2022 ACC Champion Liberty Williams has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal after three seasons at Louisville. A distance freestyler, Williams has finished in the top three of the 1650 free at the ACC Championships in each of her three years of college swimming so far.
“There are no words to express my gratitude to my teammates, coaches, and support staff throughout my time at UofL for allowing me to be a part of their family and for helping me grow in and out of the pool,” Williams told SwimSwam on Thursday. “With that said, I’ve made the decision to enter the transfer portal for the next year of my eligibility. Louisville swimming & diving is simply not the right fit for me moving forward. I know that it is the best decision for my well-being and health, both mental and physical. While I am sad to see this chapter closing, I am excited for what the future holds.”
As a freshman in 2021, she finished 2nd in the mile at ACCs in 16:06.56, qualifying for her first NCAA Championship meet. There, she placed 51st in the 500 ree and 26th in the mile.
Her big breakthrough came in her sophomore season, where she swam 15:43.21 to win her first ACC title and hit an NCAA “A” standard. She added time at NCAAs, but still finished 13th in the 1650 free (16:04.15) for her first All-American honor.
She finished 2nd in the 500 free at ACCs (4:38.82) and 20th at NCAAs (4:42.24) in 2022. That year was her best point output at ACCs, finishing with 69 for the Cardinals.
In 2023, her times at ACCs were more tempered, finishing 3rd in the mile in 16:03.60 and 7th in the 500 in 4:41.63. But it was also the first time where she dropped time at the NCAA Championships, ending her year in 9th place at nationals in the mile in 15:55.29. That helped the Cardinals to a program-best 4th place finish at the 2023 NCAA Championship meet.
Sunday, April 30, is the final opportunity for women’s NCAA Division I swimmers & divers to enter the Transfer Portal this season, though there is an exemption for graduate transfers. Men have until Sunday, May 7, with the dates being set 60 days after NCAA Championship invites were sent out.
Williams’ time progression at Louisville:
| HS Best | Freshman | Sophomore | Junior | |
| 500 | 4:46.19 | 4:44.05 (ACCs) | 4:38.82 (ACCs) | 4:41.63 (ACCs) |
| 1650 | 16:21.09 | 16:06.56 (ACCs) | 15:43.21 (ACCs) |
15:55.29 (NCAAs)
|
The rising senior has two years of eligibility remaining including the bonus COVID-19 5th year.
Williams attended Redlands East Valley High School in Southern California, where she won back-to-back CIF – Southern Section Division II titles in the 500 free as a sophomore and a junior (her senior season was canceled by the COVID-19 pandemic).
She also won multiple Sectionals titles in high school, including sweeping the 500, 1000, and 1650 free at the Carlsbad Sectionals in February 2020.
Who is the best college distance coach these days?
Florida cones to mind but who else?
It’s really sad how much distance freestyle has been struggling lately in the NCAA. This year of 4:36 won the 500 free, wouldn’t have even gotten fourth at winter juniors. Coaches are focusing way too much on sprinting at the moment, and we need someone to incorporate what Ron Aitken and Bruce Gemmell are doing.
Good luck getting athletes to buy in to 26 hour training weeks when the last 6 hours are voluntary, the sprinters are doing 19, and they have a full class load. Used to be typical that teams practiced way more than 20 and athletes just did it, but the rules are more strictly enforced now and the athletes know the rules. There’s a reason why the Sandpiper national group is homeschooled, same with Summer.
Would be fitting if she transferred to Liberty
Liberty Biberty
Reminds me of Meredith Cavalier at UVA a few years back.
Cav-an Gormsen.
Bama distance group looking real good for her
Florida? Train with the legendary distance group: Ledecky, Sims, Pennington, Weyant, Mattes, Auld, Bauer, DeBeor, and DeGeorge.
Notre Dame?
Does she have 1 or 2 years of eligibility left?
Only one year of eligibility left? So she is just transferring for Senior year?
Two. Senior + COVID year.