So Proud of these Girls!!!

[UR Fan 2]

I caught every home game and every Henrico Sports Complex game. I have said if you don't go watch these girls, you are missing out on TRULY great basketball! We have to find a way to keep Rousell, Doogan, Ullstrom, Sweeney, etc together to keep this magic going!!! Buy you and your family season tickets in 2026 and enjoy the BEST Richmond has to offer!

Thank you UR Ladies for an unreal season!!!

 

[urfan1]

DITTO!

 

[gcarter52]

I caught every home game and every Henrico Sports Complex game. I have said if you don't go watch these girls, you are missing out on TRULY great basketball! We have to find a way to keep Rousell, Doogan, Ullstrom, Sweeney, etc together to keep this magic going!!! Buy you and your family season tickets in 2026 and enjoy the BEST Richmond has to offer!

Thank you UR Ladies for an unreal season!!!

We need to hit the portal for a serious big, I hope this tourney run helps in that effort.

 

[plydogg]

I’m so damn proud. Down 20+ late and not one ounce of quit. The final 3 minutes they were running like there was no tomorrow. These were my first two Richmond women’s games and I guarantee they will not be my last.

 

[gcarter52]

That first half run will be a recruiting tool into next year.

 

[Section 204and5]

We need to hit the portal for a serious big, I hope this tourney run helps in that effort.

If my math is right - and assuming no defections via the portal - we only have one open spot for a transfer. We lose six, have signed four and have one redshirt (Manthy) who would be active.

 

[SFspidur]

If everybody stays, we have two spots for transfers. Six out, four in so far. Manthy doesn’t factor in since she counts toward the limit in both years even if she redshirted.

 

[Section 204and5]

SF- my math was wrong. Thanks for the correction.

 

[Eight Legger]

Fingers crossed we can keep Doogan. She'll be hearing from every team in the nation.

 

[Gallipoli]

Fingers crossed we can keep Doogan. She'll be hearing from every team in the nation.

It is a sorry state of affairs when we have a conversation like this.

 

[UR Fan 2]

Fingers crossed we can keep Doogan. She'll be hearing from every team in the nation.

Color me an optimist. I have faith in our administration.


Two things:

1. We call ourselves a mid major, but that is only partially true. We are becoming a MAJOR in women's college ball behind Rousell, his staff and these players. Lets invest to keep that going.

2. Maggie Doogan's jersey will hang from the rafters in the RC one day. We may be smaller on NIL money than some offers that come her way, but don't short change the legacy she has the chance to create for herself as possibly the greatest women's college player in the history of UR.

 

[97spiderfan]

Color me an optimist. I have faith in our administration.


Two things:

1. We call ourselves a mid major, but that is only partially true. We are becoming a MAJOR in women's college ball behind Rousell, his staff and these players. Lets invest to keep that going.

2. Maggie Doogan's jersey will hang from the rafters in the RC one day. We may be smaller on NIL money than some offers that come her way, but don't short change the legacy she has the chance to create for herself as possibly the greatest women's college player in the history of UR.

Have to wonder if Number 2 means anything. If Doogan stays another year, she likely will become our best women's players of all time and get her jersey in the rafters. What is the math on that for her vs. however much more NIL $$$ another school can offer her? I don't know. Honestly can't say, if someone offered me at 21 years old, 200K more to go to there school for 1 year, that I would turn that down.

It is really unfair in many ways what NIL has done to college athletics. These kids should be thinking about college, degrees, friends, experience teammates during these 4 years, instead they are thinking about $$$ signs. You've got you whole life to worry about $$$, wish they could just enjoy the college experience. I guess that is quaint thinking on my behalf.

 

[UR Fan 2]

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Some really nice comments about our coach. We have ourselves a good one!

 

[Eight Legger]

I will say that we owe Budnik a lot of praise too, because she had a bunch of chances to go somewhere after last season too, and probably make more money than she made her, but she chose to come back.

Can't fault anyone, especially on the women's side, for taking money if it's there. Doogan may have a shot at the WNBA, but regardless, getting a 5- or 6-figure deal to play women's basketball is rare (moreso than in the men's game for sure) and would be tough to pass up.

Here's hoping she finds reasons to come back.

 

[spider23]

Yes, it's a crazy world in college sports. You cheer for your players, and then when they are good you start worrying about leaving. And unlike pro sports, the NCAA is toothless. It's free agency all year round. I mean coaches are saying their players get offers during the season. Maybe the Spiders NIL can shift some from mens hoops to womens? I mean do we honestly believe an extra 200K to 300K to Mooney will make more of a difference, or would be better in Roussell's hands?

 

[UR Fan 2]

Have to wonder if Number 2 means anything. If Doogan stays another year, she likely will become our best women's players of all time and get her jersey in the rafters. What is the math on that for her vs. however much more NIL $$$ another school can offer her? I don't know. Honestly can't say, if someone offered me at 21 years old, 200K more to go to there school for 1 year, that I would turn that down.

It is really unfair in many ways what NIL has done to college athletics. These kids should be thinking about college, degrees, friends, experience teammates during these 4 years, instead they are thinking about $$$ signs. You've got you whole life to worry about $$$, wish they could just enjoy the college experience. I guess that is quaint thinking on my behalf.

I don't have any inside info on what Richmond offers or what our NIL group offers, but I do have a lot of contacts from other schools. And the payments that athletes (men and women) are getting would probably exceed most of your expectations.

 

[UR Fan 2]

 

[UR Fan 2]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">UCLA Center ranking…1)Kareem…2)Walton…3)Lauren Betts…</p>&mdash; Mychal Thompson (@champagnennuts) <a href="">March 24, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[GKiller]

Fingers crossed we can keep Doogan. She'll be hearing from every team in the nation.

My feeling is Roussell and Doogan Ullstrom Sweeney run it back. No extra insight just feeling. But if Roussell leaves it's all in flux then.

Doogan being a 3 year true junior helps. Just think it gives more ppl pause at that point. Not to stereotype too much but I think girls value their relationships, degree, and academic program, more than men. Kind of hard to transfer 3 years in without degree imo. It's different w degree in hand.

Also girls don'r really have the pro bbball path either which I think is a factor. I'd love Doogan in WNBA but still seems unlikely.

Yeah the pay model is a wildcard. But she'd get something at UR. idk if there is a ton out there for her $ wise when u also consider the other factors that would blow her away but could be wrong.

 

[GKiller]

Yes, it's a crazy world in college sports. You cheer for your players, and then when they are good you start worrying about leaving. And unlike pro sports, the NCAA is toothless. It's free agency all year round. I mean coaches are saying their players get offers during the season. Maybe the Spiders NIL can shift some from mens hoops to womens? I mean do we honestly believe an extra 200K to 300K to Mooney will make more of a difference, or would be better in Roussell's hands?

we can shift some. I think it varies year to year based on performance of returners and who trying to recruit. Based on performance of players we don't owe much to men. Walz get most probably. and others some just saying we don't just give it away. Not when it can be reallocated year to year for special purposes. Let's not do the Mooney mistake when we negotiate against ourselves. if our existing men players want to try free agency for more $ good luck. Or stay and earn $$ down the line like a Doogan etc just did. I want to spend $$ for men when needed but no reason to waste it. good year to shift.

 

[Wood Hall]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">UCLA Center ranking…1)Kareem…2)Walton…3)Lauren Betts…</p>&mdash; Mychal Thompson (@champagnennuts) <a href="

View embedded media

">March 24, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Mychal seems to have forgotten about Swen Nater, Walton's backup, who would have starred on any other team in the country, and then had an 11-year pro career, some of that with the old Virginia Squires. And Steve Patterson won an NCAA title and had a five-year pro career.

Yes, she's probably the best UCLA women's center. But Nater and Patterson have rings. She doesn't, yet.

 

[spider23]

Doogan being a 3 year true junior helps. Just think it gives more ppl pause at that point. Not to stereotype too much but I think girls value their relationships, degree, and academic program, more than men. Kind of hard to transfer 3 years in without degree imo. It's different w degree in hand.

I was thinking the same, the women are more thoughtful and likely value those things more - especially if the coach stays think we would have good shot to keep Doogan. She is my new favorite player in the women's game. Unless she transfers.

The guys, we are just animals - give us the $$ and big lights and we are gone.

 

[RichmondNative]

My feeling is Roussell and Doogan Ullstrom Sweeney run it back. No extra insight just feeling. But if Roussell leaves it's all in flux then.

Doogan being a 3 year true junior helps. Just think it gives more ppl pause at that point. Not to stereotype too much but I think girls value their relationships, degree, and academic program, more than men. Kind of hard to transfer 3 years in without degree imo. It's different w degree in hand.

Also girls don'r really have the pro bbball path either which I think is a factor. I'd love Doogan in WNBA but still seems unlikely.

Yeah the pay model is a wildcard. But she'd get something at UR. idk if there is a ton out there for her $ wise when u also consider the other factors that would blow her away but could be wrong.

This is my feeling also however it may be my heart talking. I’m hoping that the Women’s game is closer to how college sports used to be. In addition, one would hope that if any player is one year away from getting his/her degree from UR that he/she stays to get it. I guess it all comes down to individual circumstances and how much of a difference the dollars are, but it is a one year payment that is the factor. Would have to be a big a$$ offer to me and how many of those are going to a former mid-major player.

As far as Roussell, unless Wisconsin is his dream job I don’t think he takes it especially if Doogan is planning on staying for her senior year. I think he would council her to stay and get her UR degree versus going somewhere else for one year.

I guess we will see.

 

[Section 204and5]

I'll throw this into the mix regarding academics - we don't really know the academic status of the players. While Katie Hill is listed as a senior on the roster, JOC did a story earlier this year indicating she is a grad student. So the "getting a degree" motivation may already be achieved by a player's fourth year.

 

[urfan1]

I was thinking the same, the women are more thoughtful and likely value those things more - especially if the coach stays think we would have good shot to keep Doogan. She is my new favorite player in the women's game. Unless she transfers.

The guys, we are just animals - give us the $$ and big lights and we are gone.

Listening to Maggie's post game interview I believe she will be back.

 

[GKiller]

I'll throw this into the mix regarding academics - we don't really know the academic status of the players. While Katie Hill is listed as a senior on the roster, JOC did a story earlier this year indicating she is a grad student. So the "getting a degree" motivation may already be achieved by a player's fourth year.

True good point. And graduating early would change dynamics. But I'd still think uncommon for athletes with their team workload to graduate that early at UR. Have to be pretty academically motivated. Obviously some exceptions and she's one. They probably take some summer classes which helps. maybe some come in with credits.