The new-look Pac-12 Conference on the women’s side has a chance to be highly competitive from top to bottom. Of the nine teams, five of them (Gonzaga, Oregon State, Boise State, Colorado State and San Diego State) won at least 20 games last season. Two (Gonzaga and Colorado State) made the NCAA Tournament.
Yet based on how the other teams in the conference have used the transfer portal, no team should be discounted for the 2026-27 season. Here’s a look at the top 20 newcomers for the rebuilt Pac-12.
1. Camryn Runner, 5-foot-8 junior guard, Colorado State
2025-26 stats (Evansville): 18.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 5.3 assists
The former Missouri Valley Conference Rookie of the Year was second in the league in both scoring and assists. Runner shot 42 percent from the field and not only had a 36-point outing against Drake, but also produced a 19-point triple-double in an overtime loss to Belmont. The Rams lost leading scorer and 5-foot-9 guard Lexus Bargesser this offseason, and Runner is set up to be the next lead guard in the offense.
2. Eva DeChent, 5-foot-11 senior guard, San Diego State
2025-26 stats (New Hampshire): 18.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists
DeChent was the lone double-digit scorer for New Hampshire last year and is a two-time All-America East performer. The veteran guard shot 43 percent from the field and 30 percent from deep and produced multiple 30-plus point outings, including 34 points and 11 assists against NJIT. DeChent will be paired with 5-foot-8 junior guard Naomi Panganiban, who led the Aztecs with 14.6 points per game last season.
3. Crystal Henderson, 5-foot-5 senior guard, Texas State
2025-26 stats (Georgia State): 16.7 points, 4.1 assists
The veteran playmaker started 92 games in three years at Georgia State, earning all-league honors after a breakout third year. Henderson was in double figures in 28 of 29 games, including a 27-point outing against Appalachian State. Texas State brings back 5-foot-8 junior guard and leading scorer Saniya Burks (14.4 points per game), and the addition of Henderson gives them one of the top backcourts in the Pac-12.
4. Lay Fantroy, 5-foot-11 senior guard, Texas State
2025-26 stats (Delaware): 10.2 points, 8.1 rebounds
Fantroy has played at three different schools throughout her college career (Ohio, Texas Southern, Delaware), producing at a similar rate at each. She’s coming off career-high rebounding numbers, including a 16-point and 20-rebound game at American. The Pac-12 will have plenty of size, so for a program coming over from the Sun Belt and won’t be as big, Fantroy’s impact on the boards will be important.
5. Sophie Sene, 6-foot-3 senior center, Colorado State
2025-26 stats (Utah State): 9.2 points, 6.3 rebounds
Sene started 32 games the last two years at Utah State, shooting career-high numbers of 47 percent from the field and 48 percent from three-point range on 36 attempts last season. She had eight double-digit scoring outings, including 19 points and 13 rebounds against San Jose State. Sene is set to replace the outgoing 6-foot-3 big Madelyn Bragg as the projected starting center next season.
6. Alayna Kraus, 5-foot-8 junior guard, San Diego State
2025-26 stats (Southern Illinois): 15.8 points, 1.7 assists
In her lone year at Southern Illinois, Kraus led the team in scoring, shooting 41 percent from the field and 30 percent from deep. The veteran playmaker had eight games of at least 20 points, including 30 in a win over Illinois State. While San Diego State brings back two perimeter starters and added DeChent, Kraus could easily be the sixth player, giving the Aztecs a scoring boost in the second unit.
7. Rubi Gray, 5-foot-10 junior guard, Fresno State
2025-26 stats (Sacramento State): 14.2 points, 2.8 rebounds
In Gray’s first year as a full-time starter, she led the Hornets in scoring. The Australian guard shot 34 percent from three-point range on nearly seven attempts a game and had five games of 20-plus points. One of those was 26 points and 11 rebounds against Northern Arizona. With the Bulldogs losing both lead guards this offseason, Gray has the chance to step in as the top scorer for another West Coast team.
8. Acacia Hayes, 5-foot-8 senior guard, Utah State
Career stats (Western Kentucky): 12 points, 1.7 assists
Hayes originally left Western Kentucky for Arizona State but didn’t play last season (unspecified). She was a double-digit scorer for all three years at Western Kentucky, shooting 45 percent from the field in her career. For a Utah State program that won just six games last season, Hayes is badly needed in the Aggies’ efforts to be competitive in the Pac-12.
9. Cali Denson, 5-foot-8 senior guard, Texas State
2025-26 stats (Oakland in 10 games): 12.2 points, 1.4 assists
While only playing in 10 total games last season, Denson made a big impact in terms of her shooting. She shot 40 percent from three-point range on six attempts per game and had six games with at least 14 points during that short span. As a likely sixth player, Denson should give the Bobcats a nice scoring boost and someone who can space the floor.
10. Nayli Padilla, 5-foot-11 junior guard, San Diego State
2025-26 stats (New Mexico): 8.0 points, 1.9 assists
Padilla was an effective bench piece for the Lobos in the last two years, shooting 35 percent from deep on 4.6 attempts per game. She had 12 games of at least 10 points, including 19 against Cincinnati in the nonconference. Look for Padilla to be another key bench piece for the Aztecs.
11. Mekhia Chase, 5-foot-7 senior guard, Fresno State
2025-26 stats (North Texas): 6.8 points, 3.4 rebounds
Chase started five games out of 32 in her lone year at North Texas, shooting 35 percent from the field. She had 12 double-digit scoring games, including 20 points against Texas-San Antonio. Fresno State will need Chase’s scoring production as either a starter or sixth player.
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12. Jada Hunter, 5-foot-10 senior guard, Fresno State
2025-26 stats (Saint Mary’s): 5.8 points, 2.3 assists
Hunter started 18 games with the Gaels last season, shooting 39 percent from the field and being an impactful defender, averaging 2 steals per game. She had seven double-digit scoring games, including back-to-back 15-point outings against Washington State and Santa Clara. Her experience against the former WCC teams in the Pac-12 should be helpful in Fresno State’s new backcourt.
13. Lucija Milkovic, 6-foot-6 senior center, Texas State
2025-26 stats (Seattle): 6.2 points, 3.8 rebounds
After just 15 games in two years at Missouri, Milkovic was an impact big for the RedHawks, starting 13 games and averaging 16 minutes. She shot 44 percent from the field and had five double-digit scoring games, including 14 points and seven rebounds against Portland State. She gives Texas State needed size as the likely starting center.
14. Ivy Brown, 6-foot senior forward, Fresno State
2025-26 stats (Texas-Rio Grande Valley): 5.2 points, 3.2 rebounds
The veteran forward started 11 games for the Vaqueros last season, shooting an efficient 51 percent from the field and 38 percent from three-point range on 29 total attempts. Brown had a pair of 15-point games, including 15 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists in an overtime win over New Orleans. After losing several rotation frontcourt players, Fresno State will look to Brown to fill those roles.
15. CJ Latta, 5-foot-10 junior guard, Boise State
2025-26 stats (San Diego State): 2.8 points, 1.2 rebounds
Latta spent a season at both San Diego State and Utah State, although her freshman numbers with the Aggies (9.1 points and 2.3 assists per game) put her in a much better light. She shoots threes at a 35-percent clip for her career and has played well against now-Pac 12 programs, giving a rebuilding Boise State roster a legit rotational piece.
16. Grace Foster, 5-foot-10 junior guard, Boise State
2025-26 stats (Utah): 3.1 points, 1.3 rebounds
Foster averaged 11.6 minutes per game off the bench last season and had a 17-point outing against Kansas State in Big 12. Seventy-five percent of her field goal attempts have come from beyond the arc, making 34 percent of those shots. The hope for the Broncos is that the Australian guard can find a larger role with the Pac-12 program.
17. Zawadi Ogot, 5-foot-11 junior guard, Fresno State
2025-26 stats (LMU): 4.0 points, 2.0 rebounds
Ogot was primarily a bench player last season at LMU but she was fairly efficient overall, shooting 50 percent from the field. She had three straight double-digit scoring outings during the nonconference, including 13 points against Weber State. Look for Ogot to add to the depth for the Bulldogs on the perimeter.
18. Lisa Thompson, 5-foot-9 senior guard, Utah State
2025-26 stats (Missouri): 3.9 points, 1.5 assists
Between her three years at both Rutgers and Missouri, Thompson has 43 career starts and plenty of high-major experience. She shot a career-high 41 percent from the field and had a trio of double-digit scoring games, including 14 points in 15 minutes off the bench against Georgia. She has the chance to be a consistent rotational piece for the Aggies backcourt.
19. Heidur Karlsdottir, 6-foot-4 junior center, Colorado State
2025-26 stats (Wyoming): 2.8 points, 3.2 rebounds
Karlsdottir was effective coming off the bench for the Cowgirls, shooting 57 percent from the field in 15 minutes per game. She was solid against Pac-12 competition, including 3 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists against the same Rams squad she’ll be playing for this year. Colorado State hopes she’ll provide solid backup minutes inside behind Sene.
20. Lola Donez, 5-foot-11 junior guard, Fresno State
2025-26 stats (Cal): 2.4 points, 0.8 assists
The scoring guard from Hawaii averaged 16 minutes per game off the bench as a sophomore, shooting 37 percent from the field. Donez had a trio of 9-point games last season in limited production but could be a breakout candidate in the Pac-12, coming down a level from the ACC.
Meet your guide
