KN'isha Godfrey enters transfer portal, leaves Mississippi State women's basketball

STARKVILLE — KN'isha Godfrey entered her name into the transfer portal and has left the Mississippi STate women's basketball program, interim coach Doug Novak said Saturday.

Godfrey had initially entered her name into the transfer portal earlier this month, but two sources told The Clarion Ledger the freshman guard intended to remove her name from the portal to remain with the Bulldogs.

However, Godfrey wound up deciding to pursue a fresh start. Novak said the Tampa, Florida, native "wants to transfer somewhere closer to home."

FIRST LOSS: Mississippi State women's basketball falls to No. 12 Michigan for Doug Novak's first loss as interim coach

WHAT TO KNOW: Who is Mississippi State women's basketball interim coach Doug Novak?

Godfrey enrolled early, joining Mississippi State in the middle of last season. She played one game. The guard was ranked as the No. 40 recruit in the class of 2021, according to ESPNW. In high school, she helped lead Tampa Bay Technical to the program's first state championship.

Godfrey played four minutes in the Bulldogs’ season-opening win against Alabama State, missing both 3-point attempts.

Godfrey is the second player to transfer away since coach Nikki McCray-Penson stepped down from her position about a month before the season started.

Jasmine Shavers, another freshman guard, became the first player to leave. Shavers was a four-star recruit from Mesquite, Texas, and she announced she is transferring to Texas Tech.

Those departures have left Mississippi State's bench short of options. The Bulldogs scored just two points off the bench in Saturday's loss to No. 12 Michigan.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: KN'isha Godfrey transfers, leaves Mississippi State women's basketball