A Rare Retention in the Transfer Era
Cal’s women’s basketball program is poised to enter the upcoming season with a rare continuity: four of its top starters will return, a situation that stands out in a college landscape dominated by transfers and name, image and likeness deals.
Coach Charmin Smith says the decision to stay was driven not by money but by a shared culture and the chemistry that has developed over the past year.
Building on Late‑Season Momentum
The team finished the previous campaign by winning 10 of its final 16 games against ACC opponents, a late‑season turnaround that gave the squad momentum heading into the offseason.
Among the returning players, guard Lulu Twidale led the team in scoring this past season with 16.2 points per game and set a school record for three‑pointers, while forward Taylor Barnes and guard Mjracle Sheppard contributed 8.8 points and 3.5 assists per game, respectively.
Sheppard also topped the Bears with 71 steals, underscoring her defensive impact.
Roster Changes and Future Outlook
Despite the positive outlook, the roster will lose center Sakima Walker, who signed with the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx before being waived, and guard Aliyanha ‘Puff’ Morris, who transferred to Arizona.
To fill those gaps, Smith added three newcomers via the transfer portal — Albina Syla, Shannon Dowell and Carly Amborn — while still relying on the returning core.
Smith notes that the familiarity among the returning players will allow the team to become even more cohesive, a factor she believes will be crucial as the program navigates the evolving landscape of revenue sharing and player compensation.