EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsMore than 1,300 transfers found new homes this offseason. In less than three weeks, they will officially play their first games in fresh environments.Some coaches like South Carolina Dawn Staley or LSU Kim Mulkey filled specific holes with an addition or two. Other schools, such as Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, TCU and UCLA, completely remade their rosters from the transfer portal.Many of these players will determine the course of the season. That's why this list is not strictly a ranking of the best transfers. It evaluates which players could alter national championship aspirations or conference championship races the most.The intriguing storylines that accompanied the offseason moves will be some of the most analyzed during the season. Jordan Lee moved from one side to the other in the SEC's biggest rivalry. Audi Crooks' jump to Oklahoma State gives the Cowgirls hope of their first Big 12 title since 1991, while Iowa State is now picked to finish 11th in the Big 12. Vanderbilt has added a post player in Mia Woolfolk who adds a new dimension for star Mikayla Blakes.ESPN predicts who will be the biggest transfer portal game-changers with a look at the top-20 most impactful transfers for the 2026-27 season.1. Audi Crooks, 6-3, C, Sr.Transferring from Iowa State to Oklahoma StateLanding Crooks was a season saver for coach Jacie Hoyt after nine players departed the program. The Cowgirls head coach needed a major acquisition, and she got the biggest. Crooks, the most productive player in the portal, becomes Oklahoma State's centerpiece, even if for just one season in Stillwater. After three seasons of strong association with the Cyclones, Crooks, who was second in the country at 25.8 points per game, might look strange to Big 12 fans in an Oklahoma State uniform, but she makes the Cowgirls a favorite in the Big 12.2. Addy Brown, 6-2, F, Sr.Transferring from Iowa State to UCLACrooks' Iowa State teammate also landed in a spot where she will be the focal point of an instant roster restock. Six seniors departed UCLA after being crowned last season's national champions, so Cori Close lured Brown to Westwood to lead the title defense. Injuries forced her to miss 11 games, which made last season the least productive of Brown's career, but her average numbers of 13.6 points, 8.1 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game illustrate a versatility that Close should maximize.3. Dani Carnegie, 5-9, G, Jr.Transferring from Georgia to IowaAfter completely changing the fortunes of Georgia a year ago, Carnegie hopes to take the Hawkeyes to the next level. She joins a team with far greater talent and higher expectations. With Carnegie, Iowa can contend at the top of the Big Ten. She is reunited with former Georgia Tech teammate Chazadi 'Chit-Chat' Wright and will give the Hawkeyes one of the conference's best backcourts. She averaged 17.8 points per game with the Lady Bulldogs and 12.9 points as a freshman with the Yellow Jackets.4. Jada Williams, 5-8, PG, Sr.Transferring from Iowa State to LSUWhen Williams moved from Arizona to Iowa State last season, her assists average jumped nearly five per game to 7.7, third-best in the country. This season she will be surrounded by even more talent at LSU. Her quickness and court vision should fit well on a Tigers team that will take every opportunity to run. Williams should be the catalyst along with Mikaylah Williams, MiLaysia Fulwiley and ZaKiyah Johnson.5. Talaysia Cooper, 6-0, G, Sr.Transferring from Tennessee to Ole MissDuring a turbulent couple of seasons at Tennessee, Cooper's production remained consistent. She averaged 16.6 points and significantly improved her 3-point shooting to 34.3%. With her length and skills, Cooper should be a big role player in Ole Miss's defense-first system and the No. 1 option on offense.6. Jordan Lee, 6-0, G, Jr.Transferring from Texas to South CarolinaLee's decision to leave Texas was one of the most unexpected in the aftermath of last season. She chose the Longhorns' chief SEC rival, South Carolina, as her next destination which made it that much more intriguing. She will likely step into a big role with the Gamecocks with the ability to become one of the best two-way players in the country. An outstanding perimeter defender with a high basketball IQ, Lee was second to Madison Booker in points per game at Texas with 13.2.7. Nunu Agara, 6-2, F, Sr.Transferring from Stanford to MarylandAgara moves up the rankings because her importance to the young Terrapins cannot be overstated. Maryland has eight freshmen or sophomores and no other proven inside scorers or rebounders. Agara will join senior guards Oluchi Okananwa and Bri McDaniel as the key leaders to the Terps' season.8. Liv McGill, 5-9, G, Jr.Transferring from Florida to Oklahoma StateThe only player in the country to average at least 20 points, six rebounds and six assists last season, McGill was asked carry Florida every game. Now alongside Crooks, she won't have to do that with the Cowgirls, but Hoyt will need production. McGill's ability to get into the lane and attack the rim should pair well with returners Stailee Heard and Ellie Brueggemann, who made 44.0% of her 3-pointers at Lindenwood.9. Mia Woolfolk, 6-3, F, Jr.Transferring from Georgia to VanderbiltImpact is why Woolfolk jumped six spots since the last rankings in April. Her presence in the low post will change how defenses are able to guard Blakes. The nation's leading scorer should face fewer double teams coming off screens with Woolfolk one pass away from a basket. Her 13.9 points per game ranked second on the Lady Bulldogs to Carnegie.10. Aaliyah Crump, 6-1, F, Soph.Transferring from Texas to DukeA healthy Crump adds a dimension to the Blue Devils that could push them to a Final Four. She can shoot the 3-pointer and defend on the perimeter. At 6-1, Crump could be an asset in Kara Lawson's defensive schemes. After being the No. 5 overall recruit in 2025, injuries hampered her only season in Austin where she averaged 7.9 points per game.11. Zamareya Jones, 5-7, G, Jr.Transferring from NC State to LouisvilleAn already deep and versatile backcourt got even better with the addition of Jones. While strengthening the Cardinals, Jones' transfer weakens an ACC rival. She joins Imari Berry and Taj Roberts to form a backcourt that could dominate in transition. Jones was second on NC State with 14.8 points and 3.8 assists per game and sixth in the ACC in 3-pointers made per game (2.2).12. Tilda Trygger, 6-6, F, Jr.Transferring from NC State to WashingtonThe Huskies improvement over the past few seasons has been fueled by shooting, but by adding Trygger to go with 6-3 sophomore Brynn McGaughy, coach Tina Langley might also have a high-low post game to turn to. Trygger has some range and took 62 3-point attempts at NC State last season (33.9%) to go along with her 10.6 points and 7.0 rebounds per game.13. Jada Richard, 5-7, G, Jr.Transferring from LSU to Ole MissAnother intra-SEC transfer for Ole Miss coach Yolette McPhee-McCuin, Richard went from seldom-used freshman to steady floor leader as a sophomore at LSU. She averaged 9.5 points and 3.2 assists and was a 40.8% 3-point shooter. She should step right in as the Rebels' point guard.14. Madison St. Rose, 5-10, G, Gr.Transferring from Princeton to Notre DameWith her Ivy League eligibility over, St. Rose will play her final season as Hannah Hidalgo backcourt running mate. Like former Irish point guard Olivia Miles and Hidalgo, St. Rose is also from New Jersey. She and Hidalgo were back-to-back state players of the year in 2022 and 2023. St. Rose bounced back from a 2024-25 knee injury to average 15.8 points, lifting Princeton to an Ivy League title.15. Kaylene Smikle, 6-0, G, Gr.Transferring from Maryland to TennesseeA scorer wherever she has played, Smikle has also been injury-prone, missing the bulk of two seasons. She played in just seven games for the Terrapins last season and averaged a career-low 13.1 points per game. A healthy Smikle is bound to score anywhere on the floor and is the best player of the eight transfers Lady Vols' coach Kim Caldwell landed from the portal.16. Lara Somfai, 6-3, F, Soph.Transferring from Stanford to TCUThought to be a foundational player in the rebuild at Stanford, Somfai can now be that for Mark Campbell at TCU. She was an ACC All-Freshman after averaging 10.8 points and 9.1 rebounds, good for fifth in the ACC. If her deep shooting improves (29.0% on 124 attempts from 3-point range), she should be another perfect fit in the Horned Frogs' high pick-and-roll offense paired with a trio of guard transfers -- Lanie Grant (North Carolina), Jadyn Wooten (Oklahoma State) and Bella Hines (LSU).17. Skylar Forbes, 6-3, G, Sr.Transferring from Marquette to West VirginiaMoving to a defense-first system with Mark Kellogg at West Virginia is a good fit for Forbes. She led the Big East in blocks last season (1.8 BPG) and averaged over a steal per game the past two seasons. Forbes can score too. Her 15.5 points per game led Marquette, and she was a first-team all-Big East selection for the second time.18. Gracie Merkle, 6-6, C, Gr.Transferring from Penn State to MinnesotaGophers needed some size, and Merkle comes with a bonus. She scored 18.7 points per game against Big Ten teams last season. Both Gophers centers used up their eligibility, leaving a massive hole in the lineup. A good Minnesota offense a year ago might be better now with Merkle, who in three seasons (two at Penn State, one at Bellarmine) has never averaged below 15 points per game.19. Jadyn Wooten, 5-6, G, Jr.Transferring from Oklahoma State to TCUDespite not starting a game with the Cowgirls, Wooten averaged 12.8 points and 5.4 assists, which was fifth-best in the Big 12. Her 3-point shooting is still improving, but her quickness with the ball should pair well with Somfai and Clara Silva.20. Kate Koval, 6-5, F, Jr.Transferring from LSU to BaylorKoval didn't leave LSU until August and could potentially give Baylor a big boost. One of the most highly-rated players coming out of the 2024 recruiting cycle, Koval hasn't quite found her footing after one season with Notre Dame and LSU. Her play did improve across the board with the Tigers, and she averaged 8.3 point and 6.3 rebounds last season. Even more opportunity for playing time awaits in Waco.Also considered: Elina Aarnisalo, North Carolina to UCLA; Achol Akot, Oklahoma State to North Carolina; Carys Baker, Virginia Tech to Louisville; Essence Cody, Alabama to Texas A&M; Lanie Grant, North Carolina to TCU; Kiyomi McMiller, Penn State to Florida; Zahirah Walton, George Mason to West Virginia.
