2025 Transfer Portal

[Vowelguy]

Campbell appears to be a young coach who is going to live and die by the transfer portal. That’s a little like walking a tightrope without a net.

Recruiting may pick up after this year‘s success

 

[ERWUC65]

I know the common consensus on the BY is that if UConn brings in only one transfer, Williams is that player, and I would be happy to have her. But I think the ideal transfer for UConn is Kneepkens, a G/W who can chase 50/40/90, rebound, pass and fit in very nicely with Sarah, Azzi, Blanca, KK, Ash and the rest of the team.

As much as we would like a post who can score, UConn did pretty well with Jana, Ice and going small with Sarah in the post. In addition, Ayanna’s return gives the Huskies another big who can rebound and play defense next year.

First time hearing of this player and thank you oldude. Googled her and WOW, she's got to be at the top of everyone's list. She's from Minnesota, so I wonder if Paige knows her. Unfortunately she is listed as a shooting guard, not a point guard and not a UConn priority. Then again, does Geno want to fill a position or get the best available player?

 

[oldude]

We may not need a post that can score, but we could use some posts that can rebound and play defense without fouling.

Jana really picked up her rebounding as the season progressed and if you have Jana, Ice & Ayanna that’s 15 fouls per game. Also, Jana & Ice’s defense against Betts was solid. She got her points, but she had to work like hell to get them, and it took everyone else on UCLA out of the game standing around.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Campbell appears to be a young coach who is going to live and die by the transfer portal. That’s a little like walking a tightrope without a net.

Doesn't that describe most coaches these days? With as frequently as players are transferring the last 3 years, recruiting out of high school is somewhat of a waste of time.

 

[oldude]

Doesn't that describe most coaches these days? With as frequently as players are transferring the last 3 years, recruiting out of high school is somewhat of a waste of time.

Someone has to recruit players out of high school or there would never be anybody going into the transfer portal….

 

[BruinGold]

The two UCLA freshmen who were getting playing time have both entered the portal (Dudley and Aarnisalo). We were speculating that Cain and Socka-Nguemen would be the most likely to transfer... So, the Bruins might lose their whole class. Interesting. There were already going to be a lot of openings in 26. Looks like there will be a short roster after next season.

 

[TheFarmFan]

Someone has to recruit players out of high school or there would never be anybody going into the transfer portal….

Well, mid-majors, Duke, Stanford, UConn, and Notre Dame? Feels like we're all still chugging along with top recruiting classes lately, and even Mulkey got in on it this season.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Someone has to recruit players out of high school or there would never be anybody going into the transfer portal….

Yeah, but you let someone else do it, then pick them up after a year or two when they transfer out.

 

[oldude]

First time hearing of this player and thank you oldude. Googled her and WOW, she's got to be at the top of everyone's list. She's from Minnesota, so I wonder if Paige knows her. Unfortunately she is listed as a shooting guard, not a point guard and not a UConn priority. Then again, does Geno want to fill a position or get the best available player?

Kneepkens is from up in the iron range out of Duluth and 2 years younger than Paige, who was from Hopkins in the Minneapolis suburbs. I doubt that they know each other. As far as pg goes, I’m going to suggest that KK will not only assume that role full time, but she will dramatically improve her shooting so that opponents can not play off her, and she will excel as a distributor, defender and penetrator.

 

[EricLA]

Assuming ND makes the tournament. They have little left right now.

This might have something to do with it. From an article March 21, 2025:

Hannah Hidalgo, a women’s basketball star at Notre Dame who has lead the team in points, allegedly expressed some possible anti-gay homophobia by sharing a video expressing that same-sex marriage is a “sin.”

In fairness, the "incident occurred over the summer last year (July 2024). When asked about it on a podcast in January 2025, Muffet McGraw had this to say:

“I thought it was a really poor choice on her part,” said McGraw when asked about Hidalgo’s social media post. “First, believing that, I think is a poor choice. And then saying it, as you said, on a stage where women’s basketball there are a number of gay players out there.”

McGraw continued, talking about how it impacts the locker room, saying “I thought that it was almost insulting to her teammates, to everybody in the game of basketball. I was really disappointed that it came out that way. I was happy that she deleted it, but the damage I think was done before she deleted it.”

“Accountability for me was like, that was the number one thing in having a championship team. Honesty, trust and accountability. It’s hard to trust when you have somebody that believes that what you believe is wrong.”

Neither Hidalgo nor her teammates have mentioned any sort of accountability within the Notre Dame locker room, now six months after the post.

My point about all this - the team made it thru the season. It ended with a whimper rather than a bang. But if, as Muffet said, the damage was already done, it's not surprising a bunch of players left. Why didn't they leave last summer? Good question - maybe because the portal was closed and they likely would have had to sit out a year?

At any rate, not trying to delve into any arguments on the board, but her sharing that kind of post may not have sat well, and who knows what went on behind the scenes or in the locker room that we didn't see, but if you want to point to one person and the incidents surrounding her, that well could be the reason for the exodus...

 

[Rb335]

Perhaps, however he got Hailey Van Lith and Miles, two players that were considering Oregon before they ultimately chose another program. It looks as if he's targeting the players that he got to know.

He clearly has recruiting acumen and the ability to make meaningful connections with high level players. Otherwise they wouldn’t give him another shot. But can he translate those skills into getting top players directly off the recruiting trail. The portal can only work so much.

 

[RoadWarrior]

Jana really picked up her rebounding as the season progressed and if you have Jana, Ice & Ayanna that’s 15 fouls per game. Also, Jana & Ice’s defense against Betts was solid. She got her points, but she had to work like hell to get them, and it took everyone else on UCLA out of the game standing around.

Optimally, I would prefer a post who is also a threat to score not just give fouls.

 

[oldude]

Yeah, but you let someone else do it, then pick them up after a year or two when they transfer out.

As I said, that’s like walking a tightrope or Russian roulette. Example A is Adia Barnes at AZ who made it to a national championship largely based on the transfer portal, then it all fell apart, as the program fell into mediocrity and the AD left her twisting in the wind without a new contract. She was lucky to find a new job at SMU and she’s already loading up on transfers. But you have to wonder how that’s going to work out in the long run.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Does anyone else on the BY want Kneepkens? Reminds me of LLS a little.

 

[oldude]

Optimally, I would prefer a post who is also a threat to score not just give fouls.

Other than Betts, name me one other true Big in the country who can consistently score? As for Bigs getting in foul trouble, they all do, including Betts.

 

[oldude]

Does anyone else on the BY want Kneepkens? Reminds me of LLS a little.

KLS?

 

[Dillon77]

Does anyone else on the BY want Kneepkens? Reminds me of LLS a little.

By Boneyard, are you referring to the entire board, including both the UConn and General boards?
This is the Transfer Portal on the General Board, which is intended for and encompasses fans of many colleges.
As such, yes, there are a number of folks who know of and expressed interest in Kneepkens, including this Irish fan who watched she and her Ute teammates beat the Irish in the Cayman Islands.

She is, indeed, from northern Minnesota and maybe, just maybe, Paige might've known her via some local/regional AAU gigs. But she's very much an Iron-Range citizen.

Also agree with @oldude , that she'd be a great addition to the Huskies next year...as she would to any team that could use another sharpshooter.

 

[nwhoopfan]

I'm seeing reports that Washington got Yulia Grabovskaia also.

 

[CalWBBfan]

I hope it’s not in the ACC.

 

[nwhoopfan]

KLS?

I don't see the comparison. Kneepkens quicker, better attacking off the dribble. Doesn't have the height/length of KLS.

 

[CalWBBfan]

What's she doing with a Cal ball if she's leaving?

She likes Cal. She graduated and so is looking elsewhere.

 

[oldude]

I don't see the comparison. Kneepkens quicker, better attacking off the dribble. Doesn't have the height/length of KLS.

Kneepkens also plays more physical than LLS, rebounding and getting to the basket. In addition to her skill, I am impressed with her toughness. Maybe it has something to do with growing up in the iron range while playing basketball with your 4 older brothers.

 

[Dillon77]

I'm seeing reports that Washington got Yulia Grabovskaia also.

Yup.

 

[bballnut90]

Updating this:


Top Players:
Gianna Kneepkens, 6-0, G, Jr. (19.3 ppg, 5 rpg, 3 apg) at Utah
Serah Williams, 6-4, F, Jr. (19.2 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 1.1 spg, 2.3 bpg) at Wisconsin
Cotie McMahon, 6-0, G, Jr. (16.5 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 44% FG) at Ohio State (rumored LSU interest)
Caitlin Weimar, 6-4, F, Sr. (18.7 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 1.9 bpg – 2023-24 at Boston University)
Breya Cunningham, 6-4, F, Soph. (11 ppg, 7 rpg, 1.3 spg) at Arizona
Tyi Skinner, 5-5, G, Sr. (16.8 ppg, 2.8 apg, 1.2 spg, 38% 3-pt) at Arizona State
Kiyomi McMiller, 5-8, G, Fr. (18.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 3 apg) at Rutgers
Sa'Myah Smith, 6-2, F, RS-So at LSU
Kayleigh Heckel, 5-9, G, FR at USC

Other Notables:
T’yana Todd, 6-0, G, Jr. (13.7 ppg, 1 spg, 46% 3-pt) at Boston College
Nicole Rodriguez, 5-8, G, Sr. (10.2 ppg) at SMU
Jessica Peterson, 6-2, C, Sr. (10.3 ppg, 12 rpg) at SMU
Carter McCray, 6-1, C, Soph. (10.6 ppg, 7.1 rpg) at Wisconsin
Skylar Jones, 6-0, G, Soph. (10.7 ppg, 1.6 spg) at Arizona
Kailey Woolston, 5-11, G, RS Fr. (13.3 ppg, 47% 3-pt – 2023-24) at BYU
Gabby Elliott, 5-10, G, Sr. (13.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg) at Penn State
Yuting Deng, 6-0, G, Fr. (11.8 ppg) at Auburn
Marta Suarez, 6-3, F, Sr. Cal
Aaliyah Guyton, Iowa
Kara Dunn, Georgia Tech
Elina Aarnisalo, UCLA, 5-10, G, Fr. at UCLA
Madina Okot, Mississippi State, 6-6, C, Jr at Mississippi State




Committed:
Olivia Miles, 5-10, G, Gr. Notre Dame-->TCU
Taniya Latson, 5-10, G, Jr. (25.2 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 4.6 apg) at Florida State-->South Carolina
Latasha Lattimore, 6-4, F, Sr. (14.3 ppg, 8.2 rpg) at Virginia --> Ole Miss
Taliah Scott, 5-9, G, Soph. (22.1 ppg — 2023-24 with Arkansas) --> Baylor
Yarden Garzon, 6-3, G, Jr. (14.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 3.2 apg, 41% 3-pt) at Indiana-->Maryland
Jalyn Brown, 6-1, G, Jr. (18 ppg, 4 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.1 spg) at Arizona State --> Ole Miss
Kate Koval, 6-5, C, Fr. #5 recruit from 2024 class, played at Notre Dame-->LSU
Avery Howell, 6-0, G, Fr. at USC-->Washington
Kaitlin Peterson, 5-9, G, Sr. (21.4 ppg, 2.1 spg) at UCF--> Ole Miss
Dani Carnegie, 5-9, G, Fr. (12.9 ppg, 4.5 rpg) at Georgia Tech-->Georgia
Amari Whiting, 5-10, G, Soph. (10.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 3.8 apg) BYU→ Oklahoma State
Jada Williams, 5-8, G, Soph. (12.7 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.9 apg, 1.6 spg) at Arizona--> Iowa State
Clara Silva, 6-7, C, Fr. (4 ppg) at Kentucky -->TCU
Nyla Harris, 6-2, F, Jr. (8.6 ppg, 5.3 rpg) at Louisville-->North Carolina
Gracie Merkle, 6-6, C, Soph. (15.5 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 1.5 bpg) at Penn State-->Maryland

 

[bballnut90]

Recruiting may pick up after this year‘s success

This was the Mulkey playbook. Load up on portal players at your new program, en route to the 2023 championship. Now she just landed the #1 class for 2025.