Louisville women’s basketball coach Jeff Walz on Skylar Jones status

• Louisville women’s basketball guard Skylar Jones is no longer with the program.
• Jeff Walz said the departure was “best for all parties” and does not expect it to significantly change the team’s rotation.
• The Louisville Cardinals open the NCAA Tournament vs. Vermont at noon Saturday at the KFC Yum! Center.

Louisville women’s basketball will finish the season without guard Skylar Jones.

The Arizona transfer is no longer with the program, according to head coach Jeff Walz, who said Jones’ departure is “best for all parties.”

“I think if you go back to the past month, it’s really not going to change much,” Walz said about the team’s rotation of players. “In our ACC (Tournament) finals, Mack (Mackenly Randolph) played all 45 minutes. … We have plenty of players. At this time of year, look what Sienna men did with five. You’re just putting your best ones out there. Unless they’re in foul trouble or they’re about to just keel over and die because they’re exhausted, you keep playing them.”

Jones was one of the program’s three transfer additions this season. She started against Clemson on Nov. 16, but returned to her reserve role after with Anaya Hardy moving into the starting spot less than a month later. Jones played in 34 games this season, averaging 8.4 points and 2.9 rebounds per game off the bench.

She played a season-high 32 minutes and scored 21 points in the Cards’ win over Colorado in November and had another 20-point game against Ball State on Dec. 10. But Jones’ production had decreased recently: She only played 9.2 minutes and scored 4.8 points with 2.4 rebounds over the last five games.

Louisville (27-7), a three seed, is set to open the NCAA Tournament against No. 14-seeded Vermont (27-7) at noon Saturday at the KFC Yum! Center.

• TV channel: ESPN
• Stream: Fubo (free trial)

Louisville will tip off vs. Vermont on ESPN. Streaming options include Fubo, which offers a free trial.

• Date: Saturday, March 21
• Time: Noon

Louisville and Vermont will play at noon Saturday at the KFC Yum! Center.

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Friday.

• Spread: Louisville is a 26½-point favorite (-110)
• Over/under: 121½ points (-110)
• Moneyline: N/A

• STUBHUB: Starting at $96 for an all-sessions ticket.

Reach Louisville football, women’s basketball and baseball beat writer Alexis Cubit at acubit@gannett.com and follow her on X at @Alexis_Cubit.