The NCAA transfer portal for women’s college basketball closes on Apr. 22. Over 1,000 players have entered the portal, and while many have found new homes, some big names from the NCAA are still searching for a landing spot. Read on for a breakdown of the transfer portal, why it’s in such high demand, its consequences, and the most impactful players looking for new homes..

Background on the transfer portal

The NCAA transfer portal started in 2018. This was in response to complaints filed by countless players across colleges and universities across the country. College players who were dissatisfied with their athletic experiences - maybe because they weren’t playing enough, maybe because they were too far from home, or maybe for some other reason - needed an easy way to take their talents to another school.

The transfer portal met these needs, but its original iteration came with an important caveat - players had to sit out for the season following their transfer. This way, the NCAA thought, the transfers could be limited to those who truly wanted or needed a change, not just for players who were disgruntled for some reason or another. However, in 2020, the NCAA allowed players to become immediately eligible upon transferring. This doesn’t mean entering the portal comes without risk - just because you enter the portal doesn’t mean another team will choose you - but this decision made the option to transfer feel far more attainable for many athletes.

To complement this new layer of freedom, in 2021, is Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL), which allows college athletes to profit of their, well… name, image, and likeness. The introduction of NIL was widely celebrated in college sports - for too long, star players raked in money for their universities without ever being able to benefit from it themselves. With the addition of NIL opportunities, athletes began to enter the transfer portal for a chance to earn more NIL money, either from collectives or by the pure status of a program. These opportunities are especially lucrative for women’s basketball players who, as a group, earn the most of female college athletes. After all, potential NIL earnings for the top athletes is higher than a rookie WNBA contract (although they can keep their sponsorships while in the WNBA).

Players suddenly have a world of options if things aren’t going to plan at the school where they currently play. This newfound player freedom brought by the transfer portal is remarkable. Why languish in an ill-fitting program picked as a high school student? . As previously mentioned, just because a player enters the portal does not mean they will find a new home. Per RealResponse, in 2023, only 45% of players who entered the NCAA transfer portal across all sports found new homes. Additionally, the NCAA’s new rule to limit the number of times a player can transfer was intended to reduce the chaos of the portal, but has instead encouraged more players to enter, feeling more pressure to make their move. Also, many are concerned that encouraging players to transfer reduces teambuilding skills and loyalty that are so necessary to being successful college athletes.

But, like it or not, the transfer portal is a fact of college sports now, and it makes an extra-large difference in women’s basketball. Some of the biggest transfers of this offseason so far are:

• Sa’Myah Smith: The LSU forward, who had one of the best runs of her college career during the 2025 NCAA tournament, has transferred to Virginia.
• Olivia Miles: The Notre Dame guard would have been the No. 2 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft if she hadn’t elected to play out her last year of eligibility. She will join TCU, which boasts a good team and a great NIL budget.
• Avary Cain: The UCLA freshman, who was expected to be part of the core future of the team, has transferred to Oregon. Every member of the UCLA freshman recruiting class of 2024 has officially entered the transfer portal.

The biggest players still in the portal:

• MiLaysia Fulwiley: The player everyone is talking about. The sophomore guard will leave South Carolina after two seasons. While her talent is impossible to ignore, her inconsistencies caused her trouble this season. However, she’s surely choosing between offers right now - Fulwiley has two finals appearances and one win in her two years in the NCAA. While she has some improvements to make, a coach would hardly be “taking a chance” on her.
• Serah Williams: The Wisconsin junior forward has one year left of eligibility and is choosing not to play it out as a Badger. She’s a good player, but where she may really shine is with her veteran leadership skills, helping to mentor the players who will need her guidance.
• Iyanna Moore: The senior guard was key to a Vanderbilt squad that definitely did some damage this year. But with her last year of eligibility, she’s hoping to make it a little bit further.