USC women's basketball is losing four players to the transfer portal that officially opened on Monday.
Sophomore guard Dayana Mendes was the first reported USC player to be entering the portal, according to a report from On3.com. Since then, junior guard Malia Samuels and junior forwards Yakiya Milton and Gerda Raulusaityte have entered the transfer portal this offseason.
All four players primarily came off the bench for the Trojans this season.
Samuels started in the most games, making 19 starts in 30 games. She is the only player of the four to have spent her entire career with USC. Samuels averaged 3.4 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 23.6 minutes per game.
Mar 23, 2026; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; USC Trojans guard Malia Samuels (10) drives around South Carolina Gamecocks guard Ayla McDowell (24) in the first half at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images
Milton and Raulusaityte both transferred to USC last offseason. Milton came from Auburn, where she missed the first 11 games of the 2024-25 season with an injury. Meanwhile, Raulusaityte transferred from LCC International University as the 2024-25 Lithuanian Women's Basketball League Most Valuable Player.
Milton never started in a game for the Trojans but averaged 2.3 points, 2.9 rebounds and 0.6 blocks in 7.1 minutes per game. Raulusaityte made 10 starts in 32 games and averaged 2.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and 0.8 assists in 13.6 minutes per game.
The trio's decision to transfer makes sense because the rising seniors would be unlikely to get significant playing time next season.
USC has the nation's No. 1 recruiting class of 2026 coming in, the reigning National Freshman Player of the Year Jazzy Davidson returning for her sophomore season and superstar JuJu Watkins returning from an ACL tear. USC could also add some more talent through the transfer portal.
Mar 22, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; USC Trojans guard JuJu Watkins (12) shoots over UNC Greensboro Spartans guard Nya Smith (22) during the second quarter of an NCAA Tournament game at Galen Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images
The Trojans will be a strong contender to win the national championship next season. USA Today ranked USC as the No. 1 team in the nation going into the offseason in their "way-too-early 2026-27 top 10 rankings" on Sunday.
Photo Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images
