“I let them all say their piece”: USC’s Talia von Oelhoffen on ‘tough transfer discussion’ with Oregon State teammates

USCUSC’s Talia von Oelhoffen talks about her decision to leave Beavers

The Oregon State women’s basketball team enjoyed its Elite Eight run in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. What surprised many was the transfer portal decision of eight players after losing to eventual champion South Carolina. Among those was Talia von Oelhoffen, who committed to USC for her last college year.

According to On3, von Oelhoffen talked about how everyone was emotional after the loss. She led a discussion in the locker room days after that April loss despite knowing that her teammates would criticize her for doing that.

“I talked a lot in the meeting honestly, and then I let them all say their piece,” Talia von Oelhoffen told On3.

“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. Just reassuring ourselves that we know this is the right decision. This is our decision. So what other people are saying shouldn’t carry weight and doesn’t matter.”

NCAA Tournament: South Carolina vs. Oregon StateNCAA Tournament: South Carolina vs. Oregon State
Von Oehoffen is a graduate transfer.

“I just knew in my heart that I wanted something else from my last year. Both on the court and off the court, so many different things go into it. But it was definitely a super hard decision,” Oelhoffen said.

Talia von Oelhoffen talked about how people didn’t understand their decisions and that she felt she needed to defend the decisions they took.

“Some of the things I tweeted – It was just important for me to get out there. I could have responded to a lot of people. Having opinions is one thing but getting the facts wrong doesn’t sit right with me,” von Oelhoffen said.

“Not everyone’s gonna get on social media and defend themselves or their teammates, but that was something that was important for me. We’re all great people who made decisions for the right reasons so the hate is not necessary or warranted.”

In the 2023-24 season, Talia von Oelhoffen averaged 10.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game. She shot 38.7%, including 31.7% from beyond the arc. She led the Beavers to a ninth-place finish in the Pac-12.

How did Talia von Oelhoffen announce her transfer decision?

Talia von Oelhoffen announced her decision to enter the transfer portal in April. The post came up with a long message that reflected her love for the Beavers.

“I can’t even begin to express the gratitude I feel for the love and support you have shown me over the past 3 years. It has been a joy to play in front of you and to represent this university,” von Oelhoffen wrote.

“I am proud that I will be a graduate and alumni of this amazing university. Corvallis will always be a home away from home, and the people whose paths I was lucky enough to cross will always hold a special place in my heart.”