2026 Transfer portal

[Charliebball]

In this Wild West era we are living in now, every team would like to know UCONN's formula for getting not only talented players but those who want to be part of a team and be loyal to the program. Yes, there have been transfers out of the program (NC State got one in Qadence Samuels) but without diving into deep research, it seems rare that a star player ever leaves that program and stays there until they graduate. Despite the high standards demanded by Geno...players who go to UCONN want to be coached tough and are dedicated to the program.

I say this in the wake of Zam Jones declaring she is leaving NC State...and although no true reason has been given, it appears either money or dissatisfaction with the coaching staff led to her departure. If Zam Jones, who grew up just 50 miles away from Raleigh, is willing to leave the program that recruited her for a long time, then no program is safe from having players leave. Except, apparently, UCONN.

I don't think it's rocket science......Geno doesn't just go down the list of the Top 25 players and grab the ones he can sign........he wants more than a player with the necessary physical skill set........he wants intelligent, unselfish players with no ego issues who are willing to work their butts off and even sacrifice playing time to reach their ultimate goal......those kinds of players are increasingly hard to find in the USA which is one of the reasons Geno has been looking to Europe for recruits with that "traditional" team first attitude.....and perhaps the biggest reason for UConn's ability to hold onto most of their players is that Geno doesn't make promises to recruits about playing time or other aspects of basketball.....if you practice well you'll play, otherwise you ride the bench no matter your high school ranking....

 

[Charliebball]

LS-who?

I suspect she won't be the last LSU player to leave......gotta make room for Kim's next group of transfers....

 

[southie]

I feel like Brenda, alongside Jeff Walz, is the OG portal queen. She practically invented the portal. And honestly, Maryland has a pretty good track record with launching pros into the W, and it makes sense - her alums are used to avery short training camp and constantly shifting rosters!

I agree Brenda has done a good job bringing in transfers. But, no incoming transfer has made up for her losing Angel Reese to LSU . . . 🤣

 

[packwrap]

I suspect she won't be the last LSU player to leave......gotta make room for Kim's next group of transfers....

Bourrage not so shocking given she's behind Richard, Williams, Fulwiley and Hines next year at guard. (Will she go to Rutgers...Iowa St...NC St?)

In front court LSU brings back Koval, Z Johnson and Knox plus freshman Lampley.

If Kim brings in new transfers, it's probably front court and they would have to be all SEC type of player.

 

[bballnut90]

Bourrage not so shocking given she's behind Richard, Williams, Fulwiley and Hines next year at guard. (Will she go to Rutgers...Iowa St...NC St?)

In front court LSU brings back Koval, Z Johnson and Knox plus freshman Lampley.

If Kim brings in new transfers, it's probably front court and they would have to be all SEC type of player.

They definitely could use help inside. They’re loaded on the wing but I can’t see them being a title contender without a strong post player inside. I’m not seeing Koval as the solution there either.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

They definitely could use help inside. They’re loaded on the wing but I can’t see them being a title contender without a strong post player inside. I’m not seeing Koval as the solution there either.

Mulkey seems pretty irritated with Koval most of the time, lol.

Not sure what the post portal will look like this year.

Maybe Crooks could be like a late stage Sabonis(Sr.) for somebody.

 

[BRS24]

Lordy. Another ISU player out.

 

[Frankus]

They definitely could use help inside. They’re loaded on the wing but I can’t see them being a title contender without a strong post player inside. I’m not seeing Koval as the solution there either.

It will be interesting to see what happens with Koval. Mulkey transformed her body, but her skills didn't change much. She wasn't quck enough even with her leaner body.

 

[jdote33]

Lordy. Another ISU player out.

She used to be kinda scary at Marquette. She's really struggled the past two years.

 

[TheFarmFan]

Lordy. Another ISU player out.

How can players enter the portal? I thought it didn't open until April 6?

 

[ISUnorth]

She used to be kinda scary at Marquette. She's really struggled the past two years.

She played hurt and only managed 10 games 2024-2025. Had hip surgery in the off season and I expect she might be back to closer to her sophomore self for someone as a senior next year. She'd be a good spark for someone, like Molly Davis was for the Hawkeyes a couple of years ago.

 

[cancontent]

How can players enter the portal? I thought it didn't open until April 6?

If she's a graduate student, she can enter anytime. It's not clear per Goodman's post as to whether this is the case. 🤷🏾‍♀️

 

[GoCardinal]

Mulkey seems pretty irritated with Koval most of the time, lol.

Not sure what the post portal will look like this year.

Maybe Crooks could be like a late stage Sabonis(Sr.) for somebody.

I could be wrong, but I honestly don’t see a lot of big time posts that will be in the portal tbh. Seems a lot of the best post talent that are difference makers are graduating.

 

[BRS24]

How can players enter the portal? I thought it didn't open until April 6?

Except for grad transfers and coaching changes, you are correct. The language that all of these reporters should be using is "intends to enter the portal"

 

[TheFarmFan]

If she's a graduate student, she can enter anytime. It's not clear per Goodman's post as to whether this is the case. 🤷🏾‍♀️

Except for grad transfers and coaching changes, you are correct. The language that all of these reporters should be using is "intends to enter the portal"

I think what confused me about that post is "junior" suggests she is not a grad transfer, but "tagged do not contact" very much suggests she in the portal, not just intending to enter it. But maybe she got her degree in 3 years and so can enter as a "grad transfer."

 

[Dillon77]

She played hurt and only managed 10 games 2024-2025. Had hip surgery in the off season and I expect she might be back to closer to her sophomore self for someone as a senior next year. She'd be a good spark for someone, like Molly Davis was for the Hawkeyes a couple of years ago.

I agree. Sometimes you just have to wonder how these players think the grass is always so much greener. Played very well under Coach Duffy and looks like a shell of herself since then, even if she did shorten her first name. 😉

 

[BRS24]

Another OSU player

 

[cancontent]

Thought she had a decent freshman season on this roster. Ugh, some of these "plan to enter the portal" announcements are perplexing.

 

[WBBZen]

 

[BRS24]

Thought she had a decent freshman season on this roster. Ugh, some of these "plan to enter the portal" announcements are perplexing.

Portal isn't open for current students unless they are a grad transfer or it's a coaching change situation, so I appreciate the "plan to enter" as a lot can happen between now and 4/6

 

[cancontent]

Portal isn't open for current students unless they are a grad transfer or it's a coaching change situation, so I appreciate the "plan to enter" as a lot can happen between now and 4/6

True, but the volume of these announcements and some of the players involved are still perplexing to me. In Deal's case, since she's posted it on her IG and her agents have also posted, it feels like a forgone conclusion.

 

[southie]

Thought she had a decent freshman season on this roster. Ugh, some of these "plan to enter the portal" announcements are perplexing.

I remember finding it odd for a Cali girl to commit to Iowa. Perhaps she got caught up in the Caitlin Clark frenzy during her recruitment.

 

[BRS24]

True, but the volume of these announcements and some of the players involved are still perplexing to me. In Deal's case, since she's posted it on her IG and her agents have also posted, it feels like a forgone conclusion.

Since the portal is shorter this year, going from 30-15 days, so I'm thinking that the players that know they want to leave are putting name out there so coaches know. Agents are probably already doing some backroom discussion, as 15 days is not a lot of time to visit more than 1-2 schools, no?

 

[LwrcasefaN]

I remember finding it odd for a Cali girl to commit to Iowa. Perhaps she got caught up in the Caitlin Clark frenzy during her recruitment.

So…are you suggesting she’s Going Back To Cali? 🤣

 

[WBBZen]

I remember finding it odd for a Cali girl to commit to Iowa. Perhaps she got caught up in the Caitlin Clark frenzy during her recruitment.

Could really see her landing at UCLA. She was a 5 star prospect, and might want to go back home.

 

[GoChips20]

I remember finding it odd for a Cali girl to commit to Iowa. Perhaps she got caught up in the Caitlin Clark frenzy during her recruitment.

Some years there’s a big difference between a top 5 and top 25 recruit. I recall the media treated her commitment like the former since Iowa hadn’t really gotten a ton of highly ranked recruits outside of Clark. Saw a few “not rebuilding, reloading” posts. That could be part of it.

 

[Zarathustra]

I think what confused me about that post is "junior" suggests she is not a grad transfer, but "tagged do not contact" very much suggests she in the portal, not just intending to enter it. But maybe she got her degree in 3 years and so can enter as a "grad transfer."

Madison St. Rose, Sr., Princeton U, has the "tagged do not contact" "*" next to
her name for (seemingly) a long time. But she is not "in" the portal, but
(as explained in early posts, above), she intends to enter the portal. Any
bets that she ends up at NORTHWESTERN for graduate work... in the
classroom and with C. Berube!!!??

 

[Reypl21]

Some years there’s a big difference between a top 5 and top 25 recruit. I recall the media treated her commitment like the former since Iowa hadn’t really gotten a ton of highly ranked recruits outside of Clark. Saw a few “not rebuilding, reloading” posts. That could be part of it.

This... there was a lot of hype online about this her. I wasn't familiar with her much, so I'll say the hype made me have a higher expectation. Of course WCBB isn't always like that for a lot of players. I was excited for her and Wolickzo next year.

 

[Stagnant]

Crushing loss for Iowa.

 

[cancontent]

Since the portal is shorter this year, going from 30-15 days, so I'm thinking that the players that know they want to leave are putting name out there so coaches know. Agents are probably already doing some backroom discussion, as 15 days is not a lot of time to visit more than 1-2 schools, no?

Maybe, but how many visits should they get? There's no clear cut answer as to what should be seen as acceptable.