Two Georgia Tech women’s basketball players, guards Kierra Fletcher and Francesca Pan, have entered the transfer portal in the wake of the firing of coach MaChelle Joseph.
Fletcher will leave Tech after two seasons, her AAU coach Jarvis Mitchell said. Pan has entered the portal, but is only investigating her options and could return, according to a person familiar with the situation.
Fletcher and Pan both were not with the team for its final three games after Joseph was put on leave on February 27 when team members brought forward concerns of mistreatment.
Both players, though, have been participating in offseason team workouts with the rest of the team since the end of the season, according to the school.
Both have been significant players for the Yellow Jackets and stand to receive heavy interest. Mitchell said that he has heard from coaches from power conferences across the country. Pan was ACC freshman of the year in the 2016-17 season, is a three-year starter and was the second-leading scorer on the team this past season with 12 points per game. Fletcher, a point guard, started the first 61 games of her Tech career and was named to the ACC’s all-freshman team in 2017-18.
Pan has one season of eligibility remaining and Fletcher has two. It wouldn’t be a surprise if more players at least consider a transfer. Any player leaving Tech would be a strong candidate to receive a hardship waiver for immediate eligibility, given that Joseph was fired by athletic director Todd Stansbury after an investigation into Joseph’s conduct found that players said that she was bullying and verbally, emotionally and mentally abusive, charges that Joseph has denied.
About the Author
