Now that the transfer portal is in full effect, there are also a host of talented women who are in the portal looking for new homes, including some absolute superstars. It was time to take a shot at ranking the best of the best in the portal as of Tuesday morning.
As you look at these rankings, keep in mind that they are generated by weighing how many years of eligibility a prospect has remaining in addition to their statistical production. The younger a prospect, the more value she has over an older player with similar stats.
1. GEORGIA AMOORE, GRAD TRANSFER, G: FROM VIRGINIA TECH TO KENTUCKY
Amoore is going to use her final season of eligibility in Lexington playing for her former coach at Virginia Tech, Kenny Brooks. Amoore has been operating at an All-League level averaging 18.8 points and 6.8 assists per game in 2023-24. She's the most prolific player in the Portal and a huge land for Brooks as her embarks on his journey at Kentucky.
2. GRACE VANSLOOTEN, SO., F: FROM OREGON
VanSlooten has had a fantastic start to her college career out in Eugene. Don't be surprised to see her come back closer to Toledo, Ohio, though distance won't be a limiting factor here. VanSlooten averaged 15 points and 7.1 rebounds a game in 2023-24 for an Oregon roster that never could find its' footing inside of Pac 12 conference play.
RELATED: Latest intel on the top players in the men's basketball transfer portal
3. TIMEA GARDINER, SO., F: FROM OREGON STATE
Unlike VanSlooten, Gardiner played deep into March for an Oregon State roster that made a run into the Sweet Sixteen. In the process, she played elite level minutes averaging 11.6 points and 7 rebounds per game. With Oregon State leaving to be a part of the WCC, it's safe to assume that Gardiner will be looking for a home in one of the major four conferences.
4. LUCY OLSEN, JR., G: FROM VILLANOVA
Olsen was a walking bucket during the 2023-24 campaign averaging 23.3 points per on 43.8 percent from the field. Olsen also managed to grab 4.8 rebounds to go along with 3.8 assists per as well. She's right there in potential impact with any available backcourt prospect in this cycle to date.
5. TALIAH SCOTT, FR., G: FROM ARKANSAS
Much like Olsen, Scott is a true scoring threat from the perimeter. She was the premier freshman in a league that produced the eventual national champions in South Carolina. Scott went to work early and often finishing the season with 22.1 points per and 3.3 rebounds. Her 3-point percentage is a place for growth as she connected on 29.5 percent of those attempts during the 2023-24 season.
6. LIZA KARLEN, SR, F: FROM MARQUETTE
Karlen is an interesting prospect unlike any in the initial rankings as a potential COVID year frontcourt option. She was as efficient as anyone on the list in how she went about her business during the 2023-24 season posting averages of 17.7 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. Karlan added to that by doing it on 49.7 percent from the field, 35.7 from beyond the arc and 82.2 from the free throw line.
7. LIATU KING, SR., F: FROM PITTSBURGH
King does what she does on the hardwood – rebound and finish. During the 2023-24 season, King averaged a double / double finishing with 18.7 points, 10.3 rebounds per game. More importantly, she did that on 52 percent from the field. King didn't make a single 3-point attempt capping her offensive value to an extent. King was fantastic from the field shooting at a 52.3 percent clip on the year.
8. LAILA PHELIA, JR., W: FROM MICHIGAN
Phelia just entered her name into the Portal and becomes an elite level option for teams needing versatility on the perimeter. She averaged 16.8 points and 3.6 rebounds during the 2023-24 season. More importantly, Phelia was efficient from the field and the free throw line at 42.3 percent and 80.1 respectively. Her 3-point percentage dropping almost 10 percent this season from 41.7 to 32.1 is something to work on at her next stop.
9. SAYLOR POFFENBARGER, SO., W: FROM ARKANSAS
Poffenbarger finished seventh in the country in rebounding at 11.2 boards a game in 2023-24. That's higher than anyone else currently in the Portal and makes her an extremely valuable commodity for anyone needing more of that on their roster next season. Poffenbarger also managed to post 10.2 points per though her field goal percentage of 35.5 is a place for improvement.
10. DEJA KELLY, SR., G: FROM NORTH CAROLINA
Kelly put up a noteworthy stat line average as a veteran option for a Tar Heel roster that advanced a round in the NCAA Tournament. She finished with 16.3 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.2 assists per during the 2023-24 campaign. That said, Kelly struggled from the field in relation to the other players on the list converting on just 34.6 percent of her shot attempts last season.
AROUND THE RIM
Now that you know who the top prospects are, here's the latest around the portal you need to know.
