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Oregon Women’s Basketball: Taylor Chavez, Jaz Shelley transfers hurt depth

By Justin Phillips

Mar 28, 2021; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Oregon Ducks guard Taylor Chavez (3) dribbles the ball as Louisville Cardinals guard Hailey Van Lith (10) defends during the first quarter in the Sweet Sixteen of the 2021 Women's NCAA Tournament at Alamodome. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 28, 2021; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Oregon Ducks guard Taylor Chavez (3) dribbles the ball as Louisville Cardinals guard Hailey Van Lith (10) defends during the first quarter in the Sweet Sixteen of the 2021 Women's NCAA Tournament at Alamodome. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
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The move was likely made by both over playing time. Taylor Chavez averaged four points and two assists averaging 19 minutes in 19 games played this past season. She missed five games due to COVID-19 protocols over the course of the season. Her time on the floor increased in her time with Oregon. Over several seasons she was the backup to Maite Cazorla, Sabrina Ionescu, and Minyon Moore.

Chavez suffered a foot injury in 2018-19 that did not allow her to play in the postseason, but she was fully recovered in time for the 2019-20 season. This past season she had just two games scoring in double digits. She enters the transfer portal with two years of eligibility remaining.

Jaz Shelley will also be departing the Oregon Women’s Basketball team. She averaged four points and two assists per game this last season with 11 starts. Her freshman year was special as she shot better than 40 percent from both the floor and three-point range. This past season, her numbers regressed as she was at a different spot on the floor.

After two seasons, Shelley has decided that the Ducks are no longer a good fit and she also has decided to move on. Oregon will be looking at new faces as starters in key spots next season. With the departure of Lydia Giomi and Erin Boley and the departures from the bench, head coach Kelly Graves will be looking for a quick turnaround next season once again.

With another solid recruiting class coming in, Graves may just be able to pull it off. Returning for Oregon are Nyara Sabally, Taylor Mikesell and Sedona Prince who worked through an injury in 2020-21 and was able to bounce back helping Oregon into the third round of the NCAA Tournament. Oregon lost to Georgia 60-42.

Depth has taken a big hit.

Oregon's pre-spring game-by-game predictions. dark. Next