"I wanted something else for my last season": Talia von Oelhoffen opens up about factor influencing her decision to transfer to USC

After an Elite Eight run in the 2024 NCAA Tournament, Oregon State's Talia van Oelhoffen committed to USC for her last collegiate season. However, the decision was rather controversial as not only her but eight other players entered the transfer portal after a discussion in the locker room.

Talia von Oelhoffen averaged 10.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game in the 2023-24 season. After committing to USC, she talked to On3 about the events in the locker room and why she decided to transfer.

"I just knew in my hear that I wanted something else from my last year. Both on the court and off the court, so many different things got into it. But it was definitely a super hard decision," Oelhoffen told On3.

She announced her transfer decision by posting a heartfelt message on her social media.

"I can't even begin to express the gratitude I feel for the love and support you have show me over the past 3 years. It has been a joy to play in fornt of you and to represent this university," wrote Oelhoffen.

In her concluding line, she said:

"My time at OSU has come to an end, but I will alway forever be a Beav. What a ride, 22"

After having an amazing time at Oregon, Oelhoffen and Beavers faced a defeat against South Carolina in the Elite Eight of the March Madness 2024. Following the defeat, they sat in the locker room where everyone was emotional, where Oelhoffen talked about her decision to enter the transfer portal.

It was that meeting, led by Oelhoffen, where seven other players expressed their desire to do the same as her. She always knew she might get criticized for doing so, but she did so anyway.

"I talked a lot in the meeting honestly and then I let them all say their piece. It was very much telling them to just be ready for what's coming and just giving advice on how we should all handle it and how we need to carry ourselves through it," said Oelhoffen via On3.

"Just reassuring ourseleves that we know this is the right deciiosn. This is our decision. So what other poeple are saying shouldn't carry weight and doesn't matter," she added.

What did JuJu Watkins tell Talia von Oelhoffen when she entered the transfer portal?

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Talia von Oelhoffen and JuJu Watkins shared the stage as they both played in the Pac-12. When Oelhoffen entered the transfer portal, JuJu was the first to call her and express her desire to play with her on the same team.

"I think I heard from her before any of the coaches I talked to, so that was pretty cool," Oelhoffen told On3. "I think just playing against each other in the Pac-12, we had that mutual respect... She didn't give me a recruiting pitch or anything. She just let me know she wanted me on her team."

Before deciding to join USC, Oelhoffen shortlisted Kentucky, Louisville, USC, and Colorado as her possible next destination. However, her official visit to Los Angeles was enough to convince her to be a Trojan the next year.