Five women's transfer portal winners and five prog...
Key takeaways
- "I'm not going to lie; there were a couple of dark days there," Hoyt told ESPN.
- "Then the first day of the portal [opening], I was pumped up.
- That included center Audi Crooks, who chose Oklahoma State after three seasons at Iowa State.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
After a bevy of transfers and a top recruit deciding to go elsewhere, Tennessee and Kim Caldwell are bringing in more than a dozen new faces to Knoxville for 2026-27. Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images Michael Voepel May 6, 2026, 08:30 AM ETClose Michael Voepel is a senior writer who covers the WNBA, women's college basketball and other college sports. Voepel began covering women's basketball in 1984, and has been with ESPN since 1996.Follow on XMultiple Authors Email Print Open Extended Reactions Oklahoma State lost in the second round of the NCAA tournament to eventual champion UCLA on March 23. Then coach Jacie Hoyt had to count down to April 6, when the transfer portal opened.
"I'm not going to lie; there were a couple of dark days there," Hoyt told ESPN. "Mostly because I'm very relationship-driven, and I knew players were leaving. At the same time, you can't talk to the kids in the portal yet, but you know you've got a whole roster to fill.
"Then the first day of the portal [opening], I was pumped up. And for two weeks, it's a grind: You can't see or think straight. You're just talking, talking, talking, hosting visits. And I think we batted close to 1.000 with the players that visited."