The Loyola women’s basketball team seemed to be on the rise. The Ramblers were the No. 15 most improved NCAA Division I women’s basketball program in the nation, winning eight more games during the 2015-16 campaign than in the previous season. National standouts Taylor Manuel and Taylor Johnson each had one more year of eligibility remaining.
Heading into the offseason, there was optimism surrounding the program. But that progress was halted after most of the team’s returning players — including Manuel and Johnson — asked to be released from their scholarships so they could pursue collegiate basketball careers elsewhere.