Texas women's basketball has been busy this spring trying to improve its team after losing some players in the transfer portal. The transfer portal can help some schools, while others take two steps back.
The Longhorns have been in that situation this spring after losing two rising players in the portal. One of those players who could hurt the Longhorns is former guard Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda. She was a rising star during the season when Aaliyah Moore went down with a season-ending injury.
Mwenentanda helped the Longhorns throughout the season after Aaliyah Moore got injured. She averaged six points a game during last season. While it doesn't look like a lot of points, sometimes it was the difference in whether the Longhorns lost or won by a close margin.
That's how good the SEC Conference is regarding Women's Basketball. Just take a look at how good South Carolina was during conference play. Not many teams in the conference had an answer for them, and they won the SEC Women's Basketball title again this year.
Mwenentanda will get playing time wherever she decides to play next season. She proved that during the recent March Madness run this season. However, she might play in the SEC against the Longhorns next season. After looking at the list of colleges that are interested in her, she could transfer to and play a decent number of SEC schools next season. That's the last thing the Longhorns want to have happen with how talented a guard she is.
I can only imagine what a veteran leader she could be next to Aaliyah Chavez in Oklahoma. She could help Chavez navigate her first season in the SEC and become a better basketball player. I don't know if the Longhorns want to see her help their rival school upset them next season.
Luckily, she's gaining attention from schools outside the conference that she could transfer to. The Longhorns hope they won't have to deal with her next season.
In conclusion, Mwenentanda will thrive at whatever school she transfers to. She was a player who could have helped the Longhorns next season get back to the Final Four, but she decided to test the waters in the transfer portal, with her popularity rising.
However, the Longhorns have already rebuilt their roster by gaining some tall forwards that will help the Longhorns with their interior presence next season. Mwenentanda would have been fighting for playing time again next season.
I'm interested in seeing what school she decides to attend. She's a great guard who can drive to the basket. Another college will benefit from her experience learning under Vic Schaefer and his coaching staff at Texas. She will have the opportunity to be a veteran presence in the locker room with her March Madness experience from the past two seasons. Let's hope the Longhorns don't have to go up against her during their conference games next season.