With most transfers having landed at their destinations, it’s time to relook at the way-too-early top-25 ranking from the end of the season. A few weeks remain for players to go into the portal, which has seen 1,500 entrants.
The rich got richer in many cases (hello, UConn and South Carolina), but a few teams enjoyed successful transfer hauls that ushered them into the top 25 (welcome, Maryland).
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Let’s get to it:
UConn and South Carolina remain at top
The Huskies added Wisconsin transfer Serah Williams, perhaps the most sought-after transfer because of her unique skills and size. Her inside abilities would have allowed her to fit into most teams pretty seamlessly. Joining the reigning champs? Not bad. She’ll solidify the interior, where the Huskies struggled with Jana El Alfy’s and Ice Brady’s foul troubles, while freeing up Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong’s playmaking.
South Carolina’s additions of Ta’Niya Latson and Madina Okot impressed and intrigued. The Gamecocks, who largely take a committee approach, adding the nation’s leading scorer was no small feat. Latson attempted 20 shots a game last season, nearly twice as many as the Gamecocks’ leader in field goal attempts. She will be playing in a different system with different expectations, but nobody goes to South Carolina without understanding how its system works. Expect her shot numbers to decrease, but unlike at Florida State, she’ll have a shot at a national title.
Okot’s commitment made me consider flip-flopping the top of the rankings. At 6-foot-6, she’s the paint presence, rim-protecting player South Carolina lacked last season. She has a chance to be one of the most impactful transfers in the country next season.
Showtime in Baton Rouge
By acquiring South Carolina’s MiLaysia Fulwiley and Notre Dame’s Kate Koval, LSU made the biggest jump in the top 10. Questions around Baton Rouge — with Fulwiley, Flau’jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams in the backcourt — might echo what we heard in South Bend a year ago: Is there enough basketball to go around? But on multiple occasions, Tigers coach Kim Mulkey has melded formidable teams made of players with big games. She might now have the SEC’s — and maybe the country’s — best and most exciting backcourt. We just watched two backcourt-heavy teams advance to the national championship game this season, so perhaps it’s a bit of recency bias, but the Tigers look pretty darn promising. Ask me again after they’ve played no one outstanding in nonconference competition (argh) and we’ll see, but I like how the roster has shaped up going into the 2025-26 season.
The difference a year makes in Knoxville
Last year at this time, I thought Tennessee might miss the NCAA Tournament. I wasn’t sure how new coach Kim Caldwell’s system would work against power conference opponents or whether players would buy into her hockey substitution patterns. One Sweet 16 later … here we are.
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With its core returning and ESPN’s No. 2 high school recruiting class incoming, Caldwell didn’t need to add. But bringing in Janiah Barker (UCLA), Jersey Wolfenbarger (LSU) and Nya Roberston (SMU) is far more about bolstering the athleticism and versatility on her roster rather than just adding players. I love Tennessee’s prospects with Barker and think she could thrive in Caldwell’s fast-paced system. Robertson’s 3-point shooting took a dip last season, but if she gets it back to 34 or 35 percent, she’ll be in business.
Bruins lose freshmen class, but not top-25 ground
UCLA had last season’s No. 4 high school recruiting class, inking three top-30 players and five-star international guard Elina Aarnisalo. Today, the Bruins don’t have a single rising sophomore on their roster as each of those freshmen transferred (along with Barker and Londynn Jones). Yet UCLA remains not just in great positioning but a spot higher due to 3-point sharpshooter Gianna Kneepkens’ commitment.
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The 45-percent 3-point shooter adds an element to the Bruins’ offense that makes them tougher to defend while providing a counterweight to Lauren Betts. Coach Cori Close has managed to keep most of this core together for a potential repeat Final Four run — and that’s to be commended. When this entire group graduates, who knows if there will be players coming behind it. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. For now, the Bruins hold serve and remain in the top five.
Nothing slow about Terrapins’ climb
When the season ended, Maryland was outside the top 25 after losing Shyanne Sellers, Sarah Te-Biasu and Christina Dalce to the WNBA and graduation. Kaylene Smikle returned for next season, and Bri McDaniel will come back at some point after recovering from her torn ACL in January. But those two didn’t offer enough talent to boost Maryland into the rankings. Enter: Oluchi Okananwa (Duke) and Yarden Garzon (Indiana). Suddenly, it looks like Maryland’s offense — ranked 10th nationally in points per game (81) — might be even more high-scoring next season. Coach Brenda Frese also gets some benefit of the doubt here, considering this isn’t her first rodeo with getting an instant return from incorporating several transfers onto a roster.
The top of the Big Ten doesn’t look quite like I thought it would before next season, but those top five teams — UCLA, Michigan, Washington, Michigan State and Maryland — should all be fun.
TCU and Ole Miss’ recipes for success
Does any coach love the portal quite as much as TCU’s Mark Campbell and Ole Miss’ Yolett McPhee-McCuin (the self-proclaimed “portalista”)? Both teams saw turnover in terms of big minutes going to new players, but there’s enough talent on each of these rosters to garner top-25 spots after being unranked in the initial way-too-early ranking.
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After a historic Elite Eight run, TCU added Notre Dame’s Olivia Miles, Cal’s Marta Suarez and Kentucky’s Clara Silva (a 6-7 center who was Clara Strack’s backup last season), as well as three others. On paper, the group isn’t as talented as last season’s, but Miles is a point guard who can elevate everyone’s play.
The crown jewel in Ole Miss’ portal class is Ohio State transfer Cotie McMahon, who is no stranger to big stages and big moments. The relentless rebounder will be an instant impact player to the Rebels, who made a Sweet 16 run last season. She’ll be joined by seven other transfers, including Mississippi State starters Denim DeShields and Debreasha Powe.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
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