ROSEMONT, Ill. — Former Indiana women’s basketball guard Yarden Garzon declined to discuss her reasons for entering the transfer portal at Big Ten media days on Wednesday.
She was a former three-year starter for the Hoosiers who unexpectedly departed the program after the 2024-25 season.
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Garzon transferred within the conference to Maryland and was one of two student-athletes picked to represent the Terps this week at the Donald E. Stephens Convention in Rosemont, Illinois.
“We need to focus more on the future, trying to be present where I am,” Garzon said. “I’m in the right place right now, and I’m trying to focus on that.”
More: Indiana women’s basketball locker room wasn’t in ‘good shape’ last season. Here’s why.
All she would say about her decision-making process was that she consulted her family and they decided it was the “right thing” to do.
“I’ll always be grateful for what they did for me for the last three years, taking a girl that nobody really knew and get me through the struggles that come with that,” Garzon said. “I’ll always be grateful for that.”
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Back in May, Moren told The Herald-Times that Garzon’s departure was financially motivated.
“It stings,” Moren said. “It hurts, but you realize with revenue-share and life-changing money that’s out there, that’s where we are.”
The Israeli native averaged 12.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.1 assists as a three-year starter for the Hoosiers. She led the team in scoring last season with 14.4 points per game while averaging a career-best 2.7 made 3-pointers (17th in the country).
She was the 33rd player to reach the 1,000-point milestone and set the program’s career record for 3-pointers (220), a record that was set by Kris McGrade back in 1994.
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Garzon knows it will be difficult for IU fans to continue cheering for her while playing for one of the other top teams in the conference — the Hoosiers play Maryland in College Park on January 4 — but she’s grateful for the support she received during her time in Bloomington.
“I hope they will keep supporting me, I know now it’s harder, but know that I love them and appreciate everything they did for me and the program the last three years,” Garzon said. “I really love them, I can’t say anything bad about the fans.”
Michael Niziolek is the Indiana beat reporter for The Bloomington Herald-Times. You can follow him on X @michaelniziolek and read all his coverage by clicking here.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Why Yarden Garzon transferred to Maryland from Indiana women’s basketball
