There is no slowing down the chaos around the transfer portal. So far there have been 1,421 portal entries, with 369 commitments. That’s a lot of movement to keep track of. So, to make things easier, here are the portal storylines you should be paying attention to:
TCU Establishes Itself as the Destination for Transfers
Signing Hailey Van Lith last season was huge for TCU in terms of boosting its desirability for transfers. After she had her best season in her five-year college career, Van Lith’s draft stock rocketed and she was picked 11th by the Chicago Sky. Her development proved that players can find success under coach Mark Campbell. That led to the signing of Olivia Miles, a former Notre Dame star, who shocked the country with her decision to leave the Irish. “Coach Campbell is one of the greatest in the game,” Miles said on TNT when she announced her commitment. “He has a very direct plan for me and for our team.” That plan includes cleaning up in the portal to find talent to play alongside Miles, including 6-foot-3 forward Marta Suarez (Cal), 6-foot-7 center Clara Silva (Kentucky), 6-foot-1 guard Taliyah Parker (Texas A&M) and 6-foot-7 forward Kennedy Bansham (Arizona State). They join key returning guards Taylor Bigby and Donovyn Hunter and former Kentucky standout Maddie Scherr, who didn’t play last year due to injury. Campbell has already built a championship level roster, but his portal success is more than that. It also makes TCU the most-desirable location for transfers for seasons to come.
Notre Dame Loses Most of its Roster
Miles wasn’t the only player to make a move out of South Bend. In addition to graduating guards Sonia Citron and Maddy Westbeld and forward Liatu King, Notre Dame lost three players (as well as Miles) to the transfer portal. Former top-5 recruit and 6-foot-5 freshman Kate Koval is heading for LSU, 6-foot-1 sophomore guard Emma Risch committed to Florida State and 6-foot-4 senior forward Kylee Watson is signing with Villanova. That leaves coach Niele Ivey with a very thin roster with only sophomore guards Hannah Hidalgo and Cassandre Prosper and junior KK Bransford who missed the 2024-25 campaign with an injury. The Irish are coming off an Elite Eight appearance, but the mass exodus proves that no matter how successful a team is, the portal is unpredictable and can impact any squad. Ivey has filled two roster spots with transfers of her own, 6-foot-4 junior Gisella Sanchez (Kansas State) and 6-foot-3 junior Malaya Cowles (Wake Forest), but the Irish have a ways to go in order to build a competitive team.
UCLA and USC Freshmen on the Move
Two other successful programs, UCLA, who is coming off a Final Four, and USC, who lost in the Elite Eight without star sophomore guard JuJu Watkins, are also being impacted by the portal. UCLA’s entire freshman class, which included two five-star recruits, one four-star recruit and a standout Finnish guard Elina Aarnisalo are all transferring, as well as junior and former No. 3 recruit in the class of 2022, Janiah Barker, and junior sharpshooter Londynn Jones. Despite the seemingly-daunting numbers, UCLA isn’t in too bad of shape. The freshman class didn’t see much time due to depth at all positions and that likely wasn’t going to change next season. As for Barker, despite her immense talent, she never seemed to find her footing, and with the No. 2 recruit in the class of 2025, 6-foot-4 forward Sienna Betts coming in, her position is already filled. Jones is the most impactful departure for UCLA, as she was the team’s top three-point shooting threat. The Bruins need to sign a shooter in the portal.
As for cross-town rival USC, two freshman guards who saw significant time this season in guards Kayleigh Heckel (6.1 points, 1.9 assists per game) and Avery Howell (7.4 points, 40 percent shooting from three-point range). Howell has already signed with Washington, while Heckel is reportedly being wooed by schools like UConn and Notre Dame. Like UCLA, USC has plenty of depth to lean on, with four other freshmen including starting guard Kennedy Smith, ready to take on bigger roles. They are also bringing in Georgia Tech junior guard Kara Dunn, who averaged 15.5 points and 5.8 rebounds last season, and the No.1 recruit in the upcoming class, 6-foot-1 guard Jazzy Davidson. The guard spot is in good shape, but USC is going to need bigs after graduating most of its size in Kiki Iriafen, Rayah Marshall and Clarice Akunwafo.
Utah’s Gianna Kneepkens Visiting Four Schools
Anyone who needs a scorer, particularly one who can shoot, was thrilled to see Utah’s 6-foot junior guard Gianna Kneepkens hit the portal. She averaged 19.3 points last season, shooting 50.4 percent from the field, 44.8 percent from beyond the arc and 89 percent from the free throw line. Kneepkens will have her pick of schools, but she is planning visits to UCLA, South Carolina, Texas and Oklahoma, all of which are in need of three-point shooting. Kneepkens could elevate each school to be a legitimate title contender.
Latson In, Fulwiley Out at South Carolina
Once the country’s leading scorer, 5-foot-8 junior guard Ta’Niya Latson was in the portal, it didn’t take long for Dawn Staley to sign the former Florida State star. Latson, who averaged 25.2 points per game, adds a much-needed true-scoring guard to South Carolina’s roster. Other than Latson, the Gamecocks don’t have a guard who averages more than 8.4 points per game. She is the kind of player that can get a bucket at any given time, which is exactly what South Carolina needed. When Latson signed, there were rumblings about sophomore guard MiLaysia Fulwiley finding a new home. She officially entered the portal on Thursday. Fulwiley will have plenty of suitors. Despite coming off the bench for SC, she was the team’s second-leading scorer, averaging 11.7 points per game in 18.9 minutes of action. Fulwiley plays a fast-paced, free-flowing style of offense and she will want to land somewhere that gives her freedom to create.
Duke’s Oluchi Okananwa Signs with Maryland
Sophomore guard Oluchi Okananwa was a major contributor for Duke off the bench all season, particularly on the defensive end, but she found her offensive stride in the second half of the season. In Duke’s ACC Championship win over NC State, Okananwa showed her potential, finishing with 22 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and one steal. Okananwa is a high-energy, athletic player who can make things happen at both ends of the court. Her list of suitors included UConn, UCLA, South Carolina and Notre Dame, but Okananwa ultimately chose Maryland, announcing her commitment on Friday. The Terrapins had success in the portal last season, including 6-foot guard Kaylene Smikle (Rutgers), who averaged 17.9 points and 4.4 rebounds. She will be back next season to play alongside Okananwa. The former Duke guard is Maryland’s third portal signee of the offseason, joining 6-foot-3 junior guard Yarden Garzon who averaged 14.4 points and shot 41 percent from the three-point line at Indiana, and 6-foot-6 sophomore center Gracie Merkle out of Penn State. She averaged 15.5 points and 6.6 rebounds per game.
Top Post Serah Williams Visiting LSU
After success with transfer posts Angel Reese and Annesah Morrow, LSU has made itself a desirable landing spot. Former Wisconsin star, 6-4 junior Serah Williams, who averaged 19.2 points, 9.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.3 blocks per game this year, is reportedly visiting LSU this weekend. Other top programs, like UConn and South Carolina are also in the hunt for Williams. She proved herself capable of performing against top competition this season, despite playing for a struggling team, scoring 22 points against UCLA, 19 against USC and 24 against Maryland. Williams also had a career-high 36 points and 14 rebounds against Butler this season.
