Women’s Final Four teams reflect on the transfer portal’s impact
PHOENIX — The impact of the transfer portal can be felt all around the basketball landscape, and that includes the women’s Final Four. The transfer portal in part contributed to the four teams that reached the Final Four in 2025 returning again this year. That has only happened once before when Georgia, Stanford, Tennessee and UConn did it in 1995-96.
Things have changed in the last 30 years, especially recently. There was a time schools would mainly get talented players from mid-major programs. Now more than ever Power Four schools are taking from each other.
Nearly all the players who transferred to the Final Four teams came from power conferences. “The portal and the revenue share, I think that was the death of the mid-majors, the death of high school players coming to play college basketball,” UConn coach Geno Auriemma said. “It’s never been harder for a high school kid to have the same opportunities that an existing college player already has.
“When your choice is go get a high school senior or go get a college sophomore for your team, a lot of coaches are deciding that getting a college sophomore is way better. ” Lauren Betts arrived at UCLA from Stanford three years ago and is now one of the best players in the country. Ta’Niya Latson went to South Carolina this year after spending the first three years at Florida State, where she led the country in scoring.
Kayleigh Heckel (USC) and Serah Williams (Wisconsin) joined UConn this year. Texas added Ashton Judd (Missouri) this season. Of those schools, only USC reached the NCAA Tournament, but the Trojans didn’t get out of the second round.