One-fifth of all women's college basketball players now in transfer portal

Mass exodus hits women's college basketball as over 1,100 players enter the portal

Apr. 7, 2026 at 1:33am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the fragmented forms of women's college basketball players, their bodies and movements broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color and abstract shapes, conveying the chaotic energy of the transfer portal season.The transfer portal frenzy has fractured the landscape of women's college basketball, as top talent seeks new opportunities across the sport.Knoxville Today

The transfer portal season has arrived in women's college basketball, with over 1,193 players, representing 23% of all Division I rosters, currently in the portal. Among the top names entering the portal are Iowa State's Audi Crooks, Florida's Liv McGill, Tennessee's Talaysia Cooper, and Virginia's Kymora Johnson. The mass exodus has hit Tennessee particularly hard, with the Vols now left with only one player on their roster after high-profile recruits Oliviyah Edwards and Gabby Minus have departed.

Why it matters

The high number of players entering the transfer portal signals a major shift in the landscape of women's college basketball. Top talent is on the move, creating uncertainty for many programs and opportunities for others to reload their rosters. This trend could have long-lasting impacts on the competitive balance and recruiting landscape of the sport.

The details

As of Monday night, 1,193 players, representing over 23% of all Division I women's basketball rosters, have entered the transfer portal. Among the top names are Iowa State's Audi Crooks, an All-American center who averaged 25.8 points and 7.7 rebounds per game, as well as guards Liv McGill of Florida, Talaysia Cooper of Tennessee, and Kymora Johnson of Virginia. The mass exodus has hit Tennessee particularly hard, with the Vols now left with only one player on their roster after high-profile recruits Oliviyah Edwards and Gabby Minus have departed the program.

  • The transfer portal window opened after the conclusion of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament on April 7.
  • The transfer portal window will remain open for the next 15 days, closing on April 20.

The players

Audi Crooks

A 6-foot-3 center from Iowa State who was named an All-American after averaging 25.8 points and 7.7 rebounds per game this season.

Liv McGill

A guard from the University of Florida who has entered the transfer portal.

Talaysia Cooper

A guard from the University of Tennessee who has entered the transfer portal.

Kymora Johnson

A guard from the University of Virginia who has entered the transfer portal.

Kim Caldwell

The head coach of the University of Tennessee women's basketball team.

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What they’re saying

“The transfer portal season has arrived in women's college basketball. Just one day after UCLA took home their first National Championship, some of the best players in the sport are on the move.”

— Jeff Hauser, Author

“One of the biggest storylines out of this cycle has been Tennessee being reduced to one player on the roster. After a terrible season in Knoxville, the Vols are left wondering what the future will look like under Kim Caldwell.”

— Jeff Hauser, Author

What’s next

The transfer portal window will remain open for the next 15 days, closing on April 20. During this time, programs around the country will be actively recruiting players in the portal to fill roster spots for the upcoming season.

The takeaway

The mass exodus of players entering the transfer portal signals a major shift in the landscape of women's college basketball. Top talent is on the move, creating uncertainty for many programs but also opportunities for others to reload their rosters. This trend could have long-lasting impacts on the competitive balance and recruiting landscape of the sport.