[BostonCard]

There were 1300 or so transfers last year (link).

There are over 16,000 women's basketball players (link).  Of these 5,048 are in Division I.

That means that despite the fact that the number is a substantial increase over years past, and way too high, only a minority (~8% of all women's basketball players) transfer in any given year.  That might be enriched among Division I players, but it is still a minority (it would be a quarter if the 1300 transfers were only D1, but so far as I know the transfer portal is not limited to division I players), and it is surely enriched among players who are dissatisfied for whatever reason, one of which may be lack of playing time.

But, no, the evidence does suggest that a player is "likely" (which I define as a greater than 50% probability of transferring) to leave if they don't get a lot of playing time.  After all, in a 15 scholarship team, 10 players will not be starters and probably half do not get more than 10 minutes game.  And yet half do not transfer each year.

I'm not disputing that a player "might" transfer for playing time, or NIL, or, for any reason whatsoever (or even for no reason at all).  Many (way too many IMHO) do.  But I don't think the evidence shows that a majority of players who don't get "enough" playing time transfer.

BC

[BostonCard]

There were 1300 or so transfers last year (link).

There are over 16,000 women's basketball players (link).  Of these 5,048 are in Division I.

That means that despite the fact that the number is a substantial increase over years past, and way too high, only a minority (~8% of all women's basketball players) transfer in any given year.  That might be enriched among Division I players, but it is still a minority (it would be a quarter if the 1300 transfers were only D1, but so far as I know the transfer portal is not limited to division I players), and it is surely enriched among players who are dissatisfied for whatever reason, one of which may be lack of playing time.

But, no, the evidence does suggest that a player is "likely" (which I define as a greater than 50% probability of transferring) to leave if they don't get a lot of playing time.  After all, in a 15 scholarship team, 10 players will not be starters and probably half do not get more than 10 minutes game.  And yet half do not transfer each year.

I'm not disputing that a player "might" transfer for playing time, or NIL, or, for any reason whatsoever (or even for no reason at all).  Many (way too many IMHO) do.  But I don't think the evidence shows that a majority of players who don't get "enough" playing time transfer.

BC