Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark recently joined NFL icons Jason and Travis Kelce on their podcast, New Heights, for an engaging discussion covering her basketball journey, the evolving landscape of the WNBA, the Kansas City Chiefs, and a range of other compelling topics. One notable subject was the NCAA transfer portal, a system introduced in 2018 to simplify and enhance student-athlete mobility between schools, theoretically allowing players to optimize their collegiate careers.
While the system was designed with good intentions, it has drawn criticism for perceived exploitation in recent years. Clark mirrored these sentiments, expressing disappointment with the current state of the portal. “You’ve lost some of that amateur spirit in college athletics, but it’s also just the reality we face now,” remarked the reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year. She further criticized the system’s extremes, noting, “Now we have athletes at their fourth school in their seventh year—it’s becoming excessive.”
Clark’s remarks quickly gained traction after being shared on Instagram, catching the attention of WNBA legend Lisa Leslie. The three-time league MVP echoed Clark’s concerns, commenting, “I was literally saying the same thing today!” Both Leslie and Clark represent an era of stability in collegiate athletics, having played their entire college careers at USC and Iowa, respectively.
This isn’t the first instance of Leslie showing solidarity with Clark’s viewpoints. Their shared perspective reflects a growing chorus among athletes and analysts who believe the NCAA’s original intent with the portal has been overshadowed by unintended consequences.
Clark concluded her thoughts by agreeing with Travis Kelce’s suggestion to reinstate the rule requiring student-athletes who transfer to sit out one year. However, she advocated for an exception in cases where coaching changes occur, emphasizing the need for fairness while addressing the portal’s structural flaws.
