With most transfers having landed at their destinations, it\u2019s time to relook at the way-too-early top-25 ranking from the end of the season. A few weeks remain for players to go into the portal, which has seen 1,500 entrants.<\/p>\n
The rich got richer in many cases (hello, UConn and South Carolina), but a few teams enjoyed successful transfer hauls that ushered them into the top 25 (welcome, Maryland).<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s get to it:<\/p>\n
Dropped out: Vanderbilt, Ohio State, Mississippi State, Illinois<\/p>\n
UConn and South Carolina remain at top<\/p>\n
The Huskies added Wisconsin transfer Serah Williams, perhaps the most sought-after transfer because of her unique skills and size. Her inside abilities would have allowed her to fit into most teams pretty seamlessly. Joining the reigning champs? Not bad. She\u2019ll solidify the interior, where the Huskies struggled with Jana El Alfy\u2019s and Ice Brady\u2019s foul troubles, while freeing up Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong\u2019s playmaking.<\/p>\n
South Carolina\u2019s additions of Ta\u2019Niya Latson and Madina Okot impressed and intrigued. The Gamecocks, who largely take a committee approach, adding the nation\u2019s leading scorer was no small feat. Latson attempted 20 shots a game last season, nearly twice as many as the Gamecocks\u2019 leader in field goal attempts. She will be playing in a different system with different expectations, but nobody goes to South Carolina without understanding how its system works. Expect her shot numbers to decrease, but unlike at Florida State, she\u2019ll have a shot at a national title.<\/p>\n
A superhero with superpowers \ud83e\uddb8\u200d\u2640\ufe0f<\/p>\n
That\u2019s Ta\u2019Niya for ya \ud83d\udc47 pic.twitter.com\/ed1FVg3FYZ<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 South Carolina Women\u2019s Basketball (@GamecockWBB) May 1, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Okot\u2019s commitment made me consider flip-flopping the top of the rankings. At 6-foot-6, she\u2019s the paint presence, rim-protecting player South Carolina lacked last season. She has a chance to be one of the most impactful transfers in the country next season.<\/p>\n Showtime in Baton Rouge<\/p>\n By acquiring South Carolina\u2019s MiLaysia Fulwiley and Notre Dame\u2019s Kate Koval, LSU made the biggest jump in the top 10. Questions around Baton Rouge \u2014 with Fulwiley, Flau\u2019jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams in the backcourt \u2014 might echo what we heard in South Bend a year ago: Is there enough basketball to go around? But on multiple occasions, Tigers coach Kim Mulkey has melded formidable teams made of players with big games. She might now have the SEC\u2019s \u2014 and maybe the country\u2019s \u2014 best and most exciting backcourt. We just watched two backcourt-heavy teams advance to the national championship game this season, so perhaps it\u2019s a bit of recency bias, but the Tigers look pretty darn promising. Ask me again after they\u2019ve played no one outstanding in nonconference competition (argh) and we\u2019ll see, but I like how the roster has shaped up going into the 2025-26 season.<\/p>\n The difference a year makes in Knoxville<\/p>\n Last year at this time, I thought Tennessee might miss the NCAA Tournament. I wasn\u2019t sure how new coach Kim Caldwell\u2019s system would work against power conference opponents or whether players would buy into her hockey substitution patterns. One Sweet 16 later \u2026 here we are.<\/p>\n With its core returning and ESPN\u2019s No. 2 high school recruiting class incoming, Caldwell didn\u2019t need to add. But bringing in Janiah Barker (UCLA), Jersey Wolfenbarger (LSU) and Nya Roberston (SMU) is far more about bolstering the athleticism and versatility on her roster rather than just adding players. I love Tennessee\u2019s prospects with Barker and think she could thrive in Caldwell\u2019s fast-paced system. Robertson\u2019s 3-point shooting took a dip last season, but if she gets it back to 34 or 35 percent, she\u2019ll be in business.<\/p>\n the sky\u2019s the limit. pic.twitter.com\/UAsg6QktLc<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Lady Vols Basketball (@LadyVol_Hoops) April 23, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Bruins lose freshmen class, but not top-25 ground<\/p>\n UCLA had last season\u2019s No. 4 high school recruiting class, inking three top-30 players and five-star international guard Elina Aarnisalo. Today, the Bruins don\u2019t have a single rising sophomore on their roster as each of those freshmen transferred (along with Barker and Londynn Jones). Yet UCLA remains not just in great positioning but a spot higher due to 3-point sharpshooter Gianna Kneepkens\u2019 commitment.<\/p>\n The 45-percent 3-point shooter adds an element to the Bruins\u2019 offense that makes them tougher to defend while providing a counterweight to Lauren Betts. Coach Cori Close has managed to keep most of this core together for a potential repeat Final Four run \u2014 and that\u2019s to be commended. When this entire group graduates, who knows if there will be players coming behind it. But let\u2019s not get ahead of ourselves. For now, the Bruins hold serve and remain in the top five.<\/p>\n Nothing slow about Terrapins\u2019 climb<\/p>\n When the season ended, Maryland was outside the top 25 after losing Shyanne Sellers, Sarah Te-Biasu and Christina Dalce to the WNBA and graduation. Kaylene Smikle returned for next season, and Bri McDaniel will come back at some point after recovering from her torn ACL in January. But those two didn\u2019t offer enough talent to boost Maryland into the rankings. Enter: Oluchi Okananwa (Duke) and Yarden Garzon (Indiana). Suddenly, it looks like Maryland\u2019s offense \u2014 ranked 10th nationally in points per game (81) \u2014 might be even more high-scoring next season. Coach Brenda Frese also gets some benefit of the doubt here, considering this isn\u2019t her first rodeo with getting an instant return from incorporating several transfers onto a roster.<\/p>\n The top of the Big Ten doesn\u2019t look quite like I thought it would before next season, but those top five teams \u2014 UCLA, Michigan, Washington, Michigan State and Maryland \u2014 should all be very fun.<\/p>\n Yarden Garzon is heading to @TerpsWBB<\/a>! \ud83d\udc22#NCAAWBB<\/a> x @YardenGarzon<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/bjlRi9RduW<\/a><\/p>\n