15 Transfer Targets for Mizzou WBB

A comprehensive list on potential new players for new HC Kellie Harper

Welcome to the new era of college basketball. Where roster turnover is not only expected, but encouraged. The transfer portal has exploded in popularity, with players coming and going every single year.

Mizzou WBB currently has quite the limited roster, after losing four players to graduation and six to the portal (as of 4/9). As of this writing, they’ve brought in one new transfer and a HS recruit who will join six returners. So, that means new head coach Kellie Harper has seven spots to fill over the next month. This serves as a prime opportunity to build a roster to be competitive from Day 1, no rebuild/retooling needed.

So, I’m here to help highlight 15 players that Mizzou should look to bring in through the portal. However, with nearly 1,200 names confirmed for the portal, it’s hard to narrow it down to just 15 (technically, 16 with an honorable mention). So, I have organized my list through a combination of proximity and previous connections in addition to raw numbers.

Without further ado, here are 15 (or so) names the Tigers should look to add in the transfer portal this offseason.

List is sorted by position then alphabetically by last name.

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Guards

Zoe Best (SEMO): 5-10, Freshman

14 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.3 SPG

Scott Wachter-Imagn Images

Leading off this list is local kid, Zoe Best. She graduated from Incarnate Word as part of their girl’s basketball dynasty, winning a state championship on her way out.

Her freshman year at SEMO was nothing less than perfect, coming in as a starter and never relinquishing the spot. In fact, her career-high came in her FIRST EVER GAME, scoring 25 in a road game against Dayton.

Best made an impact night in and night out, with her season averages listed above. The only downside to note is that her high-shot volume doesn’t always pay off, leading to a 36.8 FG%. If Harper is looking to bring in more Missouri players, Best would be one of the BEST options.

(I mean c’mon I HAD to make that joke. It would feel dishonest if I didn’t). (Editor’s note: I’ll allow it.)

Shannon Dowell (Illinois State): 5-10, Sophomore

17.6 PPG, 5.2 RPG

Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images

Next up is another Midwest kid in Shannon Dowell. Originally from O’Fallon, Ill., Dowell played the first two years of her career as an Illinois State Redbird.

After starting in a limited role the beginning of her freshman year, Dowell played her way into a starting position to end the year. Dowell finished the regular season strong including a 28-point outing in a close loss to Missouri State.

She parlayed that success into a breakout sophomore year, averaging 17.6 points and 5.2 rebounds. Dowell is coming off her best ever collegiate game from a scoring perspective, scoring 37(!) points in a WNIT semifinal loss to Troy.

The only real weakness in her game is a low 3-point percentage, shooting the long ball at a 31.5% clip last year. But she has been improving, jumping up from 27.8% as a freshman. As a nearby power school, Harper should take a serious look at bringing Dowell to Mizzou.

Brooklyn Gray (Saint Louis): 5-11, Junior

12.2 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 1.4 SPG

Staying with the in-state theme, SLU’s leading scorer, Brooklyn Gray, would be a strong addition for Mizzou.

Gray started her college career at the JUCO level at Wabash Valley College in Illinois, and was a rock star from day 1, finishing her freshman year as an Honorable Mention All-American and making the NJCAA Division I National All-Tournament team.

She took at success to the D1 level at SLU, averaging double-digits both seasons with the Bills. This included a team-leading 12.2 points during the last season with a season high of 30 points against UMASS.

However, Gray has a clear weakness in her game from deep, shooting just 20.3% from three this past season. But as a slashing option (similar to Laniah Randle), Gray could serve as a key rotational piece.

Ashley Hawkins (Gardner-Webb): 5-6, Senior

18.9 PPG, 4 RPG, 4.9 APG, 1.3 SPG

Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images

While Hawkins has no previous connections to Mizzou or Coach Harper (to my knowledge), it’s hard to ignore possibly the best point guard in the portal. She served as one of the best mid-major scorers in the nation, averaging a hair under 19 points. Hawkins garnered some national attention after scoring 47(!) in a 3OT loss against Queens College.

Hawkins is an elite passer, finishing the season with a pair of double-double thanks to her affinity for assists. She serves as a real iron woman, too, routinely playing over 35 minutes. In that 3OT losses, she played a career-high 52 MINUTES.

For a Mizzou team that has faced questions about the potential of a new starting PG, Hawkins would be a perfect fit.

Stefanie Ingram (FAU): 5-8, Sophomore

9.4 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 5 APG, 1.3 SPG

Mady Mertens-Imagn Images

Another option at PG is Stefanie Ingram, who already has a connection to the current coaching staff. Ingram started her career at Georgia (pictured above), starting in eight games as a freshman in the SEC. She wasn’t lighting up the stat sheet with the Bulldogs, though, averaging 2.4 points along with one rebound and assist.

As a result, Ingram transferred to Florida Atlantic this past season, playing under HC and new Mizzou assistant, Jennifer Sullivan. She was an integral part of Sullivan’s roster starting almost every game as the primary ball-handler. Ingram averaged near double-digits along with five assists while shooting 35% on three pointers. Something to watch with Ingram’s game is struggling on free throws, as she shot only 62.2% at FAU last year.

Bringing in someone with previous SEC experience and coaching ties in a position of need seems like a no-brainer for Harper.

Ta’Mia Scott (MTSU): 6-0, Junior

16.7 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 1.2 BPG

Photo by Bryan Lynn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Full transparency, this may be my favorite potential transfer of the bunch, and definitely among the guards.

Scott has been at Middle Tennessee State all three years of her career, starting every game in the last two years. She really broke onto the scene this past year, averaging 16.7 points and 6.6 rebounds on her way to the CUSA All-First Team. She cracked the 30-point threshold as part of a double-double in a game against Jacksonville State earlier this season.

While Scott has no previous ties to Mizzou or the coaching staff, she is DEFINITELY on Harper’s radar. Scott is a Tennessee native (like Harper), and in fact played against Tennessee during Kellie’s final year. Plus, as the tallest guard on this list, she could definitely start at the 4-position, helping the Tigers match the SEC size.

Tyi Skinner (Arizona St.): 5-5, Senior

16.8 PPG, 2.8 APG, 1.2 SPG, 38% 3-PT

Photo by Kyle Rivas/Getty Images

From a stats perspective, Tyi Skinner is probably the most impressive player on the whole list; averaging 15-plus points on a power conference team is no joke.

She started her career at Delaware, playing her first two years with the Blue Hens. In her final year she started 30/32 games while averaging 12.8 points per game.

Skinner’s last three years have been spent at Arizona State, but she missed the 2023-24 season due to a knee injury. She responded with a career-best year with the stats listed above. She recorded one 30-point game against Jacksonville State. This broke her previous high of 29, which came against Mizzou (small world).

This sort of talent is impossible to ignore, and hopefully Harper takes note and makes a serious push to get Skinner to Columbia.

Avery Strickland (Tennessee): 5-10, Junior

1.9 PPG, 1.3 RPG

Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images

Avery Strickland’s addition to this list has more to do with her relationship to the staff than her outright stats. She played her sophomore year under Harper after transferring to Tennessee from Pitt.

That first year at Pitt was a major success for Strickland, averaging 6.2 points per game. Strickland’s tenure with the Lady Vols couldn’t replicate that success, however, averaging under six minutes per game and under two points.

Strickland could come back and reconnect with Coach Harper in a new location; hoping that change of scenery could help improve those stats as a Tiger.

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Forwards

Breya Cunningham (Arizona): 6-4, Sophomore

11 PPG, 7 RPG, 1.3 SPG

Photo by Christopher Hook/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Leading off the forwards as the power conference level, Breya Cunningham is a perfect option for the center position for Mizzou. The California native has spent the past two years at Arizona, starting strong and just getting better.

Cunningham averaged 7.8 points to go along with 4.6 rebounds as a freshman, finishing the year as a member Pac-12 All-Freshman Team Honorable Mention team. She stepped up her game as a sophomore, eclipsing 11 points and 7 rebounds. Cunningham made the awards list for the second year in a row, finishing as a member of the Big 12 All-Conference Team Honorable Mention.

For a Mizzou team needing size in the starting lineup, Cunningham is a perfect fit. (Editor’s note: Some may say she’s head and shoulders above her teammates, eh?)

Sophie Glancey (Northern Arizona): 6-2, Junior

18.1 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 1.8 BPG

Photo by Christopher Hook/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Staying in the state of Arizona, let’s take a look at one of the best mid-major players from the last season in Sophie Glancey. The last two seasons have been picture-perfect for the Boise native, dominating the Big Sky conference. This past season she averaged 18.1 PPG and 9.6 RPG along with 20 double-doubles. TWENTY. She has scored 30 points THREE SEPARATE TIMES in her career. THREE. SEPARATE.TIMES.

The only thing left after her laundry list of accomplishments at Northern Arizona is to make the tournament; a goal that Harper may be able to help her achieve.

Indya Green (Georgia Southern): 5-11, Senior

12 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 1.3 SPG

If you’re looking for connections, it doesn’t get much closer than Indya Green. The junior is a native from Springfield, Mo., playing her first two years for her hometown team in Missouri State. There she spent two years being coached by current Mizzou assistant Kenzie Kostas.

Last year, she played at Georgia Southern, putting up a career year with 12 points and 8.8 rebounds. Her career high came early into 2025, scoring 29 points while grabbing 12 boards in a narrow loss against Arkansas State.

While on the smaller side, Green has the toughness and physicality to play the four in a league like the SEC.

Maggie Hartwig (Evansville): 6-1, Sophomore

16.5 PPG, 9.2 RPG

MaCabe Brown / Courier & Press / USA TODAY NETWORK

Sticking with the mid-major theme, the Midwest is loaded with talent between the OVC and the MVC. Dipping into the Missouri Valley, Maggie Hartwig had a heckuva run at Evansville.

The sophomore from Wisconsin averaged double-digits across both of her seasons with the Purple Aces. Her last year with Evansville saw major jumps in her game, jumping five full points and 2.7 rebounds from her averages as a freshman.

Plus she saw a major jump as a three-point shooter, from 27.5% all the way to 34.3%. As a fit in terms of playstyle and region, Harper should be gunning for Hartwig during this cycle.

Naya Ojukwu (Morgan State): 6-1, Sophomore

17.1 PPG, 9 RPG, 1.2 SPG

Looking further east to the MEAC conference, Naya Ojukwu is coming off a career year at Morgan State. She spent her first two years of eligibility at Utah then Gonzaga, only playing a combined 13 games due to injuries.

She finally carved out a role in her lone year at Morgan State, averaging 17.1 points and 9 rebounds as a member of the Bears. Alas, her career year was also cut short, limited to 15 games this year.

Ojukwu had an extremely successful year and should be a shoo-in to play a starting role at the power five leve. Why not at Mizzou?

Gift Uchenna (Southern Illinois): 6-3, Junior

14.5 PPG, 12.8 RPG, 2.1 BPG

Photo by Stew Milne/Getty Images

Tell me if this sounds familiar; a Southern Illinois forward hits the transfer portal after averaging double-digit scoring numbers. Well, last year that was Laniah Randle. She committed to Mizzou and became one of the standouts of last season. Perhaps the Tigers can see the same success with a potential pickup like Gift Uchenna.

Uchenna averaged 14.5 points and 12.8 rebounds during her one year with Southern Illinois as a starting forward. She transferred from overseas, playing at Shih Shih University Taipei in Taiwan.

On every level, Uchenna would be an ideal fit for the starting big position for a Mizzou team that is in desperate need of size.

Jordyn Weaver (Queens): 5-11, Junior

14.4 PPG, 7.7 RPG

Rounding out the list on the east coast is Jordyn Weaver from Queens University (Charlotte). The Texas native has spent all three years as a starter with Queens, averaging 25+ minutes per game. She started strong as a freshman, averaging 8.9 points, watching those averages go up slowly over time. As a sophomore she led the A-Sun conference with 8.4 rebounds per game to go alongside 12.4 points.

While her rebounding averages dropped this past season, her scoring averages continued to balloon; nearly up to 15 PPG. She scored her season-high 26 in a game against Ashley Hawkins’ Gardener-Webb team during a game in December.

As a forward with high-end rebounding ability, Weaver can help amend a Mizzou roster that has struggled to compete on the boards in the SEC.

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Honorable Mention

Audia Young (Auburn): 5-9, Sophomore (Guard)

4.7 PPG

Photo by Stew Milne/Getty Images

Similar to Strickland, Young is on this list due to her personal connections with Columbia. As some of you may know, Audia is the daughter of Mizzou MBB associate head coach Charlton “C.Y.” Young.

Young had an underwhelming freshman year, playing only 46 minutes across her first year. Those numbers ballooned into nearly 400 minutes with 28 games played as a sophomore. She averaged 4.7 points in her last year as an Auburn Tiger. Her career high came in an impressive 19-point outing against a top-10 LSU team.

The familiar reunion with dad would be a great story in itself, plus Young can play a major role off the bench for Harper’s team heading into the 2025-26 season. We’d love to see C.Y., who’s already a major factor at women’s games, show up to cheer on his daughter.

How to keep up:

To keep up with all Mizzou WBB portal moves, check out the Rock M Nation WBB Transfer Tracker which will be updated with each exciting addition to Coach Harper’s first Tiger roster.