NCAAW: May transfers take South Carolina again to the title in 2026?

Even earlier than UConn was topped because the 2025 nationwide champion, adjustments already have been sweeping throughout the ladies’s faculty basketball panorama. They usually’ll solely proceed.

Whereas many gamers will take their abilities to the WNBA, others have chosen to train their remaining eligibility. For an growing variety of gamers, that features their eligibility to switch, with the portal rapidly piling up with names searching for new locations.

Sustain with a number of the most consequential selections that may form the 2025-26 NCAAW season:

Okananwa opts for Maryland

The MVP of the 2025 ACC Match is shifting to the Massive Ten.

Oluchi Okananwa, who performed two seasons at Duke, has dedicated to Maryland. On her choice, she informed On3’s Talia Goodman, “What led to my choice was a deep belief in Coach Frese and the teaching employees to assist nurture me into the participant I do know I can turn out to be.”

Flau’jae joins new (tour) lineup

Kudos to Flau’jae Johnson, who, on the peak of portal season, teased a “main announcement” in a cryptic, thanks-filled Instagram submit.

The announcement? She’s happening tour. The scholar-athlete-rapper is touring with BossMan Dlow, beginning in Boston with stops in Toronto, Denver and Jacksonville.

What’s subsequent for Flau’jae?

“4 out.”

That’s what Flau’jae Johnson just lately posted on X/Twitter. On Instagram, that cryptic message was considerably clarified by a extra in depth submit the place she mirrored on the previous season, thanked her followers and shouted out her teammates earlier than writing, “To Louisiana State College, I’m without end indebted for the chance to pursue my desires. Keep tuned for a significant announcement quickly… 4 junior yr out!”

These messages counsel, however don’t but assure, that Johnson, who elected to not enter the 2025 WNBA Draft as an eligible junior, is transferring from LSU. If that’s the case, she’d be a part of a prepare of former Tigers out of Baton Rouge that already consists of Sa’Myah Smith, Final-Tear Poa, Aalyah Del Rosario and Jersey Wolfenbarger.

Okanawa’s going elsewhere

Oluchi Okanawa is ready to go away Duke after a stellar sophomore season that included being named the MVP of the 2025 ACC Match. The 5-foot-10 guard entered the portal with a “don’t contact” tag and reportedly has visited Maryland.

Fulwiley’s out at South Carolina

So, evidently South Carolina can have traded Ta’Niya Latson, the nation’s reigning main scorer, for MiLaysia Fulwiley, the electrical SEC Sixth Participant of the Yr. We’ll see how that alternate works out for Daybreak Staley and the Gamecocks.

For now, Fuwiley turns into the prize of the portal, an elite expertise with unusual aptitude who may supercharge a wayward program or take a title contender excessive. The 5-foot-10 guard who led South Carolina in scoring has two years of eligibility remaining.

McMahon commits to Ole Miss

Coach Yo continues to wash up within the switch, sweeping in Cotie McMahon from Ohio State. The 6-foot-0 ahead, who has one yr of eligibility remaining, joins three extra transfers in Kaitlin Peterson (UCF), Latasha Lattimore (UVA) and Jayla Murray (Wichita State) on a re-stocked Rebels group.

Barker, Jones and freshman bolt from UCLA

What’s Bruin in Westwood? Following a visit to the Ultimate 4, six Bruins have entered the switch portal, headlined by Janiah Barker and Londynn Jones. Final offseason, the 6-foot-4 Barker transferred to UCLA after two seasons at Texas A&M. The 5-foot-4 Jones has spent all three seasons of her faculty profession with the Bruins.

UCLA’s complete freshman class—Kendall Dudley, Elina Aarinsalo, Avary Cain and Zania Socka-Nguemen—is also exiting LA. Dudley already has dedicated to Michigan, whereas Cain dedicated to Oregon.

Samuels is leaving Storrs

Even the nationwide champions usually are not immune from the perceived promise of the portal. Qadence Samuels, who simply completed her sophomore season, will go away UConn. The 6-foot-0 guard had a restricted function for the Huskies this season. Final yr, when UConn was tormented by accidents, she noticed extra taking part in time.

Kneepkens considers blue-chip choices

Gianna Kneepkens, Utah’s main scorer who shot nearly 45 p.c from 3 in her senior season for the Utes, understandably has attracted curiosity from a number of the nation’s high applications. With one yr of eligibility remaining, she is scheduled to go to South Carolina, UCLA, Texas and Oklahoma.

South Carolina lands Latson

These stretches the place South Carolina struggled to attain? Downside solved.

Ta’Niya Latson, the nation’s main scorer for the 2024-25 season, is transferring from Florida State to South Carolina. She’ll turn out to be among the finest perimeter scorers to ever put on a Gamecocks jersey, forming an offense-defense backcourt partnership with Raven Johnson, her AAU teammate who she’s going to reunite with in Columbia, as Johnson is not going to go professional and return to South Carolina for her senior season. Latson additionally performed AAU ball with MiLaysia Fulwiley, a backcourt pairing that, when revived in Garnet and Black, will likely be one of many nation’s most electrical.

Miles strikes to TCU

Final yr, TCU head coach Mark Campbell lured Hailey Van Lith to Forth Price, an addition that resulted within the Horned Frogs making the Elite Eight for the primary time in program historical past.

This yr? Campbell has made an even bigger splash, convincing Olivia Miles to come back to TCU after the would-have-been No. 2 choose within the 2025 WNBA Draft determined to return to school, albeit not at Notre Dame. One other Notre Dame switch, Kylee Watson, will be a part of Miles at TCU.

How far can Miles take the Frogs? We’ll see. However Campbell’s repeated portal successes means that TCU shouldn’t be a only a “cute story,” however a burgeoning energy program.

Howell heads to Washington

Subsequent Kelsey Plum incoming? In all probability not, however Avery Howell will arrive in Seattle as essentially the most highly-touted hooper since Plum Dawg was pouring within the factors for the Huskies.

Howell, who surprisingly entered the portal after her freshman season at USC, has dedicated to Washington, which completed 19-14 general and 9-9 of their first season within the Massive Ten. The Huskies earned a First 4 berth into the NCAA Match as a No. 11 seed, however misplaced to Columbia earlier than making the sphere of 64.

Head coach Tina Langley additionally secured the dedication of Yulia Grabovskaia, a 6-foot-5 heart who simply accomplished her junior season at Michigan. She averaged 5.3 factors and 4.1 rebounds in lower than 14 minutes per recreation for the Wolverines.

South Carolina, Staley flip consideration to portal

Daybreak Staley is the among the finest at what she does as a result of she is attuned to pulse of the game and its gamers. In 2025, the throbbing of the switch portal is a part of the lifeblood of girls’s faculty basketball.

So, it shouldn’t be shocking that Staley was unabashed about asserting South Carolina’s portal ambitions after their loss within the nationwide championship recreation. In truth, she has clear visions about returning to the ultimate stage in 2026, boosted by transfers. Talking in her postgame presser, Staley shared, “I’m excited for what our group will appear to be subsequent yr. I’m, as a result of I do assume they’ll be gifted sufficient to get right here. Particularly with (us) getting within the switch portal and getting some skilled items that may assist with this younger group.”

She reiterated the sentiment when chatting with native media, noting that, though South Carolina didn’t have a “obvious want,” the group does “want some skilled gamers that may are available and contribute instantly and convey some management to a core group of younger gamers which are fairly gifted.”

She later added, “There’s some issues within the works that may make our group higher.” That’s an announcement that’s positive to encourage hypothesis!

May former Florida State tremendous scorer Ta’Niya Latson be on her method to Columbia? She was an AAU teammate of Raven Johnson, who’s a draft-eligible junior who has but to announce if she’s going to flip professional or return for her senior season, and when requested about Latson, Johnson mentioned, “I’d inform her let’s run it again…I’m gonna be in her ear”

Switch triumphs for Maryland

Maryland fan Zack Ward just lately wrote in regards to the feelings the switch portal has inflicted on Terrapin followers. To date, the 2025 portal is inspiring optimistic emotions, with head coach Brenda Frese securing commitments from Gracie Merkle and Yarden Garzon.

Merkle, a 6-foot-6 rising junior, performed her freshman season at Bellarmine earlier than transferring to Penn State. Her productiveness elevated along with her bounce to the Massive Ten, as she averaged 15.5 factors per recreation for the Girl Lions. Garzon performed three seasons for Indiana, taking pictures higher than 40 p.c from 3 yearly. As a junior, the 6-foot-3 Garzon averaged a career-best and team-leading 14.4 factors per recreation.

LSU provides Koval, loses Del Rosario

Kate Koval is headed from South Bend to Baton Rouge, committing to LSU after leaving Notre Dame following her freshman season. The 6-foot-5 Koval profiles because the type of board-grabbing, shot-blocking massive that head coach Kim Mulkey likes deputize inside.

It’s function that Aalyah Del Rosario struggled to fill throughout her two seasons at LSU. She’s now headed elsewhere, placing her title within the switch portal after a sophomore season wherein noticed simply over six minutes of taking part in time per recreation.

Flau’jae is not going to enter the WNBA Draft

As first reported by The Athletic, Flau’jae Johnson is not going to enter the WNBA Draft and play her senior season of faculty basketball. Based on ESPN, that season might be at LSU—or some other place, as Johnson may enter the switch portal, the place extra profitable NIL presumably await.

Yokie to look past basketball

Kansas State standout heart Ayoka Lee introduced that she is not going to enter the 2025 WNBA Draft.

After a seven-year faculty profession that noticed her battle a lot of lower-body accidents, Lee wrote on Instagram that “it’s essential to hearken to what your physique whispers to you earlier than it start to scream at you,” resulting in her choice to “forgo the draft and discover this subsequent season of life other than basketball.”

Howell, Heckel select to struggle elsewhere

Avery Howell, who stepped up for USC as a starter following JuJu Watkins’ season-ending harm, has entered the switch portal, a shocking choice contemplating she doubtless would have assumed a bigger function for the Trojans subsequent season as a result of Watkins’ prolonged absence.

A 6-foot-0 guard, Howell shot almost 40 p.c from 3, as she averaged 7.5 factors and three rebounds in additional than 20 minutes per recreation.

Someday later, fellow freshman Kayleigh Heckel introduced the she additionally plans to place her title within the portal. Whereas Heckel had a smaller function than Howell for the 2024-25 Trojans, the 5-foot-9 guard likewise was anticipated to turn out to be a extra essential contributor for USC subsequent season.

Miles makes shocking choice

Broadly projected to be the No. 2 general choose within the 2025 WNBA Draft, together with by our Eric Nemchock, Olivia Miles will as a substitute train her remaining yr of faculty eligibility and enter the switch portal.

After Notre Dame’s Candy 16 loss, Miles was noncommittal about her basketball future, indicating her perspective “simply adjustments day by day” and that she was “deciding between a bunch of things.” Miles cited faculty as “comfy, a spot the place your have safety,” in distinction to the WNBA the place “the volatility is up and down.”

Miles, who missed all of final season on account of a knee injured suffered on the finish of the 2022-23 common season, impressed in her return to the courtroom, persevering with to thrive as a inventive playmaker whereas bettering as a 3-point shooter.

Her skillset makes her the highest participant within the switch portal, positioning her to focus on this system she prefers to affix.

Extra Irish exits

Olivia Miles shouldn’t be the one participant leaving South Bend by way of the switch portal.

Kate Koval, a 6-foot-5 ahead who was the No. 5-ranked recruit within the class of 2024, has additionally put her title within the portal, as has Emma Risch, a 6-foot-1 guard who simply accomplished her sophomore season. Kylee Watson, a 6-foot-4 ahead who missed the 2024-25 season on account of harm, later added her title to portal.

Mixed with the graduations of Sonia Citron, Maddy Westbeld, Liatu King and Liza Karlen, Notre Dame, no less than in the intervening time, seems to be coping with a extreme roster deficit forward of the 2025-26 season.

Flau’jae mulls future

LSU’s Flau’jae Johnson, who has one yr of faculty eligibility remaining however, as a result of she’s going to flip 22 earlier than the top of the calendar yr, is eligible for the 2025 WNBA Draft, might NOT be heading again to campus.

After LSU was eradicated within the Elite Eight of the NCAA Match, Johnson shared that she remains to be deciding whether or not to return to LSU or enter the draft. A professional-draft choice by Johnson may encourage nightmares for WNBA basic managers who selected to commerce lottery picks.

LSU head coach Kim Mulkey provided nothing however assist and appreciation for Johnson, saying, “After I took the LSU job, Flau’jae was the primary McDonald’s All-American that I signed. I had not coached and received something at LSU, and he or she got here to LSU. So she jump-started our program….I’m without end indebted to Flau’Jae Johnson.”

Jada goes with Iowa State

Jada Williams, who was contemplating provides from a number of faculties after her exit from Arizona, has settled on Iowa State. Williams, a 5-foot-8 guard who will likely be getting into her junior season, may for a dynamic partnership with star Cyclone heart Audi Crooks, who beforehand made it clear that she wouldn’t be leaving Ames.

Extra losses for LSU?

Aneesah Morrow is off to the WNBA. Flau’jae Johnson could be as properly. And now, Sa’Myah Smith has entered the switch portal, which means head coach Kim Mulkey might need to cope with the lack of three starters from this season’s Elite Eight group.

Smith, a 6-foot-2 ahead, is recent off a formidable NCAA Match run.

Final-Tear Poa is also in search of a possibility elsewhere, with the 5-foot-11 guard placing her title within the portal after three seasons with the Tigers.

Coach Yo reloads

The portal taketh and the portal giveth.

So far, Ole Miss and head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin have been on the receiving finish of the portal’s blessings, securing commitments from 6-foot-4 rising tremendous senior ahead Latasha Lattimore out of Virginia, 5-foot-9 rising tremendous senior guard Kaitlin Peterson from UCF and 6-foot-1 rising senior ahead Jayla Murray from Wichita State.

Silva selects TCU

Clara Silva goes from the Bluegrass State to the Lone Star State, with the 6-foot-7 heart committing to TCU, the place she ought to slide because the Horned Frogs’ major frontcourt possibility on each ends of the ground.

Scott indicators with Baylor

As addressed beneath, Taliah Scott had entered the switch portal following Auburn’s dismissal of head coach Johnnie Harris. The rising junior guard has determined to move to Texas, becoming a member of Baylor and head coach Nicki Collen.

With the Bears positive to unfastened the providers of Sarah Andrews, Scott can slide in as a near-ideal lead scoring guard in Waco.

Azzi is sticking round in Storrs

Probably the most anticipated selections belonged to UConn’s Azzi Fudd, who was eligible to enter the 2025 WNBA Draft or keep in Storrs for a remaining faculty season. To the satisfaction of the Husky trustworthy, she selected to stay round.

Whereas projected because the No. 9 choose by our Eric Nemchock in his newest WNBA mock draft, and sure rising after her efficiency via the primary two rounds of the NCAA Match, Fudd needs to additional develop her recreation, and believes Connecticut is the most effective place to take action, telling ESPN that one other yr at UConn will enable her to “work on all the pieces I must work on.”

Fudd additionally shared particulars from her dialog with head coach Geno Auriemma about her choice course of with ESPN, revealing:

He mentioned, “I’d say 10 video games, perhaps, you’ve performed to your full potential of who Azzi Fudd actually is and so that you wouldn’t do your self justice leaving,. You would depart right here not doing what you could possibly in a UConn uniform.” I used to be like, “Yeah, he has a degree.”

On Fudd’s return, Auriemma mentioned to ESPN:

Having somebody of Azzi’s capability and the best way she will be able to simply management a recreation, she simply hasn’t had a possibility, at this level, to totally present who she is, what she will be able to do, what influence she will be able to have on our program and on faculty basketball. So hopefully being right here one other yr, having an injury-free yr, knock on wooden, can remind everyone that is the Azzi Fudd that was popping out of highschool, and might we get a full yr out of that? I’m as excited as anyone, our followers, anyone to see what can occur.

Williams headlines Arizona exodus

5 Arizona gamers have put their names within the switch portal, together with main scorer Jada Williams, who simply accomplished her sophomore season. An heralded recruit, Williams has but to have the influence imagined on the faculty stage, though her abilities ought to result in loads of inquiries from high-profile applications.

Williams revealed on Instagram that she already has visited Iowa. Different visits are anticipated.

Tremendous scorer leaving Seminoles?

The nation’s main scorer is the main title within the switch portal. Ta’Niya Latson, who averaged a Division I-best 25.2 factors per recreation as a junior at Florida State, is anticipated to take her abilities elsewhere.

Based on sources, Latson’s choice was not a shock to the Seminoles, with the tremendous scoring guard in line to command wealthy NIL provides from different applications. Though, Latson’s shut relationship with FSU head coach Brooke Wycoff may result in her returning to Tallahassee.

McMahon’s making a transfer

One in every of most eye-popping entries into the portal is Cotie McMahon, who has one yr of eligibility remaining after three seasons at Ohio State, the place she was a two-time All-Massive Ten First Workforce choice.

A bodily ahead who has improved an out of doors shooter, McMahon is more likely to entice inquiries from a lot of high applications.

ACC’s greatest bench participant places title in portal

ACC Sixth Participant of the Yr Dani Carnegie introduced on Instagram that she is getting into the portal. As a freshman, the guard averaged 12.9 factors and 4.5 rebounds for Georgia Tech.

Serah Williams to Storrs?

Head coach Marisa Moseley is out at Wisconsin, and it seems like Serah Williams additionally will depart Madison. In three seasons at Wisconsin, the 6-foot-4 ahead secured a pair of All-Massive Ten First Workforce honors. Williams is coming off a junior season wherein she averaged a close to double-double with 19.2 factors and 9.8 rebounds per recreation.

Based on Carl Adamec of CT Insider, UConn has expressed curiosity in Williams. It’s price noting that Moseley, who resigned from her submit at Wisconsin, served as an assistant at UConn from 2009 to 2018.

The place would possibly Scott rediscover her scoring groove?

One other teaching change has (presumably) sparked one other participant transfer. Auburn moved on from head coach Johnnie Harris, and guard Taliah Scott may transfer on from the Tigers. After spending her freshman season at Arkansas, the place she averaged nearly 22 factors per recreation, Scott’s tenure at Auburn by no means took off on account of harm, as she appeared in simply three video games.

The scoring expertise she flashed as a freshman understandably has enticed high applications, as Scott entered the portal with a “don’t contact” tag, indicating she has her most popular choices outlined. She reportedly has scheduled visits to Miami and LSU, though a return to Auburn, now below the management of former Norfolk State head coach Larry Vickers, stays into account.

Wheeler headlines NSU entries

Whereas Scott might not select to return to Auburn, may Kierra Wheeler head to the Plains, following Vickers from Norfolk State? The 6-foot-1 ahead who has one yr of eligibility remaining was a three-time All-MEAC choice, together with the 2023-24 MEAC Participant of the Yr, below Vickers, serving to to steer the Spartans to three-straight NCAA Match appearances.

Two different Spartans, Da’Brya Clark and Anjanae Richardson, even have entered the portal. Clark earned a spot on the All-MEAC Third Workforce this season, whereas Richardson was the MEAC Sixth Participant of the Yr.

Silva seeks new alternative

6-foot-7 Clara Silva, who simply accomplished her freshman season at Kentucky, has put her title within the portal with a “don’t contact” designation, which suggests, however doesn’t affirm, that she has new vacation spot already circled.

Behind rising junior Clara Strack within the Wildcats’ frontcourt rotation, it’s comprehensible that Silva could be in search of a program the place she could be assured to start out, or no less than see extra minutes. She averaged 12.5 minutes per recreation, scoring 4 factors, grabbing 2.6 rebounds and swatting 1.1 pictures.

Chavez makes choice later or Sooner

Aaliyah Chavez, the No. 1-ranked recruit within the class of 2025, had delayed making her faculty choice, selecting between Texas Tech, Texas, LSU, Oklahoma, South Carolina and UCLA.

The 5-foot-11 level guard from Lubbock, TX lastly introduced that she is headed to Norman, becoming a member of an Oklahoma Sooner squad that has superior to the Candy 16.