Dawn Staley did not sugarcoat her comments when asked to discuss a new NCAA proposal regarding the transfer portal window.
The NCAA continues to adjust transfer-portal windows in an effort to create some order in what has rapidly become one of the busiest and most chaotic periods of the college basketball calendar. The latest proposed rule aims to reduce the amount of time the portal remains open to 15 days, a shift designed to streamline communication and reduce strain on programs.
Dawn Staley’s Reaction to Transfer Portal Window Proposal
After South Carolina’s win against Duke in the Players Era Championship, Dawn Staley was requested to comment on the proposal by a reporter at the postgame press conference.
“I think it’s a good call. A good call,” Staley said. “I mean, people know where they’re going. It’s an open market even though you’re in the season. So, people are making calls. People are making decisions for the next opening of the transfer portal today, in real time. It’s weird, but that’s the world we live in.”
Staley then explained how the change, if approved and implemented, can help high-performing programs like South Carolina, which are currently unable to utilize the window fully due to their active participation in March Madness.
“Since we’ve been in the Final Fours the last couple of years, we haven’t been able to just capitalize on it because we’re playing so long into the season that we can’t have them on the campus during the times that people are having transfer portal ease on campus.”
“Let’s not waste anybody’s time. You leave it open for 30 days, you’re going to be having players on your campus for 30 days. That doesn’t bode well with the budget and all the things that come with that.”
The NCAA’s Proposal Regarding Transfer Portal Window
In a statement released on Nov. 26, 2025, the NCAA announced that Division I Men’s and Women’s Basketball Oversight Committees have proposed that the transfer portal window be open for 15 days after the conclusion of the 2026 men’s and women’s Final Fours.
At present, the window remains open for 30 days after the second round of men’s and women’s championships. The Division I Cabinet will review the proposal for the change in January 2026. If approved, the window will be open from April 6 to 20 for women’s and from April 7 to 21 for men’s next year.
The Committees have also proposed a five-day waiting period before a student-athlete can request to enter the transfer portal after a coaching change. This period begins after a new head coach is hired, thereby allowing the players to meet the new staff before making a decision. They will have 15 days after that to enter the portal.