Tracking Oklahoma women’s basketball offseason portal moves, highlighting key additions and their potential impacts for next season.

As college basketball continues to evolve, the transfer portal has become a powerful tool, especially for programs looking to boost their roster during the offseason. For the Oklahoma women’s basketball team, the transfer portal has been pivotal in reshaping their lineup and enhancing their depth ahead of the 2025 season. Head coach Jennie Baranczyk has leveraged the portal to bring in talent that will help the team contend for a Big 12 Championship and make another deep run in the NCAA Tournament.

The Sooners have already established themselves as a formidable force in women’s college basketball, consistently competing at a high level. With the new faces coming through the portal, the team looks poised to elevate their game even further. In this article, we will take a deep dive into the recent moves made by the Oklahoma women’s basketball team in the transfer portal, highlighting key additions and discussing their potential impacts on the team’s performance in the 2025 season.

The Impact of the Transfer Portal on College Basketball

The transfer portal has completely transformed college sports, allowing athletes to move from one program to another more easily than ever before. In women’s basketball, this has led to a number of programs becoming more aggressive in their recruiting efforts, with many teams utilizing the portal to fill gaps in their rosters or find immediate contributors.

For a program like Oklahoma, the portal serves as an excellent avenue to address specific needs, such as adding depth in key positions, bringing in players with experience, or enhancing areas where the team may have lacked production. By securing impactful transfers, teams can improve quickly and gain a competitive advantage—especially when they bring in players who can make an immediate impact.

For Oklahoma, the transfer portal allows them to stay competitive in the highly competitive Big 12 while also positioning themselves as a national contender. The addition of talented players through the portal has helped bolster their already impressive roster, setting the stage for another successful campaign.

Key Portal Additions for Oklahoma Women’s Basketball

Over the course of the offseason, Oklahoma has made some significant additions via the transfer portal. These players come from a variety of backgrounds and will bring unique skill sets to the team. Each new addition has the potential to play a pivotal role in the Sooners’ success this coming season. Let’s take a closer look at these key transfer additions.

1. Guard/Forward – Emma Goss (Transferred from Creighton)

One of the standout additions for Oklahoma is Emma Goss, a guard/forward from Creighton. Goss has been a highly effective player during her time at Creighton, and her decision to transfer to Oklahoma was met with excitement from both fans and coaches alike. Standing at 6’1″, Goss brings a combination of size, athleticism, and versatility that will give the Sooners added depth in the backcourt and on the wing.

Goss has experience playing at a high level, and her scoring ability will be a welcome addition to Oklahoma’s offense. Last season, she averaged 12.5 points per game while shooting 44% from the field. She is also a capable rebounder, averaging 5.1 rebounds per game, which will provide additional support to the Sooners in securing second-chance opportunities.

Her ability to stretch the floor as a forward who can also handle the ball makes her a versatile asset for Baranczyk’s offense. With her length and scoring prowess, Goss could become a key contributor both offensively and defensively, as her skills will help balance the Sooners’ roster and make them more dynamic.

2. Center – Courtney Murrell (Transferred from Mississippi State)

Another significant addition for Oklahoma is Courtney Murrell, a 6’4″ center who comes to the Sooners after spending time at Mississippi State. Murrell is an elite shot blocker and a physical presence in the paint, which will enhance Oklahoma’s defensive capabilities.

Murrell’s size and athleticism will help shore up a position that has been an area of focus for Oklahoma. Last season, she averaged 7.8 points and 5.3 rebounds per game while serving as one of the top shot-blockers in the SEC. Her presence in the middle will give Oklahoma an extra layer of protection around the rim, and her rebounding ability will also help the team dominate on the glass.

With Murrell joining the lineup, Oklahoma now has a player who can change the game defensively while contributing offensively as a reliable post scorer. Her addition solidifies the Sooners’ inside game, which will be crucial as they look to compete with other top teams in the Big 12.

3. Point Guard – Taylor McKinney (Transferred from UCLA)

A third major addition for Oklahoma is Taylor McKinney, a point guard who transferred from UCLA. McKinney brings experience, leadership, and a steady hand at the point guard position, which will help stabilize Oklahoma’s offense. With an ability to run the floor, distribute the ball, and score when necessary, McKinney is a natural floor general.

At UCLA, McKinney was known for her basketball IQ and court vision. In her final season with the Bruins, she averaged 5.1 assists per game, along with 8.6 points per game. McKinney’s experience in high-pressure situations, including NCAA tournament play, will be invaluable to Oklahoma as they look to push for a national championship.

Her ability to distribute the basketball will complement the scoring abilities of Oklahoma’s other players, while her defensive tenacity will make her a dual-threat on both ends of the floor. McKinney could be the missing piece that Oklahoma needed to truly solidify its backcourt and facilitate offensive flow in the 2025 season.

4. Wing – Jasmine Thomas (Transferred from Baylor)

Another crucial addition for Oklahoma is Jasmine Thomas, a 6’1″ wing who transferred from Baylor. Known for her versatility and defensive prowess, Thomas will help provide depth at the forward position and offer another dynamic scoring option for the Sooners.

Thomas brings athleticism, a strong work ethic, and a competitive spirit to the team. In her previous seasons at Baylor, she averaged 9.2 points and 5.4 rebounds per game, while also showing the ability to defend multiple positions. Her length and defensive ability will help Oklahoma guard a variety of players, and her shooting range will make her a difficult matchup for opponents.

The combination of Thomas’ defensive capabilities and scoring potential gives Oklahoma the flexibility to use her in different roles. Whether as a starter or key contributor off the bench, she will be an important part of the Sooners’ rotation, providing much-needed depth and leadership.

How These Additions Impact Oklahoma’s 2025 Outlook

With these key transfer additions, Oklahoma women’s basketball is poised to take another step forward in the 2025 season. The Sooners are already a team that consistently competes at a high level, and the infusion of talent from the transfer portal will only make them more dangerous.

The most immediate impact of these transfers will be on the depth of the roster. Adding experienced players like Emma Goss, Courtney Murrell, Taylor McKinney, and Jasmine Thomas means Oklahoma now has a deeper lineup capable of competing with the best teams in the country. This depth is especially important as the team prepares for the rigors of the Big 12 schedule and postseason play.

The addition of Courtney Murrell will bolster Oklahoma’s interior defense and rebounding, areas that were sometimes a weakness in past seasons. Her shot-blocking ability and physicality in the paint will allow the Sooners to be more aggressive defensively and help them control the boards.

On the other hand, Emma Goss and Jasmine Thomas provide Oklahoma with scoring versatility and depth at the forward positions, allowing the team to be more dynamic offensively. Their ability to stretch the floor and score both inside and outside will give the Sooners a multi-dimensional offense that can adapt to various styles of play.

Finally, the presence of Taylor McKinney at point guard gives Oklahoma a steady leader to run the offense. Her basketball IQ and playmaking ability will facilitate smoother ball movement and create better scoring opportunities for her teammates.

Looking Ahead

With these significant additions, Oklahoma women’s basketball is primed to be a strong contender in the Big 12 Conference and on the national stage. The transfer portal has provided the Sooners with the tools they need to elevate their game and solidify their place among the elite programs in college basketball.

As the 2025 season approaches, the Sooners’ ability to blend their veteran talent with these new transfers will determine how far they can go. If these players can make the immediate impact they are expected to, Oklahoma could be in for an exciting and successful season. Fans of the team are hopeful that the additions from the transfer portal will help lead the Sooners to a Big 12 Championship and a potential deep run in the NCAA Tournament, continuing their rise as one of the top teams in women’s college basketball.