When the NCAA released its brackets for its men’s and women’s basketball tournament fields, the transfer portal opened, marking the start of the sport’s unofficial free agency.
Last season, more than 1,100 women’s basketball players passed through the transfer portal. And if you look at the NCAA tournament field, you can see how some players benefited from a change of scenery and helped take their new teams to the next level.
Angel Reese went from Maryland to LSU, became an AP All-American First Team selection and powered the Tigers to the Elite Eight. The Cavinder twins landed at Miami, boosting their profiles for NIL while also helping the Canes reach their first-ever Elite Eight. And Taylor Soule transferred in-conference – going from Boston College to Virginia Tech – and helped the Hokies win their first-ever ACC tournament title.
The transfer portal has seen more traffic in recent years because of the NCAA’s COVID-era ruling that made it so the 2020-21 season didn’t count toward players’ eligibility. So, anyone who played that season gets a fifth season of college ball if they want it.
Here are the best players in the transfer portal so far. We’ll update this list when noteworthy players enter it.
9
Kaitlyn Davis, Columbia
A 6-foot-1 forward and a unanimous All-Ivy League First Team selection, Davis averaged 13.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game for a Columbia team that just narrowly missed the NCAA tournament field as one of the “first four out” teams. In January, she notched the first triple-double in Columbia women’s basketball history.
8
Maria Gakdeng, Boston College
One of the top inside defenders in the ACC, Gakdeng can help any team improve their rim protection as she averaged 1.8 blocks per game, which was third in the conference. The 6-foot-3 forward started in 65 of the 66 games she played in for Boston College and greatly improved from a freshman to a sophomore, increasing her scoring, rebounding and assist averages.
Maria Gakdeng dropped a season-high 20 points & grabbed 12 rebounds vs. Syracuse!@BC_WBB | #ACCWBB pic.twitter.com/ptnZYel1zD
— ACC Digital Network (@theACCDN) February 5, 2023
7
Destinee Wells, Belmont
Wells was a three-year starter at Belmont and has two years of eligibility remaining. This season, her 3-point shooting percentage improved from 30.3 percent last season to 45.5 percent this season. She was seventh in the nation in offensive win shares (5.6), 17th in assist rate (35.7) and top 60 in PER (30.5). She’ll be an offensive weapon wherever she lands.
6
Kennedy Todd-Williams, North Carolina
The versatile and super-athletic guard was the only Tar Heel to feature in all 33 games this season. She was second on the team in scoring and third in rebounding – averaging 13.4 points and 5.4 rebounds per-game – as UNC advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament. Todd-Williams was an All-ACC Second Team selection and five games this season in which she scored more than 20 points. She has two years of eligibility left.
5
Kennedy Fauntleroy, Georgetown
Tabbed as one of the top-75 recruits in last year’s class, Fauntleroy was a bright spot on a Hoyas’ team that struggled this season, going just 6-14 in Big East play and firing head coach James Howard. Fauntleroy was named Big East Freshman of the Year and was one of just two freshmen in the country to average at least 10.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.4 steals per game. The 5-foot-7 guard also shot 37.4 percent from 3-point land.
KENNEDY FAUNTLEROY!
The #BIGEASTwbb Freshman of the Year coming up clutch in the #BEtourney for @GeorgetownWBB pic.twitter.com/qdF3gm0rHt
— BIG EAST WBB (@BIGEASTWBB) March 3, 2023
4
Jayda Curry, Cal
She led Cal in scoring, assists and 3-point shooting this season, averaging 15.5 points, 3.5 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game while shooting 33.5 percent from behind the arc. She was the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year last season and was an All-Pac-12 selection this year. Curry has the potential to score in bunches against strong teams too, dropping at least 20 points on five teams that made the NCAA tournament.
3
Frannie Hottinger, Lehigh
A 6-foot-1 forward from Minnesota, Hottinger was named Patriot League Player of the Year after averaging 20.4 points and 9.7 rebounds per game while shooting 43.8 percent from the floor. She played well against tough opponents too, dropping a double-double of 25 points and 12 rebounds. New Gophers’ head coach Dawn Plitzuweit could use a player like Hottinger. She leaves Lehigh with the program’s single-season scoring record.
The @PatriotLeague Player of the Year in women's basketball is @LehighWBB's Frannie Hottinger.@MarchMadnessWBB @espnW @LehighU pic.twitter.com/IOaba1U7qx
— Patriot League on ESPN (@PatriotLeagueTV) March 3, 2023
2
Taina Mair, Boston College
Mair made the ACC All-Freshmen Team and was also one of the best passers in the country this season, racking up 6.6 assists per game, which ranked ninth nationally. The 5-foot-9 Boston native also averaged 11.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game, and her assist rate was 17th-best in the country. Mair had six games with double-digit assists this season.
1
Kiki Jefferson, James Madison
Voted Sun Belt Player of the Year this season, Jefferson powered the Dukes to a conference title and NCAA tournament appearance while averaging 18.2 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game while shooting 42.6 percent from the floor and 33.6 percent from deep. Jefferson started in 109 games over four years at JMU and has one year of eligibility left.
