Monday afternoon — exactly one year to the day after the announcement of her arrival to the program — graduate forward Taylor Williams of the Michigan women’s basketball team entered the transfer portal, as confirmed to The Michigan Daily by a Michigan spokesperson.
Williams only played for the Wolverines for one season, having used the first three years of her eligibility at Western Michigan prior to transferring. She has one year of eligibility remaining, granted to her due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Coming off a MAC All-Defensive team selection and All-MAC honorable mention recognition, Williams had the potential to be a steady presence in the paint both on the glass and defensively. She started six consecutive games from Nov. 14 to Nov. 29, highlighted by a 19-point, 18-rebound double-double against South Dakota in which she also snatched five steals. That game showcased the best of Williams’ talents early in the season, and Michigan hoped that it was an indication of what was to come later on.
However, both Williams’ minutes and production declined after that game, as she averaged just 3.2 points the remainder of the season for a cumulative total of 4.3 points altogether. She was unavailable for a majority of the second half of the season, and played her last 10-plus minute game against Nebraska Jan. 17 and her final game of the year Feb. 10 against Rutgers.
Williams’ brief tenure with the program was marked with highs early on, but as the season took its course and her playing time became more limited, her role within games became smaller. As this will be Williams’ second transfer, she may have to sit out for a year due to NCAA transfer eligibility rules.
Her addition to the program came as Michigan coach Kim Barnes Arico looked to the transfer portal to fill holes left by the departing 2022-23 senior class. Now, her departure opens the door to another potential transfer into the program to fill the roster spot that she leaves behind. With senior forwards Cameron Williams and Elise Stuck entering the portal last week, Michigan has more shoes to fill next year with Taylor Williams’ departure, even as ESPN’s seventh-ranked recruiting class of five will enroll in the fall.