Cal Freshman Puff Morris Plans to Enter Transfer Portal

The highly touted McDonald's All-American struggled with injuries and playing time in her first season with the Bears.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 5:25pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the abstracted forms of women's basketball players in motion, with sharp, overlapping shapes in a palette of deep blues, greens, and purples.The departure of highly touted freshman Puff Morris leaves Cal's women's basketball program facing an uncertain future as it tries to build on last season's WNIT appearance.Rancho Cucamonga Today

Cal women's basketball freshman Aliyahna 'Puff' Morris, a McDonald's All-American, plans to enter the transfer portal after just one season with the Bears. Morris was a starter early in the year but missed time due to a knee injury and saw her role diminish as the season progressed, with sophomore Gisella Maul taking over the starting point guard duties.

Why it matters

Morris was one of Cal's most highly touted recruits in recent years, so her potential departure is a significant loss for the program. The Bears are coming off a 21-15 season that ended in the third round of the WNIT, and they were hoping to retain their core players for next year.

The details

Morris, a 5-foot-5 point guard, was the Bears' starting point guard to begin the season but missed nine games due to a knee injury. When she returned, she came off the bench most of the time as Maul had solidified the starting role. Morris finished the season as Cal's sixth-leading scorer, averaging 7.0 points, 3.1 assists and 2.4 rebounds per game.

  • Morris was a starter in Cal's season opener and for the first two months of the season.
  • Morris missed nine games in the middle of the season due to a knee injury.
  • When Morris returned, she came off the bench most of the time as Maul remained the starting point guard.

The players

Aliyahna 'Puff' Morris

A 5-foot-5 freshman point guard who was a McDonald's All-American coming out of high school and was expected to make an immediate impact at Cal.

Gisella Maul

A Cal sophomore who took over the starting point guard duties while Morris was injured and kept the role for the rest of the season.

Mjracle Sheppard

A Cal junior who took over the point guard duties when Morris was coming off the bench late in the season.

Charmin Smith

The head coach of the Cal women's basketball team.

Sakima Walker

The only Cal starter from the 2025-26 season who has run out of eligibility.

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What they’re saying

“BREAKING: Cal's Aliyahna 'Puff' Morris plans to enter the transfer portal, her representative at @PrioritySports told @On3. The 5-5 freshman averaged 7 ppg and 3.1 apg this season and was a 2025 McDonald's All-American.”

— Talia Goodman, Reporter

What’s next

With Morris planning to enter the transfer portal, Cal will need to find a replacement at point guard for next season. The Bears are hoping to retain most of their core players from this past season's team, which reached the third round of the WNIT.

The takeaway

The potential loss of highly touted freshman Puff Morris is a significant blow for the Cal women's basketball program, which was hoping to build on its 21-15 season and WNIT appearance. Morris struggled with injuries and playing time, and her decision to transfer highlights the challenges of retaining top recruits in a competitive landscape.