Mississippi State Women's Basketball Looks to Portal to Fill Key Needs

The Bulldogs have some strong returning pieces but need to add depth, shooting, and versatility through the transfer portal.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 3:23pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented women's basketball game, with sharp, overlapping planes of maroon, white, and navy blue representing the dynamic action on the court.The Mississippi State women's basketball team looks to rebuild its roster through the transfer portal, seeking versatile players who can contribute in multiple ways.Starkville Today

After falling short of the NCAA Tournament this past season, the Mississippi State women's basketball team will look to the transfer portal to add key pieces to complement their returning core of Favour Nwaedozi and Madison Francis. The Bulldogs need to find depth in the post, add a true point guard to run the offense, and bring in some outside shooting to balance their inside-out attack.

Why it matters

Mississippi State is looking to build off a solid season and return to the NCAA Tournament. Retaining Nwaedozi and Francis was crucial, but the Bulldogs have some holes to fill through the transfer portal in order to take the next step as a program.

The details

The Bulldogs will have to replace a few departures, including Trayanna Crisp and Destiney McPhaul in the backcourt. They need to find a pass-first point guard who can facilitate the offense and create open looks for Francis and Nwaedozi on the interior. Mississippi State also struggled with outside shooting at times last season, so adding some sharpshooters will be key. Versatility is also a priority, as the Bulldogs look to build a more positionless roster that can match up with any style of play.

  • The transfer portal officially opened on April 6, 2026.

The players

Favour Nwaedozi

A double-double machine who will anchor the Bulldogs' frontcourt next season.

Madison Francis

An elite shot-blocker who can score inside and facilitate from the high post.

Saniyah King

A transfer from Howard who showed promise as a playmaker and will look to take on a bigger role.

Melissa Guillet

An international transfer who played limited minutes as a freshman but has potential to develop with a full offseason.

Lani Smallwood

An incoming freshman guard who could provide the Bulldogs with a pass-first point guard.

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What’s next

The Bulldogs will be active in the transfer portal over the coming weeks as they look to add key pieces to their roster ahead of the 2026-27 season.

The takeaway

Mississippi State has a strong foundation with Nwaedozi and Francis, but needs to find the right complementary pieces through the transfer portal to build a more balanced and versatile roster capable of competing in the SEC and returning to the NCAA Tournament.