UCLA crushed South Carolina on Sunday to win the 2026 NCAA women’s basketball national championship and officially bring the 2025-26 season to a close. There’s no time for rest, though, as now that the season is over, the transfer portal is open. 

In January, the NCAA announced major changes to the transfer portal process for both men’s and women’s college basketball. Unlike past seasons, when the portal was open during the NCAA Tournament, it opened the day after the national championship game. Additionally, it will only be open for 15 days, which makes the women’s basketball window April 6-20. Players can commit to new schools after that window expires, but they must file paperwork to initiate the transfer process during that span.

After the next few weeks, the college basketball landscape is going to change significantly. As the action gets underway, here’s a look at some of the top players in the portal (so far). 

1. Audi Crooks — C, Iowa State

Crooks is by far the best player in the portal to date. The 6-foot-3 center was named an AP Second Team All-American after averaging 25.8 points per game and 7.7 rebounds on 64.9% shooting. She set career-highs in scoring and field goal percentage, and was second in the country in both categories. 

Despite Crooks’ best efforts, which included four 40-point games and a 37-point outing in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, Iowa State’s season ended in disappointing fashion. She is one of 10 Cyclones to hit the portal, and will have no shortage of options this spring as she decides where to play her senior season. 

2. Liv McGill — G, Florida

McGill was one of the most exciting and productive players in college basketball last season. The lightning-quick guard averaged 22.5 points, 6.1 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 2.6 steals en route to All-SEC First Team and AP All-American Honorable Mention honors. 

She was the highest-ranked recruit in program history, but despite her strong play, Florida once again failed to make the NCAA Tournament and parted ways with coach Kelly Rae Finley. Now, McGill is in the portal and will look to play her final two seasons of college basketball elsewhere. 

3. Talaysia Cooper — G, Tennessee

Cooper, who was named to the All-SEC Second Team, was Tennessee’s best player last season. A big, versatile guard, she put up 16 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.7 steals per game, and shot a career-best 34.3% from 3-point range on 6.1 attempts. In the process, she led the Volunteers in scoring, assists, steals and 3-pointers made. 

Tennessee suffered a stunning late-season collapse, losing its last eight games, including a first-round defeat to NC State in the NCAA Tournament. Since then, there’s been an exodus from Knoxville. That includes Cooper, who will be in high demand for her final collegiate season. 

4. Addy Brown — F, Iowa State

Brown missed over a month with what Iowa State called a “lower-body injury,” and was not herself once she returned to the court late in the season. But even though her numbers took a hit from last season, she still put up 11.9 points, 8.8 rebounds and 5.3 assists and shot 33.8% from 3-point range.  

After such a frustrating season on both a personal and team level, Brown hit the portal and will look to play elsewhere in her senior season. Her impressive offensive versatility will make her an easy fit on just about any team, and she should have plenty of suitors. 

5. Kymora Johnson — G, Virginia

Johnson burst into the national consciousness last season while leading Virginia on a Cinderella run to the Sweet 16. She averaged 19.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 2.1 steals, while shooting 36.1% on 8.4 3-point attempts en route to All-ACC First Team honors.

Shortly after Virginia’s season came to an end, however, coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton was fired after an internal investigation into the team’s culture. That led several players, including Johnson, to enter the portal. Plenty of teams will be eager to add Johnson for her senior season, especially after how she performed in the Big Dance. 

6. Dani Carnegie — G, Georgia

Georgia made the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2023 thanks in large part to Carnegie, who arrived last summer as a transfer from Georgia Tech, where she had been named ACC Sixth Woman of the Year in 2025. Last season, Carnegie put up 17.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.4 steals, while shooting 35.4% on 7.4 3-point attempts per game. 

For all of Georgia’s success last season, the Bulldogs collapsed in the first round of the tournament and lost to Virginia, which prompted a coaching change. Out went Katie Abrahamson-Henderson and in came Ayla Guzzardo. Now, Carnegie has decided to leave as well. That’s a big loss for the Bulldogs, but she will be another program’s gain.  

7. Jada Williams — G, Iowa State

Williams transferred to Iowa State last summer after playing her first two seasons at Arizona, and will now be looking for her third team in three years after deciding to enter the portal along with nearly every other Cyclones player, including Crooks and Brown. 

After an excellent season in Ames, Williams should be in high demand this spring. She was named to the All-Big-12 First Team after averaging 15.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 7.7 assists and one steal per game. Aside from steals, all of those marks were career-highs. 

8. Kiyomi McMiller — G, Penn State

In terms of pure talent, McMiller has an argument to be even higher on this list. The former McDonald’s All-American was an All-Big Ten Second Team selection after averaging 21.6 points, five rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.8 steals, while shooting 35.3% from 3-point range for Penn State, which replaced long-time coach Carolyn Kieger with former PSU star Tanisha Wright last month. 

However, McMiller was suspended during her freshman season with Rutgers after reportedly getting into a locker room altercation with a teammate and only ended up playing 21 games for the Scarlet Knights. She is advised by Floyd Mayweather’s former promoter and is now entering the portal for the second time in as many years. 

9. Zam Jones — G, NC State

Jones played sparingly as a freshman, but earned a starting role as a sophomore and was one of the most improved players in the country. She more than doubled her numbers in every major statistical category aside from blocks, and put up 14.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.2 steals, while shooting 36.6% from behind the arc. 

After NC State’s fairly disappointing season, which ended with a blowout loss to Michigan in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, Jones decided to enter the portal. The North Carolina native will be a target for many programs, especially since she has two years of eligibility left. 

10. Aaliyah Crump — F, Texas

Crump was a five-star recruit and ranked No. 5 in the class of 2025 by 247Sports. Her full freshman season numbers — 7.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists and one steal per game — don’t jump off the page, but she was off to an excellent start before injuring her foot five games into the season. When she returned two months later, Texas was in the full swing of SEC play, and her minutes became sporadic. 

Now, after Texas’ devastating loss in the Final Four to UCLA, Crump has entered the portal. Any team that missed out on Crump during her initial recruiting process will likely be interested again this spring as she looks for a new team. 

11. Skylar Forbes — F, Marquette

Forbes earned her second consecutive All-Big East First Team honor after another productive, if somewhat underwhelming, campaign for Marquette. The versatile, 6-foot-3 forward put up 15.5 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists, one steal and 1.8 blocks, and shot 34.5% from behind the arc. 

Marquette was able to keep its entire team together last offseason, but after a disappointing season that saw them fail to make any postseason tournament, a number of players have hit the portal. Forbes, who was on the Naismith Trophy preseason watch list ahead of last season, will have plenty of interested teams hoping to secure her services for her senior campaign. 

12. Gracie Merkle — C, Penn State

Merkle is back in the portal again. After transferring from Bellarmine to Penn State after her freshman season, Merkle entered the portal last season and announced her intention to play for Maryland. Then, a few months later, she stunningly announced that she was leaving Maryland and would return to Penn State. 

Now, after a productive junior season for the Nittany Lions, Merkle is once again planning to leave State College after a coaching change. Merkle averaged 19.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.1 blocks, and led the country in field goal percentage at a stunning 72.5%. The All-Big Ten Third Team honoree has one year of eligibility left. 

13. Kaylene Smikle — F, Maryland

Smikle was limited to just seven games last season due to a nagging knee injury that eventually required surgery, and has decided to enter the portal while she pushes for a medical redshirt that would grant her an extra year of eligibility. Based on the timing and nature of the injury, she should be successful in obtaining the medical redshirt. 

In Smikle’s two healthy collegiate seasons — she was limited to 15 games as a sophomore — she’s been an All-Big Ten selection and was named to the First Team in 2025 after averaging 17.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.5 steals. Her health may be a concern, but she’s so talented that a power conference program will definitely take a chance on her. 

14. Taryn Barbot — G, Charleston

Taryn Barbot, along with her twin sister Taylor, led Charleston to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history. The Cougars were crushed in the first round by Duke, though, and with just one season of eligibility left, Taryn entered the portal to give herself a chance to compete at a higher level. 

Barbot was named CAA Player of the Year for the second season in a row after averaging a career-high 20.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.3 steals. She also shot 36.1% on 6.9 3-point attempts per game. It will be fun to watch Barbot make the jump to a power conference, assuming that’s where she ends up. 

15. Nunu Agara — F, Stanford

Agara has been a consistent performer for Stanford over the last two seasons and led the Cardinal in 2026 at 15.3 points per game. She also added 8.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.2 steals en route to All-ACC Second Team honors for the second season in a row. 

Once one of the premier programs in the country, Stanford has fallen off after legendary coach Tara VanDerveer retired and missed out on the NCAA Tournament again last season. With just one season of eligibility remaining, Agara seemingly wants a chance to compete in the Big Dance and has entered the portal. 

16. Madison St. Rose — G, Princeton

St. Rose missed the majority of her junior season after tearing her ACL and received a medical redshirt, so she still has one year of eligibility left, but the Ivy League does not allow athletes to compete as graduate students. As a result, she’s been forced to enter the transfer portal. 

She’s coming off a strong season in her return from injury, in which she averaged 15.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.1 steals and led the Tigers back to the NCAA Tournament. For her efforts, she was named to the All-Ivy League First Team. St. Rose should have no trouble making the jump to a power conference. 

17. Tilda Trygger — F, NC State

A native of Stockholm, Sweden, Trygger was much improved as a sophomore, and averaged 10.6 points, seven rebounds and 1.3 blocks, while shooting 51.8% from the field overall, including 33.9% from 3-point range — a solid clip for a 6-foot-6 center. 

Trygger is among a group of NC State players in the portal after the Wolfpack’s underwhelming season, which ended with a second-round defeat to Michigan in the NCAA Tournament. With her size and ability to space the floor, numerous programs will be calling to inquire about Trygger’s services. 

18. Aryss Macktoon — G, La Salle

Macktoon is likely one of the least-known names on this list, but that’s only because she’s played her first three seasons at La Salle, and the Explorers have not made the NCAA Tournament. That has not been due to a lack of effort from Macktoon, however. 

The 5-foot-10 guard made a big leap this season and was named Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year after averaging 15 points, 7.6 rebounds, two assists and 3.2 steals, the latter of which was tied for 11th in the country. Macktoon has the size and the skills, particularly on the defensive end, to make the jump to a power conference.  

19. Lara Somfai — F, Stanford

Somfai, the No. 24-ranked recruit in the 2025 class, according to 247 Sports, has entered the portal after just one season at Stanford. The Cardinal finished 11th in the ACC and missed the NCAA Tournament as the program continues to reel from VanDerveer’s retirement. 

In 32 games as a freshman, Somfai averaged 10.8 points, 9.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists, which earned her a spot on the ACC All-Freshman Team. Somfai should draw plenty of interest after a productive freshman campaign. She will have three years of eligibility remaining. 

20. Jadyn Wooten — G, Oklahoma State

Wooten was one of the most improved players in the Big 12 last season and one of the best reserves. She doubled her scoring average and put up 12.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.3 steals while shooting 49% from the field — all off the bench. Her play earned her an honorable mention on the All-Big-12 Team. 

The Cowgirls made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament thanks in large part to Wooten, who was excellent in the postseason. Now, she’s decided to enter the portal with two seasons of eligibility remaining. Wooten could easily be a starter elsewhere, especially if she continues on this trajectory. 

Honorable mentions

• Achol Akot — F, Oklahoma State
• Justice Carleton — F, Texas
• Jaida Civil — G, Tennessee
• Lanie Grant — G, North Carolina
• Mia Woolfolk — F, Georgia