Maggie Dwyer, Jenny Poff and Tiffanie Shives are back to work this month. They're adjusting to a familiar preseason routine with gym workouts, court time and conditioning wrapped around their class schedules. But something is different this season — they aren't Spartans anymore.

The three former MSU women's basketball players transferred out of the program during the last five months, leaving the Spartans without 20 percent of their returning scholarship players.

"It was the natural order of things," MSU head coach Joanne P. McCallie said. "You don't know what people would have done. They are great kids. They made some hard choices. It was hard for them to leave, and I support them wholeheartedly."

McCallie said she spoke to each of the players before they left and wasn't surprised by any of the departures. But losing so many players in one offseason is a challenge for any coach.

"You can't predict it," Athletics Director Ron Mason said. "Sometimes you get three leaving in one year and then none in another year. In today's society — especially when your team gets better — the player thinks, 'My chances of playing here aren't as good as I thought they'd be.' Some kids are going to take that route.

"It's part of doing business today."

Costs of success

In McCallie's six seasons at MSU, the program has soared to new heights. The Spartans have a 125-66 record and have made four straight NCAA Tournament appearances, including a trip to the national championship game in 2005.

But that success has also made the program even more demanding on players. And that added pressure is what made Dwyer look to transfer, said her mother, Claudy Dwyer.

"She'd like to play in a different environment," Claudy Dwyer said. "She wanted a program that fit her personality better. She's kind of a positive, laid-back kind of person. She wanted a program more like her. It was more what Maggie needed to do. I don't think she is a bitter person. She had to find a school that is a better fit for her."

Dwyer, a former sophomore guard, transferred to Missouri State.

Poff, a former freshman guard, transferred to Ohio for the opportunity to play more, she said.

"I love Michigan State, (but) God was leading me in a different direction," Poff said. "I have a better chance to play (at Ohio) than I think I would (at MSU). It was an extremely hard decision. I really wanted to stay."

Shives, a former freshman guard and the first McDonald's All-American to play at MSU, announced her decision to transfer in early April, and the next month she announced she was going to play at Gonzaga. She couldn't be reached for comment.

While it may seem like a trend that all three players left within months of each other, Poff said it was each individual's decision.

"We didn't all get up together and say, 'Hey, let's transfer,'" Poff said. "We talked to each other about it, but nothing was planned."

The common thread in all three cases is that each player is transferring to a school that isn't as acclaimed as MSU.

"They will be playing at a lower competition level," McCallie said. "It is more suited to what they want."

But that's a cost Poff is willing to accept.

"It is a big transition," Poff said. "Leaving all my friends — it is going to be hard. But I've got to do it."

Moving on

Dwyer, Shives and Poff combined to score only 5.2 points a game for MSU last season. But after graduating the school's top two all-time leading scorers, Liz Shimek and Lindsay Bowen, the three transfers likely would have played a larger role this season.

"It was a great opportunity for all members of our team to step up anytime you have movement," McCallie said.

Instead, the three transfers will have to sit out this season and forfeit a year of eligibility because of NCAA transfer rules.

And McCallie will rely more heavily on a highly touted freshman class, which includes guards Takeya Fortner, Amanda Piechowski and 6-foot-8 center Allyssa DeHaan.

"All three freshmen are extraordinarily promising — quite extraordinary, so committed," she said.

As Poff can attest, the road ahead for those freshmen won't be easy.

"I don't think a freshman can come in as an athlete and really know what to expect," Poff said. "There were so many surprises last year. It was much harder than you think. It was a tough year. I grew a lot as a freshman through an experience like that.

"It wasn't a mistake to go through Michigan State."

Laura Collins is the State News sports administration reporter. She can be reached at colli313@msu.edu.