Three Biggest Transfer Portal Targets for UCF Knights Women's Basketball

New coach Gabe Lazo has several roster spots to fill as he builds the Knights' 2026-27 squad.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 11:09pm

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A cubist-style painting featuring fragmented geometric shapes in shades of blue, yellow, and red, conceptually representing the dynamic and multifaceted nature of a women's basketball game as the UCF Knights seek to rebuild their roster through the transfer portal.The UCF Knights women's basketball team looks to rebuild through the transfer portal, targeting players with the potential to contribute to the program's future success.Vero Beach Today

With the NCAA women's basketball transfer portal window already open, the new coaching staff of the UCF Knights women's basketball team does not have much time to settle into their new roles before going straight into recruiting mode. New coach Gabe Lazo is going to have plenty of roster spots to fill with eight Knights already in the transfer portal after Day 1, with an additional two running out of eligibility. The article highlights three potential transfer targets Lazo could pursue: players from the Tennessee Lady Volunteers roster, forward Diawna Carter-Hartley from South Alabama, and guard Hannah Kohn from Clemson.

Why it matters

The UCF Knights women's basketball team is undergoing a major roster overhaul with a new coaching staff led by Gabe Lazo. Identifying and recruiting the right transfer portal targets will be crucial for Lazo to quickly build a competitive team for the 2026-27 season.

The details

The Tennessee Lady Volunteers are facing a large roster turnover, with their entire remaining roster after graduating players entering the transfer portal. This presents an opportunity for Lazo, who previously recruited some of these players to Tennessee, to bring them to UCF. Specific targets include junior guard Talaysia Cooper, freshman guard Jaida Civil, and the Pauldo Twins, Mia and Mya. Lazo could also target forward Diawna Carter-Hartley, who played for new UCF assistant coach Lynn Bria at Stetson. Additionally, guard Hannah Kohn from Clemson is a potential target as she looks to finish her college career close to her hometown of Oviedo, Florida.

  • The NCAA women's basketball transfer portal window opened in April 2026.
  • The transfer portal window will remain open through April 20, 2026.

The players

Talaysia Cooper

A junior guard from the Tennessee Lady Volunteers who started in 25 of 29 games last season, averaging 4.7 rebounds per game and leading the team with 78 steals.

Jaida Civil

A freshman guard from Vero Beach, Florida who was a McDonald's All-American and four-star recruit before playing one season at Tennessee, starting 10 of 30 games and averaging 6.4 points and 4 rebounds per game.

Mia Pauldo

A freshman guard from the Tennessee Lady Volunteers who signed an NIL deal with Puma at age 15 and averaged 10.4 points per game while shooting 85.5% from the free throw line in her debut season.

Mya Pauldo

A freshman guard from the Tennessee Lady Volunteers who is the twin sister of Mia Pauldo, starting in just 1 of 27 games and averaging 1.8 points per game in her first season.

Diawna Carter-Hartley

A forward who played her freshman season at Stetson under new UCF assistant coach Lynn Bria, and then transferred to South Alabama where she averaged 8.8 points and 6.3 rebounds per game last season.

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What they’re saying

“Jaida Civil is entering the transfer portal. That means Tennessee has ZERO returning players from last season's team.”

— Sam Rothman

What’s next

The NCAA women's basketball transfer portal window remains open through April 20, 2026, giving coach Gabe Lazo and his staff a limited window to identify and recruit their top transfer targets to build the 2026-27 UCF Knights women's basketball roster.

The takeaway

With a new coaching staff and significant roster turnover, the UCF Knights women's basketball team has a prime opportunity to quickly rebuild through the transfer portal. Coach Lazo's previous connections and the chance to play close to home could make UCF an attractive destination for several talented players looking for a fresh start.