The transfer portal has become a crowded place, regardless of the sport.

That’s why the recent decisions made by Colorado women’s basketball standouts Jaylyn Sherrod and Quay Miller should be celebrated by Buffaloes fans.

It’s not just everyone and their brother or sister in the transfer portal. It’s everyone and their siblings, at least one parent, several cousins and a couple old teammates from high school that have gathered together in that virtual highway of the transfer portal, ready for fresh starts that may or may not arrive with greener pastures.

From the Colorado men’s basketball team, center Lawson Lovering already has transferred to Utah. Another starter, Nique Clifford, is portal-ing, as is 2021 recruit Quincy Allen. Further attrition from the new-look football team was expected this spring, but just in the past few days CU has lost tight end Austin Smith, running back Jayle Stacks and defensive backs Keyshon Mills, Dylan Dixson and Nikko Reed — arguably the Buffs’ top returning player — to the portal.

But not Sherrod and Miller. They’re not going anywhere.

After back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances that included the program’s first trip to the Sweet 16 in 20 years last month, Sherrod and Miller opted to buck the trend of chasing glory elsewhere through the portal by running it back for one more season in Boulder. Theirs are decisions to appreciate.

Women’s basketball certainly hasn’t been immune to widespread player attrition. Louisville star Hailey Van Lith reached three Elite Eights with the Cardinals but is looking for a new home. Same with former Iowa State star Lexi Donarski, the 2022 Big 12 defensive player of the year, and Oregon’s Endyia Rogers, who is seeking a third team after starting her career at USC.

And, of course, there’s 6-foot-7 Colorado native Lauren Betts, the No. 1 recruit in the 2022 class who Buffs fans are hoping will return home after just one year at Stanford.

The CU women’s team has suffered a few portal losses, most notably with freshman guard Jada Wynn, but the return of Sherrod and Miller puts the Buffs in position to continue their recent ascension, with coach JR Payne and her staff having two open spots to work with this spring.

Sherrod already was a Buffs lifer, joining CU for the 2019-20 season and sticking with the Buffs through the COVID setbacks before becoming the face and spiritual leader of this year’s tournament run. Sherrod will go into her final season ranked sixth in program history in assists (473) and 11th in steals (201). She is one of only five players in team history to record at least 1,000 points, 450 assists and 200 steals.

Miller already has a transfer in her background, arriving at CU after spending her first two seasons at Washington. With the use of her extra COVID season, Miller is set to play three seasons at CU, and if all goes as planned it will be the three most successful seasons in succession since Ceal Barry led the Buffs’ bench. Miller was named the Pac-12 sixth player of the year in her first season at CU and earned first team All-Pac-12 honors this year. During the Buffs’ tourney run, Miller became only the second Buffs player to record consecutive double-doubles in the NCAA Tournament.

It may not have been huge surprises that Sherrod and Miller opted to return. Neither player is a slam dunk for WNBA success, and after a Sweet 16 run the opportunities to move into an even more competitive environment are thin. Still, in today’s NCAA world, it’s a refreshing turn of events. And it should make the CU women must-see hoops in 2023-24.