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charlie cream
multiple authors
All four No. 1 seeds advanced to the Sweet 16 of the 2026 Women’s NCAA Tournament. Thirteen of the top 16 seeds advanced to the regional semifinals. But since the next round is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, the offseason officially begins for some.
Here’s your guide to their expected departures, returns, top incoming recruits and their personnel preferences when the transfer portal opens on April 6.
record: 24-9 (13-5 in Big Ten)
How their season ended: Lost to UCLA in Sweet 16
expected departure
amaya fight (11.3 ppg)
Sophie Heart (11.1 ppg)
brily glen (6.4 ppg)
finau tonga (4.7 ppg)
tracy bershars (2.0 ppg)
players remaining eligible
torri mckinney (12.9 ppg)
grace grocholski (12.1 ppg)
mara brown (11.8 ppg)
Makenna Christian (3.7 ppg)
niamya holloway (1.7 ppg)
kennedy click (1.6 ppg)
brian senden (0.6 ppg)
Top Upcoming Recruitment: Natalie Kusov (number 40)
Voted Ms. Basketball in Wisconsin, Kuso should fit in well with Minnesota’s playing style. He is a shooting guard who averaged 26.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists for state champion Arrowhead. Kuso had 34 points in the title match. The question will be where she fits into the rotation. With Braun missing the entire season due to a second leg injury and McKinney and Grocholski also expected to return, the backcourt has plenty of experience on the wing. With Battle’s departure, those minutes will be available. There is more need for a point guard; The Gophers added an in-state recruit. Tori Oehrlein (No. 58).
Portal Preferences: The top scorer is expected to return. No size. The recruiting class also included 6-4 Adit Kuol, but if Minnesota is going to duplicate a top 20 season, coach Don Plitzuwitz will need to get some experienced interior help. The 6-2 Finau was a grad transfer from San Jose State this year. This may be the pool the coaching staff needs to dip into again. Hart, who was in the program for three years after leaving NC State, will be difficult to replace. She was the Gophers’ interior anchor, and Plitzuweit will have to reach high into the portal to find someone with that kind of Power 4 conference experience. Minnesota will also have room for a true point guard.
record: 28-8 (14-4 in ACC)
How their season ended: Lost to UConn in Elite Eight
expected departure
nyla harris (11.5 ppg)
Indya Nivar (10.3 ppg)
players remaining eligible
lanny grant (11.1 ppg)
elina arnisalo (10.4 ppg)
sierra toomey (8.9 ppg)
nyala brooks (8.7 ppg)
renia kelly (6.1 ppg)
Laila Hal (4.2 ppg)
Taliyah Henderson (3.8 ppg)
taisa queiroz (2.9 ppg)
Jordan Zubich (2.1 ppg)
Liza Astakhova (2.1 ppg)
blanca thomas (1.7 ppg)
sydney barker (0.4 ppg)
Top Upcoming Recruitment: Kate Harpring (number 4)
What should be a deep backcourt gets even deeper and better with Harpering. The highest-ranked recruit coach Courtney Banghart has ever brought in, Harping should start from day one. A 3,000-point career scorer at Atlanta’s Marist School and one of five finalists for Naismith High School player of the year, the 5-foot-10 Harping is firmly established in USA Basketball, having won a gold medal at the FIBA U19 World Cup and averaging 8.3 points in seven games. Harpering, the daughter of former Georgia Tech star and 11-year NBA player Matt Harpering, has been named to the 2026 Nike Hoop Summit Team. Although four players averaged between 10.3 and 11.5 ppg for UNC this season, no stars developed for the Tar Heels. Harpering could be that player in 2027.
Portal Preferences: Any transfer will be determined by how deep Banghart dives into the portal. Harris was the team’s leading scorer and rebounder, and may be most remembered for his work on the glass. North Carolina was only 10th in the ACC in rebounding with Harris, who was brought in from Louisville for a year to do just that. Upgrades across the boards will be necessary to play deep into March. If there is an experienced power forward who doesn’t need an offensive priority, he could be the missing piece. If Grant, Arnisalo and Kelly all stay in Chapel Hill, the backcourt rotation is full, but if a spot-up shooter is available, the Tar Heels could find room for him.
record: 29-5 (13-3 in ACC)
How their season ended: Lost to Notre Dame in Sweet 16
expected departure
Justin Pisot (11.4 ppg)
Sacha Washington (10.4 ppg)
Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda (7.0 ppg)
Jada Brown (3.2 ppg)
players remaining eligible
Mikayla Blakes (27.0 ppg)
Aubrey Galvan (13.2 ppg)
aiyana michelle (5.9 ppg)
aga makurat (3.2 ppg)
ava black (2.9 ppg)
Trinity Wilson (1.0 ppg)
monique williams (0.9 ppg)
madison green (red shirt)
Top Upcoming Recruitment: olivia jones (number 14)
If anyone is looking for a player comp for Jones, they don’t have to look far. Blake is the answer. Jones’ strengths are as a driver and shot creator. His teammates at Long Island Lutheran include four other top-25 recruits, so Jones understands the high-level competitiveness. As part of the Team USA U16 team that won gold at the FIBA AmeriCup last summer, the 5-foot-11 Jones averaged 8.0 points and 3.8 assists. The Commodores didn’t stop there, they also added 6-4 Jhai Johnson from California, who once again exemplifies how Vanderbilt recruiting access has increased under Shea Ralph.
Portal Preferences: A mobile big would be a good place to start. The offense needs to spread out to maximize the one-on-one skills of Blake and Galvan. A traditional post doesn’t work; The Commodores need someone who can run the high pick-and-roll. That’s what made Washington a good fit. Additionally another shooter to span the floor should also be at the top of Ralph’s Portal wish list. The opportunity to play with a humble superstar like Blake and a passer of Galvan’s quality should be an easy sell. Targeting the right personality will be the coaching staff’s biggest challenge.
