The women's basketball carousel keeps spinning, as LSU searches for new talent after 1,000+ players entered the NCAA transfer portal.
The Tigers lost three guards this week. Freshman Bella Hines joined Divine Bourrage and Kailyn Gilbert in the portal on Tuesday. Hines averaged 13 minutes per game during LSU's 2025/26 campaign, while averaging 4.2 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.1 assists.
But coach Kim Mulkey’s program did see a boost, as 6-foot-5 No. 3 high school recruit Caroline Bradley committed to LSU. The Louisiana native plans to join the Tigers for the 2027/28 season.
"First and foremost, I want to win. But I also want to be developed and challenged over the course of the next four years," Bradley told ESPN.
"Coach Mulkey and the staff have worked to build a great relationship with me and my family... I can't wait to be a part of a family that runs deeper than basketball."
NCAA Transfer Portal Rattles Women's College Basketball
With a free range of movement and money to be made, the NCAA transfer portal can impact blue chip programs both positively and negatively as rosters become increasingly stacked.
Back-to-back Final Four participant Texas is also feeling the spin, as 2025 recruit Aaliyah Crump departed Austin after averaging 7.9 points per game across 24 appearances. Forwards Aaliyah Moore and Justice Carlton followed suit.
Big-name programs also stand to benefit from the talent pool, with key prospects like Iowa State center Audi Crooks and Virginia guard Kymora Johnson shopping for new teams.
