Mass Exodus at BYU: Eight Star Players Enter Transfer Portal After Lee Cummard’s Hiring
In a shocking turn of events that has sent tremors through the collegiate basketball world, eight standout players from the BYU Women’s Basketball team have entered the NCAA transfer portal following the announcement of Lee Cummard as the program’s new head coach. This dramatic exodus comes just days after BYU officially introduced Cummard—a long-respected figure in Cougar athletics but with limited experience in women’s basketball—as the successor to former head coach Amber Whiting.
The players’ departure is not only unprecedented in scale but devastating in its impact. Among those entering the portal are All-WCC First Team guard Sienna Moore, defensive stalwart and team captain Talia Jensen, and rising sophomore phenom Kaylee Branson. Together, this core group accounted for nearly 75% of BYU’s scoring, rebounding, and assists in the 2024–25 season, where the Cougars posted a 22–9 record and earned an NCAA Tournament berth.
Sources close to the program suggest the players were blindsided by the coaching change, describing the transition as “rushed,” “tone-deaf,” and “completely dismissive” of team dynamics. Despite Cummard’s deep ties to the school—he was a former BYU men’s basketball star and an assistant coach on the men’s staff for over a decade—many within the women’s program questioned his fit. Several players reportedly expressed concerns over his lack of experience coaching women and his unfamiliarity with the specific culture, challenges, and recruiting landscape of the women’s game.
One anonymous player commented, “We wanted a leader who understood where we’ve come from, where we’re going, and what it takes to elevate women’s basketball at BYU. Instead, we got a PR move.”
Social media lit up with speculation and commentary, as former players, fans, and national analysts debated whether the university made the right call. “Eight players entering the portal isn’t just a red flag—it’s a full-blown fire,” tweeted ESPN analyst Rachel Nichols. “BYU has a storm to weather, and fast.”
In response to the backlash, BYU Athletic Director Tom Holmoe released a statement defending the hire: “Lee Cummard is a winner, a leader, and a true Cougar. We believe he will bring a fresh vision to BYU women’s basketball and lead us into a new era of excellence.”
However, with the departure of nearly an entire starting lineup, Cummard’s tenure is already under a microscope. He now faces the colossal challenge of rebuilding not just a roster, but trust—both within the locker room and among a shaken fanbase.
The portal flood from BYU could reshape women’s college basketball this offseason, as top programs across the nation line up to recruit the now-available stars. Meanwhile, the Cougars stand at a crossroads, their future uncertain, and their new coach already under immense pressure.
