Twelve transfers reshape college basketball landscape

The 2026 transfer portal cycle concluded with a massive reshuffling of talent across the nation. Approximately 1,600 women entered the system, driven by the decimation of rosters at Stanford, Iowa State, and Tennessee. These three programs lost the majority of their previous squads, creating a void that other universities scrambled to fill. The result is a new season where established stars now wear different jerseys.

Audi Crooks heads the list of players expected to alter team dynamics immediately. The 6-foot-3 senior center transferred from Iowa State to Oklahoma State. She was the No. 2 scorer in Cyclones history and averaged 25.8 points per game last season. Her arrival provides Oklahoma State with a dominant inside presence. The Cowgirls added considerable star power through the portal, and Crooks anchors that interior attack.

Addy Brown, a 6-foot-2 senior forward, moved from Iowa State to defending champion UCLA. Brown averaged 13.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 5.2 assists during her final year with the Cyclones. She missed 11 games due to injury. Coach Cori Close at UCLA must replace her top six players from last season’s national championship team. Brown represents one of the key additions to that rebuilding effort.

Tennessee also suffered heavy losses. Talaysia Cooper, a 6-foot-0 senior guard, left the Lady Vols for Ole Miss. She averaged 16.6 points last season and shot 34.3% from three-point range. Her length is expected to benefit Ole Miss under Coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin. Madison St. Rose, a 5-foot-10 graduate guard, transferred from Princeton to Notre Dame. She exhausted her eligibility at Princeton because Ivy League rules do not allow graduate years. She will partner with star Hannah Hidalgo.

Jordan Lee, a 6-foot-0 junior guard, moved from Texas to rival South Carolina. Lee was the Longhorns’ No. 2 scorer, averaging 13.2 points per game. She is known for her perimeter defense and joins a strong Gamecocks roster. Aaliyah Crump, a 6-foot-1 sophomore forward, also left Texas for Duke. Crump averaged 7.9 points last season but played in only 24 games due to injury. She shot 32% from three-point range and adds another offensive option for Kara Lawson’s team.

Nunu Agara, a 6-foot-2 senior forward, transferred from Stanford to Maryland. Agara averaged 11.4 points and 6.1 rebounds over her three seasons at Stanford. In the most recent year, she posted 15.3 points and 8.7 rebounds. Her experience will provide leadership for a young Maryland squad. Liv McGill, a 5-foot-9 junior guard, moved from Florida to Oklahoma State. She averaged 22.5 points, 6.3 assists, and 6.1 rebounds for the Gators. With Crooks now on the same team, McGill may have more support in the paint.

Dani Carnegie, a 5-foot-9 junior guard, is making her second transfer to Iowa. She averaged 17.8 points for Georgia last year and 12.9 as a freshman at Georgia Tech. Jada Williams, a 5-foot-8 senior guard, joins LSU for her third team. After stops at Arizona and Iowa State, Williams averaged 15.3 points and 7.7 assists for the Cyclones. Donovyn Hunter, a 6-foot-0 senior guard, moves to UCLA for her third team. She reached the Elite Eight at Oregon State and TCU. Last season, she averaged 10.2 points and 3.2 rebounds for TCU.

Kate Koval, a 6-foot-5 junior center, is the latest addition to the class. The NCAA granted her a waiver in August to leave LSU for Baylor. Koval is on her third school in three seasons, having started at Notre Dame. She averaged 8.3 points and 6.3 rebounds for the Tigers last year. Her size offers a solid interior presence for the Bears this season.