The NCAA transfer portal has introduced a significant change to college basketball, offering athletes the chance to switch programs and, at the same time, teams the ability to swiftly adapt their rosters.
Maryland Women’s Basketball team, after a 2024-25 season that saw the Terrapins reach their first Sweet 16 appearance since 2015. Here is a comprehensive breakdown of the latest movements and their implications for Maryland.
Who’s Out: Maryland Players Entering the Transfer Portal
Emily Fisher
So far, only one Maryland player has entered the transfer portal in the 2025 cycle., Emily Fisher, a sophomore wing from Illinois, appeared in a total of 52 games in two seasons, with only a few games as a starter.
She had a total average of 2.3 points and 1.4 rebounds per game. In her 2024-2025 sophomore year, she featured in 19 games and missed 11 due to a concussion. Although with little statistical impact, she still, in a way, reduces Maryland’s depth on the wing.
Who’s In: Incoming Transfers to Maryland
Yarden Garzon
A 6’3” guard from Israel, she arrives after playing for three seasons as a starter at Indiana. In 2024-2025, she had a total average of 14.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game. She is a sharpshooting player; she holds Indiana’s record for career three-pointers made (220) with a 42.6% three-point shooting percentage.
She’s a dynamic player with the ability to play multiple positions. Playing point guard, shooting guard, or wing, of course, will add versatility to Maryland’s backcourt. She’s also an experienced player, which makes her a seasoned addition.
Gracie Merkle
At 6’6”, Merkle transfers from Penn State after a breakout sophomore season. She had a total average of 15.5 points and 8.6 rebounds per game, topping the Nittany Lions in the two categories. Merkle’s size and scoring ability fill a big void, a long-standing gap for Maryland, which has encountered difficulties against taller opponents without a true center.
Impact on the Team
Garzon brings elite marksmanship and positional flexibility. Her 42.6% three-point accuracy sweep defenses, in a way, create space for teammates, while her 5.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game showcase her well-rounded game.
Having three years of Big Ten starting involvement, she’s, of course, an asset who, in a different way, could replace production from departing or graduating guards.
KEEP READING: Women’s NCAA Top 25 Basketball Teams
Also, the addition of Merkle addresses an important weakness: interior presence. Maryland’s lack of a commanding center has been revealed in Big Ten play that featured taller lineups. Merkle’s 15.5 points and 8.6 rebounds, paired with her high shooting percentage, present a reliable post option. Her 13 double-doubles and 10 20-point games suggest she can anchor the paint, a role unfilled since previous seasons.
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