Paulina Paris and Mailien Rolf, two former Arizona women’s basketball players, have followed former Wildcats coach Adia Barnes to SMU. Next season, the UA’s roster is probably going to be completely different.

When Adia Barnes announced her shocking departure from Arizona to take over as the head coach at SMU, the college basketball world collectively raised an eyebrow. The woman who had built the Wildcats into a national powerhouse—culminating in a 2021 NCAA Championship Game appearance—was leaving her alma mater. But what followed may have been even more surprising: a steady, perhaps inevitable, exodus of players from Tucson to Dallas.

On Monday, former Arizona guards Paulina Paris and Mailien Rolf became the latest to follow Barnes to SMU, adding to a growing list of Wildcats abandoning what increasingly looks like a shell of its former self. With other key contributors having already entered the transfer portal and no clear sign of top-tier replacements on the horizon, the 2025–26 Arizona women’s basketball team could bear little resemblance to last year’s squad. In fact, it might not resemble any Arizona team of the past decade.

For Barnes, the move to SMU represents a fresh start in a less saturated but rapidly growing market. She takes over a Mustangs program that finished last season with promise, but lacked the recruiting clout and coaching pedigree that Arizona boasted under her leadership. That’s quickly changing.

Paulina Paris, a transfer from North Carolina who played one season under Barnes at Arizona, was expected to be a key backcourt contributor moving forward. Instead, the dynamic guard will take her talents to SMU, where she is likely to be a centerpiece of Barnes’ offensive blueprint. Known for her quickness, court vision, and ability to create her own shot, Paris fits perfectly into the up-tempo style Barnes has championed for years.

Mailien Rolf, a versatile Swiss wing with international pedigree, also represents a significant addition to SMU’s roster. While Rolf’s role in Arizona’s rotation fluctuated throughout the year, her defensive instincts and three-point shooting potential made her an enticing developmental piece. Her decision to follow Barnes illustrates how much trust the players had in their now-former coach, as well as how much potential they believe exists at SMU.

Together, Paris and Rolf provide Barnes with familiar building blocks in her transition to Conference USA (or the AAC, if realignment reshuffles things again). Their presence not only boosts SMU’s chances of instant relevance but also sends a message to the rest of women’s college basketball: Barnes may be in Dallas now, but her vision remains national.

Meanwhile, the situation back in Tucson has grown increasingly uncertain. With the announcement of Barnes’ departure, Arizona immediately saw a flurry of transfer portal entries. Over a half-dozen players have either declared their intentions to leave or committed elsewhere. Among them were contributors at all levels—starters, role players, and promising young talent alike.

The roster that once featured a blend of experienced returners and high-upside newcomers has been gutted. Paris and Rolf are just two examples of the deep relationships Barnes built with her players, and how much of the program’s identity was tied to her leadership. Without her, Arizona feels adrift.

To understand the full scope of the turnover, consider the likely scenario: come opening night of the 2025–26 season, Arizona could take the floor without a single player from its 2024–25 roster. That level of attrition is rare—even in today’s era of transfer portal chaos and NIL-driven movement. It speaks to both the cultural vacuum left by Barnes and the uncertainty surrounding her yet-to-be-named successor.

Adia Barnes wasn’t just Arizona’s head coach—she was Arizona women’s basketball. An alumna and former WNBA player, she poured every ounce of passion into turning the Wildcats from an afterthought into a juggernaut. Her recruiting prowess, media savvy, and competitive edge made Arizona not only relevant but feared.

Barnes brought in top recruiting classes, secured high-profile transfer commitments, and routinely out-coached peers from more historically dominant programs. Perhaps most impressively, she created a culture of belief among players, fans, and the university itself.

So when Barnes left, the sense of betrayal and abandonment among the fan base was visceral. For the players, that emotion translated into decisions—some quick, some more measured—to find new opportunities elsewhere. Whether that meant following Barnes to SMU or exploring other options across the country, the writing was on the wall: Arizona, as they knew it, was no more.

The Wildcats are currently in limbo, awaiting both a new head coach and any semblance of a recruiting class to replace the exodus. The administration has promised a “national search” to fill Barnes’ shoes, but with every day that passes, the challenge grows. Potential candidates are weighing the risk of taking over a program that may need to rebuild from absolute scratch.

Moreover, Arizona’s once-lucrative NIL infrastructure, buoyed by Barnes’ influence and national TV exposure, now sits in jeopardy. If boosters and donors perceive the program to be entering a down cycle, their investment may follow Barnes to SMU—or simply dry up.

This uncertainty extends to the fans, who had come to expect packed games at McKale Center and regular NCAA Tournament appearances. With no players and no coach, that level of excitement is difficult to sustain.

There are a few names floating around—both established veterans and rising stars in the coaching ranks. Some have Arizona ties. Others bring pedigree from top-25 programs. But whoever gets the job will have their work cut out for them.

The new coach won’t just be rebuilding a roster; they’ll be reconstructing an identity. They’ll have to recruit aggressively in the portal, secure commitments from high school prospects willing to trust in a vision rather than a resume, and re-establish credibility within a Pac-12 Conference that’s changing by the minute.

There’s also the lingering question of fan buy-in. Arizona’s rise under Barnes was a rare and beautiful convergence of coaching, culture, and community. Recreating that magic won’t happen overnight—and maybe not at all.

Back in Texas, things look a lot rosier.

Barnes has wasted no time assembling her staff and building what appears to be a ready-made contender. In addition to Paris and Rolf, other players have either verbally committed or are rumored to be weighing transfers to SMU. Barnes is leveraging her West Coast connections to bring in elite talent that likely would have never considered SMU before now.

The university has responded in kind. Reports indicate that SMU is making significant investments in its women’s basketball program, including facility upgrades, NIL initiatives, and expanded marketing efforts. Barnes’ arrival is part of a broader athletic rebrand as the school aims to capitalize on its recent move into a higher-profile conference and the ongoing NCAA realignment chaos.

For players like Paris and Rolf, the decision was likely an easy one. Stick with the coach they trust, buy into a new challenge, and take on the opportunity to be foundational pieces in a program’s rise rather than supporting players in a rebuild.

What’s happening at Arizona is emblematic of the modern college basketball era. Coaches are no longer bound by legacy or loyalty. Players can move with unprecedented freedom. NIL deals can be won or lost overnight. And the line between powerhouse and afterthought is thinner than ever.

Some will point to the Arizona collapse as a cautionary tale about overreliance on a single figurehead. Others may argue it was unavoidable, that no program can sustain success forever without structural reinforcements beyond one charismatic leader.

Either way, the story is still being written. Arizona could still hire a dynamic coach who turns things around quickly. They could secure portal commits and hit the ground running. Or they could enter a multi-year dark period, much like what the program endured before Barnes arrived.

For SMU, the trajectory is clearly upward. With Barnes, Paris, Rolf, and others at the helm, the Mustangs are positioned to disrupt the established order—and perhaps become the next great rags-to-riches narrative in women’s hoops.

Adia Barnes will always be a part of Arizona’s history. But her departure marks the end of an era—and perhaps the beginning of something just as impactful elsewhere. For players like Paulina Paris and Mailien Rolf, this moment is more than just a change of address. It’s a declaration of faith in a coach and a chance to help build something new.

For Arizona, the months ahead will test not just its leadership but its spirit. Who they hire, who they recruit, and how they respond to this mass exodus will determine whether the Wildcats remain a contender or fall into obscurity.

In this new age of college sports, nothing is permanent. Not success. Not loyalty. Not even legacy. But the choices made today will echo for years to come.