The women’s college basketball transfer portal has closed, although one standout, Kayleigh Heckel from USC, has made a move to a different team.
With the roster shifts, excitement builds for the upcoming season. Some teams, including Ole Miss, TCU, Maryland, and LSU, have emerged as notable winners from the portal, promising a more competitive landscape. Meanwhile, questions linger for teams like Notre Dame, which has seen significant talent leave.
As we embark on a new season, it’s worth examining the top contenders. Six months before the 2025-26 season kicks off, here’s a look at the preliminary rankings.
Just missed: USF, Clemson, SMU, Illinois, Louisville, West Virginia
25. Iowa
24. Notre Dame
23. NC State
The Hawkeyes still find themselves among the top 25 despite losing Aaliyah Guyton to Illinois and facing challenges in the portal. However, they did bring in a promising young guard from Georgia Tech. Notre Dame and North Carolina have both been solid ACC teams recently but haven’t made major moves in the portal after losing much of their core from last season’s Sweet 16. They’ll hope their returning players, Hannah Hidalgo and Zoe Brooks, can lead them deep into the postseason again.
22. Ohio
21. Richmond
20. Iowa
19. Michigan
18. Kansas
The Wildcats have not only secured three top 100 recruits but also added three promising transfers, including Tess Heal, Izela Arenas, and Ramiya White. Heal, a player known for her impressive shooting at Stanford, is expected to fill the gap left by Serena Sandel at point guard. However, they will need to adapt after losing the formidable frontcourt of the Yoka Lee era.
17. Oklahoma
16. Baylor
15. Kentucky
14. Vanderbilt
13. Ole Miss
Ole Miss has emerged as one of the biggest winners in the transfer portal, adding eight players after a strong Sweet 16 run. Notable additions include national scorer Kaitlin Peterson from UCF and All-Big Ten forward Cotie McMahon, alongside two transfers with SEC experience who’ll add depth and competition.
12. Duke
11. North Carolina
North Carolina made some effective moves in the portal, bringing in Louisville’s Naira Harris and UCLA’s Elina Arnizaro, positioning themselves to compete for a high seed in the NCAA tournament. Duke has its eyes on replacing ACC tournament MVP Oluchi Okananwa and the reliable Vanessa Dejesus.
10. Texas
9. Oklahoma
8. USC
7. Tennessee
The Lady Vols, known for their fast-paced play led by Kim Caldwell, are looking to fill gaps by adding three rotation players from various schools, including Nya Robertson from SMU and Janiah Barker from UCLA. Barker has potential that many believe she has yet to tap into, which could lead to a significant impact in Knoxville.
6. TCU
5. Maryland
4. UCLA
After an outstanding season, TCU faces a rebuild due to the departure of key players. Coach Mark Campbell secured top point guard Olivia Miles from Notre Dame and added other significant players to strengthen their lineup. Combined with returning talent, they are poised for another strong run.
Maryland also shined in the portal, acquiring key players from Duke and Indiana, enhancing their roster significantly. Highly regarded guard Okananwa is noted for swinging games, especially during the postseason.
Although UCLA lost several players from their Final Four roster, they successfully recruited the best shooter from the portal, Gianna Kunkens from Utah, joining an already strong team.
3. South Carolina
2. UCONN
1. LSU
While it’s debatable which teams deserve the preseason top spot, LSU, led by Kim Mulkey, made significant additions, including star Milasia Fullyley, strengthening their roster. With the addition of height and versatility from new recruits, they are well-positioned for a national title run.
UCONN returns strong players and has added Serra Williams from Wisconsin, further enhancing their chances to defend their title.
Meanwhile, South Carolina, despite losing key players, has bolstered its lineup by bringing in top scorers and retains a solid foundation, likely setting them up for another deep tournament run.
