Overview
- Auriemma, speaking Thursday, said the transfer portal and new revenue-sharing model have gutted mid-majors and squeezed high school recruits out of top-tier opportunities.
- He argued coaches now favor proven college transfers over high school seniors, often pulling standouts from mid-major rosters and leaving those teams thinner.
- The 2026 women’s tournament reflected that tilt, with 27 mid-majors in the field and none winning a first-round game, while all four No. 1 seeds reached the Final Four.
- UConn has leaned on the portal too, adding Kayleigh Heckel from USC and Serah Williams from Wisconsin, while only freshman Blanca Quiñonez has played significant minutes.
- He proposed a selection-rule change that would exclude teams with losing conference records to free up at-large spots for mid-majors, citing debates like Miami (OH) versus Auburn as his example.