Tennessee Coach Karen Weekly Criticizes Tampering Amid Transfer Portal Departures

Tennessee softball coach Karen Weekly has publicly criticized the practice of tampering in college softball, particularly surrounding the use of NIL deals to recruit players before they enter the NCAA transfer portal. Weekly emphasized that while she supports women making money in sports, she condemns the contacting and signing of players to NIL deals prior to the end of their seasons as unfair and against NCAA rules. This statement came shortly after Tennessee's star hitter Taylor Pannell entered the transfer portal and quickly committed to Texas Tech, raising suspicions of tampering given the rapid timeline. Texas Tech has been active in the transfer portal, adding several high-profile players to build a strong 2026 roster alongside their star pitcher NiJaree Canady, who has received significant NIL deals. Weekly's comments reflect growing concern over the evolving landscape of college softball recruiting and the ethical challenges posed by NIL and transfer portal dynamics. The situation highlights tensions between supporting athlete compensation and maintaining fair recruitment practices.