Dallas Loughridge to Michigan: Did the NCAA change policy?

[SimonaMeow]

Can someone explain to me why Kansas State women’s basketball player Tess Heal got punished for signing a contract last year to play with the semiprofessional Australian NBL1's Keilor Thunder after graduation...

But Michigan can sign a 22 year old Dallas Loughridge who not only played multiple NBL1 seasons but actually played for the professional team WNBL Adelaide Lightning last season???

That's the highest level Australian pro league where some WNBA players play in the offseason, including Lucy this past season.

 

[SimonaMeow]

So Michigan basically just signed a 22 year pro better than Lucy.

She's 5'6", but averaged 16.3ppg in a league where Lucy averaged 8.7ppg.

 

[Kceasthawk@77]

Maybe the story isn't over yet?

 

[SimonaMeow]

Maybe the story isn't over yet?

Sorry but what does this mean?

 

[Kceasthawk@77]

It means maybe they still come down on her or Michigan. When did this come out? Just asking.....

 

[HawksGoneWild1]

It means maybe they still come down on her or Michigan. When did this come out? Just asking.....

6/25/2026

Looks like she plays for a different team currently.. Sounds like maybe a different league as well.

"Loughridge, a 5-6 guard from Australia, most recently played for the Casey Cavaliers in the NBL1 South in Australia. Last week, she went for 38 points, six rebounds, six assists and four steals against Diamond Valley en route to being named the NBL1 South Foot Locker Player of the Week for Round 11. Through 17 games this season, Loughridge averaged 25.5 points, 5.1 assists, and 3.7 rebounds in nearly 37 minutes per game."

Wolverines Add Loughridge for 2026-27 - University of Michigan Athletics

J. Ira and Nicki Harris Family Head Women's Basketball Coach Kim Barnes Arico announced Thursday morning (June 25) the addition of Dallas Loughridge to the W...

mgoblue.com

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From these ex-player's podcast @6:46, she will be a backup player to replace Macy Brown who is out with an ACL,

 

[SimonaMeow]

6/25/2026

Looks like she plays for a different team currently.. Sounds like maybe a different league as well.

"Loughridge, a 5-6 guard from Australia, most recently played for the Casey Cavaliers in the NBL1 South in Australia. Last week, she went for 38 points, six rebounds, six assists and four steals against Diamond Valley en route to being named the NBL1 South Foot Locker Player of the Week for Round 11. Through 17 games this season, Loughridge averaged 25.5 points, 5.1 assists, and 3.7 rebounds in nearly 37 minutes per game."

Wolverines Add Loughridge for 2026-27 - University of Michigan Athletics

J. Ira and Nicki Harris Family Head Women's Basketball Coach Kim Barnes Arico announced Thursday morning (June 25) the addition of Dallas Loughridge to the W...

mgoblue.com

---

From these ex-player's podcast @6:46, she will be a backup player to replace Macy Brown who is out with an ACL,

Yes it is the off-season for the WNBL. The WNBL season, like the other top International pro leagues, is opposite of the WNBA on the calendar.

So she, like Lucy and all the others, play for a different team right now.

But she was a TOP TEN scorer in the top senior professional league in Australia this season and played there multiple seasona. It's not semi pro like the NBL1 etc.

This seems ludicrous. But it's Michigan, I guess. Different rules...

 

[Natchrlman2]

It would be interesting to see how much Michigan is paying her…..

My hope is they’ll eventually adopt some sort of salary cap and that everything else will work itself out with the portal and NIL inequities eventually……. of course there will be some cheaters like always

 

[SimonaMeow]

It would be interesting to see how much Michigan is paying her…..

My hope is they’ll eventually adopt some sort of salary cap and that everything else will work itself out with the portal and NIL inequities eventually……. of course there will be some cheaters like always

But I still thought people already playing in top professional leagues cannot be signed as college athletes.

 

[Natchrlman2]

I thought N

But I still thought people already playing in top professional leagues cannot be signed as college athletes.

you probably know more than I do about it….. I honestly don’t pay attention to things I can’t do anything about but I could swear I heard scuttle about former NBA g-league players being eligible for ncaa in some cases…… don’t quote me…cause I’m not sure …. don’t want to have to argue with some idiot that what I said isn’t FACT