Aijha Blackwell makes decision to transfer from Missouri Tigers official
The Missouri women’s basketball program has lost four players to the transfer portal in a matter of days.
The biggest blow came on Friday, when Aijha Blackwell officially announced her intention to transfer. Her plans to do so were reported earlier in the week, and transfers from LaDazhia Williams, Izzy Higginbottom and Kiya Doroh followed.
“I would like to thank Mizzou Nation for the past 3 years,” Blackwell wrote in a social media post. “You all embraced me as one of your own and I could never repay you for all that you have done for me. To the coaching staff and my teammates, it was always a dream of mine to play in the SEC and to be part of an elite program. You afforded me that opportunity and allowed me to battle with you every day.
“At this time, I would like to announce that I am going to enter the transfer portal. Columbia will always be home. Thank you for everything.”
Blackwell averaged 15.3 points, 13.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game in regular-season play as a junior in 2021-22. On the season, she led the country in defensive rebounds per game (10.5) and ranked second in rebounds per game (13.0). She also recorded 20 double-double performances.
This move doesn’t come as much of a surprise. It seemed inevitable after the way Missouri coach Robin Pingeton kept Blackwell on the bench in the fourth quarter and overtime of a must-win game against Arkansas in the SEC Tournament last month.
Blackwell was back for the Tigers after missing three of the last four games for not meeting team “standards and expectations.” She didn’t take her usual place in the starting lineup and wasn’t subbed in by Pingeton until under three minutes were left in the second quarter.
Pingeton barely played Blackwell, including in the final minutes of regulation and overtime. Blackwell only saw 11 minutes on the court and finished with five points and eight rebounds. Missouri lost the game, and as a result fell just short of the NCAA Tournament.
Following the game, former program standout Sophie Cunningham called Blackwell out on Twitter and Blackwell responded.
Blackwell appeared in Missouri’s first-round WNIT loss to Drake last week. She recorded 27 points, 10 rebounds and three steals in that game.
Blackwell will surely be in demand once she enters the transfer portal.
Williams is likely to make a notable impact elsewhere as well. She graduated in December but has eligibility remaining due to the COVID-19 year. The 6-foot-4 forward averaged 9.1 points and 4.1 rebounds this past season. She scored a career-high 25 points in a win over Auburn and later put up 24 points against Ole Miss.
Higginbottom, who averaged 6.0 points and 1.3 rebounds in 18.4 per game as a freshman, committed to Arkansas State just a few hours after entering the portal on Wednesday.
Doroh only played 8.7 minutes per game as a freshman. The 6-foot-1 forward from Tucson, Arizona, averaged 1.0 points and 1.1 rebounds.
