The details

Staley says that in the past, she would emphasize the value of a college degree when speaking to potential transfers and recruits. 'How much is it going to cost us? That's the conversation. You've got to lead with that,' Staley said. 'Because you don't really want to waste your time. You either are going to have enough to pay players, or you don't. And you move on.' Staley added that while she doesn't lead with the money question, she gets to it 'fairly quickly' after the initial pleasantries.

  • Staley made these comments as the Gamecocks prepare to face TCU in the Elite Eight of the 2026 women's NCAA Tournament.

The players

Dawn Staley

The head coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team, known for her emphasis on player development and graduation rates.

Ta'Niya Latson

A senior transfer player on the South Carolina roster.

Madina Okot

A senior transfer player on the South Carolina roster.

Maryam Dauda

A senior transfer player on the South Carolina roster.

Olivia Miles

A star player for the TCU Horned Frogs, who have built their program largely through the transfer portal.

Marta Suarez

Another star player for the TCU Horned Frogs, who have built their program largely through the transfer portal.

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What they’re saying

“How much is it going to cost us? That's the conversation. You've got to lead with that. Because you don't really want to waste your time. You either are going to have enough to pay players, or you don't. And you move on.”

— Dawn Staley, Head Coach, South Carolina Gamecocks

“We've built our program literally all through the portal, for you guys that haven't followed us. I think we've had 18 portal players, six each year. And our program's come a long ways. There's a lot of negative you hear about the portal. I think there's a lot of positive too.”

— Mark Campbell, Head Coach, TCU Horned Frogs

What’s next

The Gamecocks will face the TCU Horned Frogs in the Elite Eight of the 2026 women's NCAA Tournament, with both teams relying heavily on transfer portal additions in recent years.

The takeaway

The rise of NIL deals has fundamentally changed the recruiting landscape, with money now a central consideration for many players, especially those in the transfer portal. This shift poses challenges for coaches like Dawn Staley, who must balance financial realities with their traditional emphasis on holistic player development and graduation.