Transfer portal tracker: Who’s on the move for UNC, NC State, Wake, Duke women’s hoops
The NCAA women’s basketball offseason is officially here, but the transfer portal opened last month as teams’ seasons ended.
N.C. State and North Carolina got a late start because of their Sweet 16 runs, while Duke — pending any surprises — does not expect to have any players transfer out of the program.
The portal closes April 22, the final day undergraduate players can enter their names. They do not, however, have to choose their new programs by then.
The Wolfpack finished the season 28-7 and landed at No. 9 in the final Associated Press Top 25. N.C. State fell to LSU, 80-73, in the Sweet 16 after the Tigers retook a late lead. Three players have entered the portal, but none was a major contributor to the lineup this season.
UNC also finished its season in the NCAA Tournament, losing to Duke, 47-38, in the lowest-scoring Sweet 16 game in tournament history. The Tar Heels ended with a 29-8 record and a No. 11 ranking in the final AP poll. Only one player has entered the transfer portal for the Tar Heels and it’s picked up another.
The Blue Devils finished the season 29-8 overall. It led the ACC in the AP Top 25, coming in at No. 7, following their 54-50 loss to South Carolina in the Elite Eight. It won the ACC Championship for the first time under fifth-year head coach Kara Lawson. Additionally, the program was one of the best defenses in the nation and held every NCAA Tournament opponent under 55 points. In its four March Madness games, Duke allowed 42.5 points per game.
Reigan Richardson was the only player expected to depart for the Blue Devils after exhausting her eligibility. Four have entered the portal.
Oluchi Okananwa opted to enter the transfer portal over the weekend. Okananwa came off the bench in her two seasons but made an impact, earning conference recognition both years.
Wake Forest missed the ACC Tournament and finished with a 9-20 record and only won two games during conference play. Four Demon Deacons players entered the transfer portal, but Makaela Quimby withdrew. Its most significant losses are Riley Theuerkauf, the team’s leading scorer, and Demeara Hinds, the team’s leading rebounder.
NC State Wolfpack transfer portal
Players out
Caitlin Weimar: Weimar was the first player to enter the portal. She transferred from Boston University but did not play a game for N.C. State. Weimar sustained an injury last offseason and had surgery. Wes Moore confirmed in January Weimar returned home to finish her recovery, but her future was uncertain. She was the Patriot League Player of the Year at BU after recording 18.7 points, 10.6 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game during the 2023-24 season. She was expected to have been the starting center for N.C. State.
Weimar will remain in the ACC after committing to Virginia.
Lizzy Williamson: Williamson transferred to N.C. State last season from Southern Utah and was part of the Wolfpack’s Final Four run. Like Weimar, she was expected to have been part of the rotation in the frontcourt but an injury limited her to five games. Williamson, from Australia, averaged 1.6 points per game this season. She averaged 9.6 points and 10 rebounds per game for the Thunderbirds.
Williamson committed to Oregon State.
Laci Steele: Originally from Edmond, Oklahoma, Steele played two seasons for the Wolfpack. She was a Top 75 high school recruit, per ESPN, in the Class of 2023. Steele averaged 2.8 points and one rebound per game across 53 games played. The sophomore saw her usage decrease in Year 2 with the addition of Zamareya Jones and Devyn Quigley.
Steele committed to continue her career at Wisconsin.
Players in
N.C. State has not added any players from the transfer portal.
UNC Tar Heels transfer portal
Players out
Trayanna Crisp: The junior guard entered the transfer portal after one season with the Tar Heels. Crisp averaged 5.6 points and 1.5 rebounds this year. Her best performance took place in UNC’s comeback win at Louisville in February. She scored 19 points on 7-of=12 shooting, including three baskets from the perimeter. Crisp spent her first two seasons at Arizona State, where she averaged 8.9 points per outing.
Crisp committed to play at Mississippi State.
Players in
Nyla Harris: Harris joins the Tar Heels after spending three seasons at Louisville. Harris appeared in all 32 games this season, starting in 31. She averaged 8.6 points and 5.3 rebounds this season. Harris, a 6-foot-2 forward, averaged nearly 24 minutes per game this season.
Elina Aarnisalo: Aarnisalo committed to UNC this week after starting her career at UCLA. The freshman averaged 5.1 points, 2.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game.
Duke Blue Devils transfer portal
Players out
Oluchi Okananwa: The sophomore guard played two seasons for the Blue Devils. She averaged 9.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.5 steals per game. During the 2025 ACC Tournament, which Duke won, Okananwa averaged 16.3 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. Okananwa won the 2024 ACC Sixth Player of the Year award and 2025 ACC Championship MVP.
Okananwa committed to play at Maryland.
Vanessa De Jesus: The graduate student has an additional season of eligibility due to Covid-19 and an injury last season. She was the only player from the previous coaching staff to remain when Kara Lawson was hired to lead the program. De Jesus averaged 4.4 points and 2 rebounds in her four seasons with the Blue Devils.
De Jesus will remain in the ACC for her final season after committing to Notre Dame.
Louann Battiston: Battiston is a sophomore from Belgium who appeared in 12 games this season. She recorded 18 points, two rebounds, 11 assists and five blocks in her limited playing time.
Battison committed to Rice.
Jenessa Cotton: Cotton entered the portal after one season with the Blue Devils. She played in eight games this season, scoring eight points and pulling down five rebounds. Cotton also added a pair of blocks and assists.
Players in
Duke has not added any players from the transfer portal.
Wake Forest Demon Deacons transfer portal
Players out
Rylie Theuerkauf: Theuerkauf is the Demon Deacons’ biggest scoring loss. She averaged 12 points per game and shot 43% from the field. The sophomore guard was key in Wake Forest’s hot start against N.C. State earlier this season, starting 8 of 8 from the field and scoring 21 first-half points. She led the Deacs to a double-digit lead over the ranked Wolfpack. She was an ESPN Top 100 recruit out of high school.
Theuerkauf has committed to play at Georgia.
Demeara Hinds: In addition to its leading scorer, Wake Forest lost its leading rebounder. Hinds contributed 9.3 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. She also added 39 steals and 17 blocks. Hinds will be a sixth-year senior after redshirting in 2023-24 because of an injury and earning an additional year of eligibility due to Covid-19.
Hinds committed to play at Clemson under second-year head coach Shawn Poppie.
Alyssa Andrews: The 6-foot senior also entered the transfer portal this offseason as a grad. She averaged 4.2 points and 4.2 rebounds per game this season for the Deacs. Andrews, in her limited appearances, was one of the most efficient shooters this season. She made field goals at a 52.8% clip and 3s at a team-leading 66.7%.
Malaya Cowles: The 6-foot-3 junior forward averaged 8.8 points and 5.1 rebounds per game last season. She was a member of the Demon Deacons squad for five years but suffered an injury and missed the entire 2022-23 season.
Cowles committed to play at Notre Dame.
Players in
Grace Oliver: Oliver is a freshman forward from Colorado. She appeared in 32 games and averaged 3.8 points and 3.2 rebounds.
Mary Carter: The Demon Deacons add Carter after the sophomore spent two seasons at Cal Poly. As a sophomore, Carter recorded 12.9 points and 5.9 rebounds per game.
Raven Preston: Preston joins Wake Forest after spending her two years at Elon. She averaged more than 12 points and eight rebounds per game in her freshman and sophomore seasons.
This story was originally published April 7, 2025 at 6:10 PM.
