Ole Miss' Sira Thiennou dribbles the ball in a first round NCAA tournament game against Gonzaga. | Ole Miss Athletics
Ole Miss' Sira Thiennou dribbles the ball in a first round NCAA tournament game against Gonzaga. | Ole Miss Athletics

Ole Miss Locks In Sira Thienou as Transfer Portal Decisions Begin

BY Taylor Hodges

The college basketball transfer portal windows for both men and women open in one week. Four programs are still playing, but everyone else is already preparing for the fast‑moving carousel that’s coming.

Teams are working to finalize deals to keep players from entering the portal, while players are making and announcing their decisions to do just that.

Ole Miss women’s basketball was one of the most active programs in last year’s portal cycle, bringing in eight transfers to join coach Yolett McPhee‑McCuin in Oxford. The Rebels will likely need to be just as active this time. Of the 12 players on the roster, all but five are seniors, including key pieces like Cotie McMahon, Christeen Iwuala, and Latasha Lattimore.

That makes it even more important to keep the best players who still have eligibility. That list starts with sophomore guard Sira Thienou.

Thienou was one of the Rebels’ best defenders, and it’s fair to wonder how the season looks if she doesn’t get hurt late. In two NCAA tournament games, she scored 30 points, grabbed 13 rebounds, and added four blocks and four steals.

She was the most important player Ole Miss needed to retain.

And the Rebels did just that.

Thienou’s return was announced on the team’s social media pages and should be met with real excitement. In 29 games, she averaged 9.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.7 steals. She’ll be the highest‑scoring returning Rebel next season.

Departing Rebels

There has also been one reported departure. Sophomore center J’Adore Young is expected to enter the transfer portal when it opens April 6. Young played in 29 games this season, including one start, and averaged 1.6 points and 1.4 rebounds in 7.8 minutes per game.

Young isn’t a major statistical loss, but her size matters. Only she and sophomore Desrae Kyles have the frame to play center. Kyles may have the inside track to start next season, but expect the Rebels to look for help in the portal.

Ole Miss Transfer Portal Tracker

Outgoing

  • J’Adore Young, 6-4, So.

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