Skylar Jones to Leave Louisville Women's Basketball Program Louisville women's basketball will conclude its season without guard Skylar Jones, who has transferred out of the program. Head coach Jeff Walz confirmed her departure, stating it was "best for all parties." Walz emphasized that the team's rotation would remain largely unchanged, noting that players like Mackenly Randolph had already been key contributors, such as playing all 45 minutes in the ACC Tournament finals. He added that the team has sufficient depth, comparing the situation to how the men's team managed with five players, and stressed that the focus would be on utilizing the best available players unless injuries or fatigue forced substitutions. Jones, a transfer from Arizona, had been part of the program's three new additions this season. She started the season opener against Clemson on November 16 but was moved to a reserve role after Anaya Hardy took over the starting position less than a month later. Over the course of the season, Jones appeared in 34 games, averaging 8.4 points and 2.9 rebounds per game off the bench. Her most impactful performance came in a 21-point outing against Colorado in November, followed by a 20-point game against Ball State on December 10. However, her production declined in recent games, with her averaging just 4.8 points and 2.4 rebounds over the last five contests, playing an average of 9.2 minutes. Louisville, a three-seed in the NCAA Tournament, is set to face No. 14-seeded Vermont in the first round at noon Saturday at the KFC Yum! Center. The matchup marks the program's return to the tournament after a one-year absence. The Cardinals enter the postseason with a 27-7 record, matching Vermont's win total.#ncaa_tournament #jeff_walz #skylar_jones #kfc_yum_center #louisville_womens_basketball
Louisville Women's Basketball Team Loses Key Player Ahead of NCAA Tournament The Louisville women's basketball team will face a challenge as they prepare to enter NCAA Tournament play this weekend, with reserve junior guard Skylar Jones no longer part of the roster. Head Coach Jeff Walz confirmed the departure during a media session on Friday, stating that it was "best for both parties" without providing further details. Jones, who hails from Chicago, had been a consistent presence on the court this season, averaging nearly 8 points per game. She appeared in every contest during the regular season, according to Sports Illustrated. The team’s decision to cut her comes just a day before their first tournament game, adding pressure to the squad as they aim to advance. WLKY, a local news outlet, is seeking additional information about the circumstances surrounding Jones’ exit. The Cardinals, ranked No. 3 in the nation, are set to face 14th-seeded Vermont in the KFC Yum! Center on Saturday. The game is scheduled to begin at noon EST, marking the start of Louisville’s postseason campaign.#ncaa_tournament #jeff_walz #skylar_jones #louisville_womens_basketball_team #kfc_yum_center
Skylar Jones leaves Louisville as Women’s NCAA Tournament begins Louisville will compete in the Women’s NCAA Tournament without reserve guard Skylar Jones. The Cardinals’ head coach, Jeff Walz, confirmed on Friday, March 20, that Jones, a junior, is no longer with the team and will not participate in any games during the tournament. Her profile has been removed from Louisville’s athletics website. Walz stated, “She will not be participating. She’s no longer with the team, so we’ve just parted ways. It’s best for both parties.” Jones, a native of Chicago, transferred to Louisville last season after spending her first two years of college basketball at Arizona. She became a key contributor to the Cardinals’ backcourt rotation, appearing in every game for the team and averaging 16.6 minutes per contest. Jones also recorded 8.4 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. She had several standout performances, including 21 points in a win over Colorado, 17 in an overtime victory at North Carolina State, 20 in a win over Ball State, and 13 in a loss to Connecticut. She scored in double figures 15 times this season. Her playing time decreased in recent weeks, as she logged just five minutes in the regular season finale against Notre Dame, seven minutes in an ACC Tournament win over North Carolina, and four minutes in the ACC title game loss to Duke. Walz noted that the absence of Jones would not significantly impact the team’s rotation. “If you go back to the past month, it’s really not going to change much,” he said. “We have plenty of players. At this time of year, look what Siena men did with five players. You’re just putting your best ones out there. Unless they’re in foul trouble or they’re about to keel over and die because they’re exhausted, you keep playing them.#acc_tournament #louisville #university_of_louisville #skylar_jones #jeff_walz
