Top 2026 Women’s Basketball Transfers: Best Players Ranked

The landscape of women’s college basketball is changing fast with the new transfer portal window. This year, the portal opens on April 6, right after the national championship game, and it stays open for just 15 days.

Last season, players had a 30-day window that began after the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Now, with the shorter window, there’s still plenty of buzz and speculation about where top players will land.

Coaches and players are bracing for a hectic stretch as talent shifts between programs. Already, a few big names have announced they’re entering the portal, so the offseason’s shaping up to be anything but quiet.

Changes in the Transfer Portal Timeline

The NCAA’s decision to shorten the transfer portal window has sparked a lot of chatter. Last season, the portal stayed open for 30 days after the tournament’s second round.

This year, it’s just 15 days and starts later—right after the national championship. The NCAA says this should help streamline transfers and limit distractions during the tournament, though I’m not sure everyone’s convinced.

Impact on Players and Coaches

Even with the new timeline, players, agents, and coaches keep talking throughout the year. Duke coach Kara Lawson put it bluntly: *communication is happening all year, and that’s the unfortunate part of the environment we’re in right now.*

Because of this, lots of players already know where they’re headed before the portal even opens. It’s a bit of an open secret at this point.

High-Profile Transfers from Last Season

Last season, several star players shook things up by transferring. These moves didn’t just affect the athletes—they also changed the balance of power across programs.

• Olivia Miles: Moved from Notre Dame to TCU.
• MiLaysia Fulwiley: Transferred from South Carolina to LSU.
• Ta’Niya Latson: Joined South Carolina from Florida State.
• Cotie McMahon: Transferred from Ohio State to Ole Miss.

Top Players Entering the Transfer Portal

With the Women’s NCAA Tournament heading into the Sweet 16, some top players have already said they’re entering the portal. Here are a few names to watch:

Williams

Williams has one year of eligibility left. She played two seasons at Arizona, then transferred to Iowa State.

With the Cyclones, she ranked third in the nation in assists per game at 7.7 and scored 15.3 points per game. This junior forward is looking to make a splash in her senior year somewhere new.

Brown

Brown, a two-time All-Big 12 pick, averages 13.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 5.2 assists. She’s shot 36.7% from three for her career.

She earned a starting spot at NC State and proved herself against some tough teams. She’s a sophomore guard with a lot to offer.

McMiller

McMiller is a Jordan Brand and McDonald’s All-American. She’ll be on her third team in three seasons.

After a big sophomore year at Penn State—she was 12th nationally with 21.6 points per game—she’s ready to take her game elsewhere.

Other Notable Players in the Portal

There’s more talent in the portal than just the headline names. Several other players have made big impacts on their teams and are sure to get attention:

St. Rose

St. Rose, a two-time All-Ivy selection, has one year left. She averaged 15.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in her final season at Princeton.

White

White, the Big Sky Rookie of the Year, led her conference in scoring at 20.8 points per game. That was good for 15th in the country.

She also led the Big Sky in minutes and three-point shooting. Not bad for a rookie.