Offseason Moves in Women’s College Basketball

It seems the whirlwind of transfers in women’s college basketball has slowed down a bit after following Kamille Pierrel’s recent update from her time at North Carolina and Vanderbilt.

Now, we’re gearing up for the 2025-26 season.

Since March Madness wrapped up, various teams have made significant changes through the transfer portal, high school recruitment, and coaching adjustments. Some teams, like TCU and Ole Miss, have been particularly proactive, while others like UCLA and LSU have effectively blended transfer acquisitions with promising new freshmen.

Let’s look more closely at a few teams that have notably enhanced their rosters this offseason, evaluating how they compare to last year’s squads.

UCLA

The Bruins faced some losses this offseason, with six players leaving, including starters like Rondin Jones and key contributors like Jania Barker and Elina Alinisaro. However, they seem well-positioned to recover thanks to some strong incoming talent.

They’ve added Gianna Kunkens, a top-notch three-point shooter from Utah who had an impressive near 50-40-90 season. Additionally, they’re welcoming Lauren Betts’ younger sister, Siena, who has quickly made a name for herself as one of the best freshmen in the nation. At 6-foot-4, she recently showcased her skills on the US national team, racking up 21 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks in a commanding win over China.

UCLA has potential again to make a Final Four run, but they’ll face a tough schedule that could challenge their progress early on.

Clemson

The Tigers emerged from the transfer portal season looking strong as they embark on Sean Poppy’s second year. Following a solid finish last season, capped off with a win in the ACC tournament against Stanford, they’ve brought in a host of talented veterans that could be crucial this year.

Their newcomers include standout players like Rusne Augustinaite from Georgia Tech and Taylor Johnson-Matthews from Wake Forest, along with Demeara Hinds, who averaged 14.5 points per game last season at DePaul.

Two top-100 recruits are also joining Clemson, Holland Harris and Amai Jackson, which adds further promise to the upcoming season.

Ole Miss

Yolett McPhee-McCuin has consistently made impactful moves in the transfer portal each offseason. This year was no different, as Ole Miss welcomed eight new transfers to reshape their lineup.

The standout among these is Cotie McMahon, a versatile forward who has performed exceptionally well in the Big Ten. Last season, she averaged 16.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game, showcasing her talents significantly.

Another significant addition is Kaitlin Peterson from UCF, who had an impressive season averaging 21.4 points per game. Latasha Lattimore and Denim Deshields also represent notable additions to the roster.

Miami

After a disappointing season under head coach Tricia Kallop, where Miami missed the ACC tournament with a record of 14-15, there’s been a complete overhaul of the roster. Out of the 12 players who saw significant play last season, only one, sophomore guard Anay Adams, is returning.

New faces include seven transfers and four freshmen from ESPN’s top 100 for the 2025 class. Lead among the transfers is Gal Raviv, a former guard from Quinnipiac who had a solid freshman year, averaging 17.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.3 assists while shooting 44.8% from the field.

Other newcomers include Jessica Peterson from SMU, a forward averaging 12 rebounds per game, 6-foot-6 Florida center Ra Shaya Kyle, and USF guard Vittoria Blasigh. This revamped roster looks to have the potential to reach the NCAA tournament.

TCU

Although Olivia Miles has had a successful season compared to Haley Van Lith, averaging 15.4 points, 5.8 assists, and 5.6 rebounds, she noted a notable career-high 40.6% from three-point range last year. After entering the transfer portal, she became a standout player.

In addition to improving their point guard situation, Mark Campbell has addressed the center position with 6-foot-7 Clara Silver from Kentucky, and they’ve also added another post player, 6-foot-7 Kennedy Basham, which should enhance their frontcourt depth.

TCU further bolstered its roster with Marta Suarez from Cal and guard Taliyah Parker from Texas A&M.

LSU

Under Kim Mulkey’s leadership, the team has faced significant changes, with multiple key players graduating or transferring. Even so, returning guards Fraughe Johnson and Mikayla Williams are likely to take on larger roles. The coaching staff worked hard this offseason to gather new talent around them.

LSU has added dynamic guard Milaysia Fulwiley from South Carolina, while also securing Notre Dame’s Kate Cobalt, along with versatile winger Amiya Joyner from East Carolina.

In addition to these notable newcomers, LSU has brought in four top-100 recruits from ESPN, with two making it to the top 10 in Grace Knox and Zakiyah Johnson.