For Syracuse women's basketball to keep having the kind of success that it is having this season, head coach Felisha Legette-Jack says that she needs help from the dozens of billionaries in the surrounding area.
In this new era of college athletics, money talks - in the form of schools paying their athletes directly, along with third-party NIL deals. The transfer portal's explosion has made finances even more important, and the Orange is competing with larger, public universities within the Atlantic Coast Conference and around the country.
Yes, SU Athletics has said that it would share the maximum amount allowed, approximately $20.5 million, during the 2025-26 sports season, as permitted by last summer's House antitrust settlement.
But that cap is expected to grow year after year, and Legette-Jack said a few days ago, according to Syracuse.com, that for her program "to continue at this level," she needs people in the community to support her financially and "get behind what I’m trying to create here."
Syracuse women's basketball is having a special 2025-26 season.
On Thursday night at the JMA Wireless Dome, the 'Cuse crushed Georgia Tech, 94-70, to improve to 17-4 overall and 7-3 in Atlantic Coast Conference play. As the Orange prepares to head to Miami for an ACC encounter on Sunday afternoon, Syracuse women's basketball appears to reside comfortably in 2026 NCAA Tournament projections, with ESPN having SU as a No. 8 seed.
Orange freshman center Uche Izoje is arguably the favorite to win this season's ACC rookie of the year award, and she's also on the watch list for the Naismith defensive player of the year honor in 2025-26.
Legette-Jack is, undeniably, a tremendous recruiter - 2027 five-star point guard Kaleena Smith from the Los Angeles area, the No. 1 national prospect in her class, is expected to take an official visit to Syracuse women's basketball on February 8. But the playing field isn't equal, and Legette-Jack needs more help.
“We are getting money taken away from us, but this community is one of the richest communities in the country,” Legette-Jack said. “How do I know? Because I did my work, we have about 37 billionaires in the surrounding area."
She added, "We have over 80 millionaires right here in the crevice of a 500-mile radius. All we’re asking for is for you to see what we’re trying to do."