The transfer portal for women’s college basketball doesn’t open until Monday, April 6, the day after the national championship game.
This is a change from last season, when the portal opened for 30 days after the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The transfer window is also shorter this year, as it’s open for just 15 days.
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However, as some coaches predicted, moving and shortening the window won’t stop players from announcing their intentions to enter the portal, nor will it stop their agents from communicating with teams.
“I don’t know that it changes things too much. I guess it is later than it was before, and you won’t have people playing during the time of it, but, you know, it’s not like the communication is starting then,” Duke coach Kara Lawson told USA TODAY Sports in January. “It’s happening all year, and that’s the unfortunate part of the environment we’re in right now. That’s how some people already know where they’re going on the first day of the portal.”
Last season saw several stars of women’s basketball transfer. Olivia Miles went from Notre Dame to TCU, MiLaysia Fulwiley left South Carolina for LSU, Ta’Niya Latson joined South Carolina from Florida State, and Ole Miss landed Cotie McMahon from Ohio State.
As the Sweet 16 of the Women’s NCAA Tournament approaches, several high-profile players have already announced their intentions to enter the transfer portal.
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USA TODAY Sports will rank the best players in the portal as they announce their intentions to transfer. This list will be updated.
1. Jada Williams, Iowa State
Williams has one year of eligibility left after spending two seasons at Arizona and this past year at Iowa State. With the Cyclones, she ranked third nationally in assists per game with 7.7 and also posted 15.3 points per game.
2. Addy Brown, Iowa State
The versatile junior forward will spend her senior season elsewhere after three years with the Cyclones. A two-time All-Big 12 selection, Brown averages 13.6 points, 8.1 rebounds and 5.2 assists while shooting 36.7% from 3-point land for her career.
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3. Zam Jones, NC State
The sophomore guard was promoted to a starting role this season at NC State. A volume shooter, she showed the ability to score in bunches for the Wolfpack against marquee opponents, dropping 30 points in a first-round NCAA Tournament win over Tennessee and scoring 26 points in a road overtime loss at Oklahoma.
4. Kiyomi McMiller, Penn State
A Jordan Brand and McDonald’s All-American as a high school prospect, McMiller will play for her third school in as many seasons after spending her sophomore campaign with the Nittany Lions. She was 12th nationally in scoring this year with 21.6 points per game. The 5-foot-8 guard began her career at Rutgers.
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5. Madison St. Rose, Princeton
A two-time All-Ivy selection, St. Rose has one year of eligibility remaining after averaging 15.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists in her final season at Princeton.
6. Naomi White, Northern Arizona
The Big Sky Rookie of the Year, White led the conference in scoring with 20.8 points per game, which also ranked 15th nationally. She also led the Big Sky in minutes played and 3-point shooting at a 36.5% clip.
7. Filipa Barros, Cal Baptist
The MVP of the WAC Tournament, Barros was the bus driver for the Lancers as they made the NCAA Tournament for the second time in program history. The 5-foot-9 redshirt junior guard from Portugal was the only player in the nation to average at least 10.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game while shooting better than 40% from 3-point land.
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8. Grace Ezebilo, Charleston
The Defensive Player of the Year in the CAA, Ezebilo helped Charleston make the NCAA Tournament for the first time ever this season. The 6-foot-1 junior forward from Nigeria averaged 6.4 points, 12.1 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game. She ranked third nationally in offensive rebounds per game with 4.8.
9. Milan Brown, Wake Forest
An All-ACC Freshman Team selection, Brown — a native of Baltimore — did a little bit of everything for the Demon Deacons, averaging 9.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 42.1% from 3-point land. She’s a published author and scored more than 2,000 points in high school.
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10. Jessica Petrie, Nebraska
A 6-foot-2 forward, Petrie has been a starter for the Cornhuskers in each of the last two seasons and averaged a career-best 11.3 points and 4.8 rebounds per game this season. She’s a junior with one year of eligibility remaining.
11. Camryn Runner, Evansville
Twice an All-MVC selection, Runner ranked second nationally in free throws made per game this season with 6.2. The 5-foot-8 sophomore guard averaged 18.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game this season.
12. Madi Morson, Central Michigan
The MAC Player of the Year averaged 20.1 points per game this season, which ranked 16th nationally. The 5-foot-8 sophomore guard is also a career 38.4% 3-point shooter.
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13. Harissoum Coulibaly, Auburn
A 5-foot-10 guard from Paris, Coulibaly had a strong freshman season in the SEC, averaging 10.4 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game.
14. Caia Elisaldez, Chattanooga
A 5-foot-5 junior guard, Elisaldez was the SoCon Player of the Year this season after averaging 17.1 points, 5.1 assists and 3.1 rebounds per game.
15. Eva DeChent, New Hampshire
A two-time All-America East selection, DeChent averaged 18.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game this season as a junior guard for the Wildcats.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Best players in 2026 women’s basketball transfer portal, ranked
