Georgia women’s basketball denied transfer waiver for UConn transfer Coombs
Mikayla Coombs will not play for the Georgia women’s basketball team this season after the program had its transfer waiver denied by the NCAA, Lady Bulldogs head coach Joni Taylor told The Telegraph on Tuesday.
UGA learned of the verdict on Nov. 25 following its loss to Villanova.
Coombs transferred to the program after spending two years at traditional powerhouse UConn. She is not eligible to play through the entire 2019-20 season, can’t travel with the team and will have two seasons to play following her return to the sport. Georgia exhausted all options for the Buford native to receive immediate eligibility — the NCAA denied the original waiver at the beginning of November.
“We’re very disappointed,” Taylor said. “We felt like these were extenuating circumstances that granted them the opportunity to transfer. You do things the right way, and it comes back that it’s denied.”
This follows a failed waiver request for sophomore guard Shaniya Jones, who was previously at Virginia Tech. Her original waiver was denied, and the Lady Bulldogs opted not to pursue it further. She is eligible at the conclusion of the fall term after arriving at Georgia in December 2018.
Other programs have faced similar denials this season — UConn’s Evina Westbrook (originally at Tennessee) and South Carolina’s Destiny Littleton.
Louisville had immediate eligibility approved for two former Georgia Tech players — Elizabeth Balogun and Elizabeth Dixon.
“We have to trust the NCAA, but I wish there was consistency with who gets waivers and who doesn’t. I’m not in anybody else’s process, but there are some players who get them and others who don’t,” Taylor said. “It’s a head-scratcher as to how they determine this.”
Taylor opened the preseason encouraged about her roster’s depth and versatility. Much of that, however, hinged on the availability of Coombs and Jones, and the Lady Bulldogs have had to adjust as a result. Coombs left UConn after playing sparingly as a member of the Huskies, averaging 0.9 points per game as a sophomore.
While not being able to contribute, Coombs’ biggest role comes on the practice court. She’s also an avid supporter during games she’s able to attend at Stegeman Coliseum. In the team-wide sprint lines during practice, Coombs races past teammates with ease.
“She always gets us ready for the next game on scout team,” junior guard Que Morrison said. “She pushes us in practice. She plays the role of the star player on the other team, and that always makes us better.”
Coombs would be an extra asset for Georgia in its guard rotation to complement point guard Gabby Connally and shooting guard Caitlin Hose. But Coombs is finding every chance to be influential — even if it’s caring for Connally after wisdom teeth surgery.
“She brings a huge impact,” Connally said. “We’re really appreciative of who she is and what she’s able to bring to the floor. She’s really athletic and can do a lot of good things for us. When she’s able to play, we’re going to be really excited about what she can do.”
Georgia has to wait. But once the calendar turns to next November, Coombs will suit up as a Lady Bulldog.
“Next year,” Morrison said. “I can’t wait to have her playing with us, rather than against (in practice). I want her on my team.”
This story was originally published December 3, 2019 at 4:57 PM.