Which Players From the Transfer Portal Are Making the Biggest Impact This Year?
The NCAA transfer portal is a major resource for teams looking to deepen their bench. At the end of the college basketball season, players can enter their names into the portal; some in search of new opportunities, better coaching, or a more challenging atmosphere. For others, transferring teams is just a way to make the most of their time as a collegiate athlete. It’s possible that in the process, these athletes might make a serious impact on the programs taking them in. Here are three of the most impactful women’s college basketball transfers this year.
A Breakout Season for Olivia Miles at TCU
Olivia Miles spent four years at Notre Dame learning from greats like Sonia Citron, Maddy Westbeld, and Dara Mabrey. She eventually became a household name for women’s college basketball, recording over 1,400 points for the Fighting Irish. At the end of the 2025 season, Miles announced her departure from Notre Dame, a shocking decision that created a whirlwind of rumors as to why she was leaving. Miles eventually landed at TCU to play for head coach Mark Campbell. TCU women’s basketball hasn’t had it easy. In 2024, they were forced to hold walk-on tryouts as they had too many injured players. Just a year later, guard Hailey Van Lith transferred to TCU from Louisville and led the team to their first Big 12 title. They also made it to the first Elite Eight in school history. TCU lost Van Lith after that season, but gained another valuable guard in Olivia Miles. This season, TCU is ranked 14th with a 20-3 record from the help of Miles. She averages 19.3 points per game with an impressive 50.8 field goal percentage. Miles has been the spark the Horned Frogs have needed and it will be fun to see how far she can carry them in the upcoming tournament.
Ole Miss Is Leveling up With Help From Cotie McMahon
It has been years since Ole Miss was seen as a true threat in the SEC. They have remained consistent, with NCAA Tournament bids in 2023, 2024, and 2025. However, the Rebels have been in search of someone to get them further. A star player who can make them a threat to teams in the cutthroat SEC conference. Enter Cotie McMahon: a six-foot forward who transferred from Ohio State. She averages 19.8 points per game and has been a vital playmaker for the Rebels this season, bringing a competitive energy that is hard to ignore. McMahon led Ole Miss to big-time wins against 10th-ranked Oklahoma and eighth-ranked Vanderbilt, along with Notre Dame, who ended their 2025 season in the NCAA Tournament. McMahon is in her last year of college basketball with Ole Miss, meaning that it’s now or never. The Rebels have great chances of making it further than ever in the tournament alongside their transfer star.
