A move out of Columbus appears imminent for the third year Buckeye
The transfer portal is officially open and Ohio State women’s basketball has benefitted from it greatly over the past three seasons. On Wednesday, it went the other way with junior forward Cotie McMahon reportedly entering the portal, according to Talia Goodman of On3 Sports. Moments later, McMahon shared a reel on Instagram confirming the move to the portal, with the video’s caption reading:
“One of my favorite people and players has entered the Transfer Portal. Ohio State do it all baller @cotiemcmahon32. A special player and person. Known her since her 7th grade year. She will be HIGHLY coveted! Good luck champ!”
There has been speculation over McMahon’s plans after posting on Instagram this week that she wants to play with people as passionate about the game as herself, but nothing specific until Wednesday’s announcement. McMahon also thanked Buckeye fans in a separate post.
McMahon started all but four games since joining the Buckeyes on the court in the 2022-23 season. Those four games were this season, due to injury. In that time, McMahon won Big Ten Freshman of the Year, multiple all conference teams, and two Associated Press All-American Honorable Mentions.
Over three full seasons, McMahon averaged 15.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 97 appearances. McMahon leaves the program as the No. 19 scorer in Scarlet and Gray history.
This season especially, McMahon was the vocal leader of the Buckeyes with former guard Jacy Sheldonon graduating after the 23-24 season. McMahon was one of only two starters to return to the program from last season and led the team in scoring with 16.5 points (a career high) and second in assists with 2.1. The forward led the team in scoring in nine of her 29 games.
McMahon also diversified her game this season, adding more deep shooting than ever before in her two previous seasons. It made the junior more difficult to guard for opposing defenses after spending a lot of her first two seasons driving to the basket to try and make contact.
The junior from Centerville High School, outside of Dayton, Ohio, is a polarizing figure in the game, drawing criticism, mostly from opposing fans, for her energy on the court. McMahon is not afraid to let an opposing player or group of fans her thoughts on situations.
Against the Maryland Terrapins this season, McMahon fouled out of the overtime defeat in College Park and when she sat on the bench, she showed two middle fingers to the Maryland student section.
Following Ohio State’s loss to the Tennessee Volunteers in the NCAA Tournament’s Second Round, McMahon briskly made it through the handshake line, saying expletives as she walked by coaches, walking away in frustration.
The next question for Ohio State is what is going to happen next? McMahon had strong relationships with players in the program like shooting guard Chance Gray, who played with McMahon in AAU basketball and transferred to Ohio State after two seasons in Oregon.
Even if nobody else transfers because of McMahon’s exit, her leaving creates a large hole in the Buckeye roster for the 25-26 season.
McMahon’s transfer out is the biggest since before the 21-22 season, when forward Dorka Juhász left the program after three seasons for the UConn Huskies. Juhász averaged 13 points and 9.6 rebounds in her time with the Buckeyes.
Sophomore center Faith Carson was the first Ohio State player to join the transfer portal this season, announcing her move on Monday.