With such a crowded and talented transfer portal, the offseason was a busy one in women’s college basketball. Top players such as Angel Reese, Ashley Owusu and Aijha Blackwell left their respective schools for fresh starts at other programs. Naturally, questions arose. Would they mesh with current rosters? Vibe with new coaches? Thrive in different systems?
Now, with the 2022-2023 season well underway, it’s a good time to take a look around and glean some answers. Some, like Reese, are thriving. Others, like Blackwell, have been derailed because of injury. But with so many transfers to choose from, I decided to narrow it down to 10 players who had high expectations as well as the potential to make a significant impact.
When Edwards hit that memorable 3-pointer to give Kentucky the 64-62 win over South Carolina in the 2022 SEC championship, it appeared she was ready to take the reins from soon-to-be-drafted Rhyne Howard. Edwards was a top player on the Wildcats roster last season, averaging 16.8 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. But surprisingly, she and a handful of other Kentucky players entered the transfer portal. She decided on Baylor, and took the opportunity to play for Nicki Collen and compete in the Big 12 instead.
As a preseason watchlist candidate for the Katrina…
