recruiting, NIL went something like this (I am paraphrasing): Lawson: When I started I had to go to the portal to improve the roster, but I prefer not to go to the portal. I am one of those people who believes in a coach-player relationship that you build over 4 years as you develop the player. My job is to not just make them a better player and prepare them for a future in the WNBA, or professional ball, or coach, but to prepare them for life. Believe it or not, there are players out there who feel the same way. So we try to find them and convince them to come to Duke. With NIL the importance is to be upfront and honest and fair - on both sides. [I missed what she said after that, but mostly she was advocating for a lot of communication] == IMHO this is a very similar mindset as CMD. She would like to find and develop players. They are those out there who are a good athletic/skills and cultural fit, and the secret is to find them and persuade them to come to VT. Lawson had a few philosophies that seemed word for word the things Duffy advocates. It was worth a listen if yiu get the chance.