Here is who decimated national champion UCLA could target in the transfer portal

Iowa State center Audi Crooks, a prolific scorer, is in the transfer portal and is among the players UCLA could pursue. (Jessica Hill / Associated Press) Women’s college basketball’s version of free agency is here. Less than six hours after UCLA won its first NCAA national title , the transfer portal opened, allowing teams to talk to players seeking new schools.

And, like the past few seasons, it is already filled with star power. UCLA coach Cori Close has to replace six seniors and graduate students who exhausted their eligibility after scoring every point in the national title game. Close enters the derby with considerable momentum.

“The transfer portal just got easier,” she said with a smile with a championship net draped around her neck Sunday. Read more: Swanson: Gabriela Jaquez achieves the UCLA championship she always dreamed of UCLA has a lot of holes to fill, with just Timea Gardiner returning from injury, Amanda Muse, Sienna Betts, Lena Bilic and Christina Karamouzi back for next season, none of them starters this season. The Bruins have a clean slate as they work to mount a national championship defense.

“We're going to be very proactive in the transfer portal,” Close said. “We're probably going to sign five transfers. ” More players will likely enter the portal during the next few weeks, but more than 1,000 entered the portal within the first 24 hours it was officially open.