2023/2024 Portal News

Moooooo said:
I want "hope".

If she goes somewhere else, that would mean 4 different head coaches in 5 seasons (Aston, Vic, Lawson 2, new head coach). If she comes back to Texas she already knows Vic and Lovato.
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Pretty sure she'd get the invite. And she's never gone further than she did here. But has a player ever transferred one place, played at least a season and then transferred back? I can't think of anyone off the top of my head.
 
Sark kinda addressed this situation today regarding football players going into the portal, testing the waters, then wanting to return. He basically said if a player from Texas puts his name in the portal then he’s not coming back. Taylor’s situation is different in that she actually left. But I’m with Sark. Taylor can find something closer to New York….and most likely will.
 
flash34 said:
Sark kinda addressed this situation today regarding football players going into the portal, testing the waters, then wanting to return. He basically said if a player from Texas puts his name in the portal then he’s not coming back. Taylor’s situation is different in that she actually left. But I’m with Sark. Taylor can find something closer to New York….and most likely will.
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I’m not holding my breath on this possibility either, and really don’t see her returning. Concerning most of those that have ‘portaled’ out of TexasWBB I say, “Have a nice life,” but, there’s just something about Celeste. The consummate team player, and just imagine her and Rori on the floor at the same time . . . she’d be welcome to come back in my book.
 
GameOfHorns said:
I’m not holding my breath on this possibility either, and really don’t see her returning. Concerning most of those that have ‘portaled’ out of TexasWBB I say, “Have a nice life,” but, there’s just something about Celeste. The consummate team player, and just imagine her and Rori on the floor at the same time . . . she’d be welcome to come back in my book.
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She left for a reason. What has changed?
 
I doubt Celeste Taylor has any interest in anything other than moving forward. After having spent her first 4 years under defensive minded coaches, she has been developed into quite a defensive player. My guess is that she probably wants to play for a coach that has a more wide open offense in her final year. The first program that jumps out to me along the East Coast (and closer to New York than North Carolina) is Maryland.
 
My totally unsupported thoughts of recent portal movements. This could also include Sedona what'sherface.

Players like Celeste (and Shaylee) want to play in the WNBA. However, they dipped their toes into the water and got an unofficial assessment from the WNBA where they might go in the draft. They didn't like their position in the draft, which usually is indicative of if they make the team and they withdrew to return to their team. However, now comes NIL where other teams see the green light to approach them and say, "Hey, you know in Miami if you come for one year you can make as much or more than a rookie in the WNBA" And thus, the transfer portal.

I'm guessing with no evidence that Celeste might end up in Miami because they were close and just lost the twins.
 
GameOfHorns said:
I think we rarely know the real reasons, and to reiterate, I don’t see her actually returning.
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As a former poster on this site (who incidently stopped posting after Celeste's departure) stated, "Vic is a good coach but he is hard to play for."
Continued best wishes to Celeste in her future endeavors.
 
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Previously Moooo shared the top-90 players in the transfer portal from World Exposure (thank you), which has been updated with Celeste Taylor at #11. https://www.worldexposurereport.com/news_article/show/1268189

Charlie Creme has published his top-35 transfers in the portal, which includes Celeste Taylor at #6.
The top 35 women's college basketball players in the transfer portal

World Exposure / ESPN
1. Aneesah Morrow / Hailey Van Lith
2. Hailey Van Lith / Aneesah Morrow
3. Lexi Donarski / Lexi Donarski
4. Endyia Rogers / Lauren Betts
5. Jada Walker / Endyia Rogers
6. Lauren Betts / Celeste Taylor
7. Te-Hina Paopao / Te-Hina Paopao
8. Darrione Rogers / Kiki Jefferson
9. Sedona Prince / Shayeann Day-Wilson
10. Aicha Coulibaly / Jayda Curry
11. Celeste Taylor / Kennedy Todd-Williams

Any mix of Donarski, Rogers, Celeste, Betts, Paopao would "recruit to a fit" for Vic.
 
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I think Celeste wants to win a Championship. So I'm going with UCONN, LSU, IOWA or SCar. For some reason I think maybe Ole Miss or TN.

I don't know. I'm still scratching my head on this transfer.
 
If you take Celeste's Dad at his word two offseasons ago (2021), he stated that distance to their home in NY was the reason for her seeking a transfer from Texas. Granted, there might have been additional reasons; but, that's what he put out publicly. Some of us didn't think NC was all that closer to NY, but he explained that it was more affordable for the family to fly to NC than TX, and less time-consuming.

It was a tough season during COVID for those players who had to be so far away from their families. Even at the end of the 2021 season (against UCLA and Maryland), Celeste gave maximum effort (despite not appearing 100% healthy). Her effort can be included in a small group (which includes Ariel Atkins). Forever grateful she came to Texas.

She went from being part of an Elite 8 program at Texas to not making the NCAA tourney her first season at Duke. This past season, Duke exited at home in the round of 16, just like Texas.

Via social media, she then said good by to Duke; most assumed she'd declare for the WNBA draft. Then, she stated she'd return to Duke for her final season of eligibility. Something changed recently as she entered the transfer portal yesterday.

What is she looking for now? I have no idea. Could be that the reason (distance from family) she left Texas is no longer a factor. Could be NIL related.
 
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Paopao set to visit South Carolina? Even though this tweet states "Gamecocks" and "Columbia", part of me wonders if someone misinterpreted info they received that she would be visiting "USC" and assumed it meant South Carolina and not Southern California.

This guy apparently got it wrong as Wilson supposedly already visited South Carolina this past weekend.

 
cynt said:
I think Celeste wants to win a Championship. So I'm going with UCONN, LSU, IOWA or SCar. For some reason I think maybe Ole Miss or TN.

I don't know. I'm still scratching my head on this transfer.
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I can't believe Celeste would ever play for Mulkey. SC would be so much more classy in every regard!
 
One thing I see is that the SEC seems to be throwing money, thru NIL, into WBB, which is a great! Hopefully Texas is doing the same on a quieter scale. Invest in these ladies!
 
BALL IS LIFE said:
One thing I see is that the SEC seems to be throwing money, thru NIL, into WBB, which is a great! Hopefully Texas is doing the same on a quieter scale. Invest in these ladies!
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I said the same thing to a friend about an hour ago. Surely we are with our SEC destination in the near future.
 
Bucksgal said:
I can't believe Celeste would ever play for Mulkey. SC would be so much more classy in every regard!
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What is classy? Mulkey just won a NC in her 2nd year. She may be lacking in the "humanity" department but fact is that she kicked our *** year after year and continues to put players into the WNBA. Why wouldn't someone want to play for her. I'm Burnt Orange through and through, but we're going to have to be ready when we face her.
 
So, far all those reasons you listed, you think Mulkey is classy? Otherwise I don’t understand your response to the lack of class comment. What does any of that have to do with class?

winning with class does mean something to some people
 
HornView said:
So, far all those reasons you listed, you think Mulkey is classy? Otherwise I don’t understand your response to the lack of class comment. What does any of that have to do with class?

winning with class does mean something to some people
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The context was why would Celeste play for Mulkey.
 
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