Transfer season is one of the most exciting—and chaotic—times in NCAA gymnastics. But when a move just clicks, it’s magic. In this roundtable, we celebrate the transfers who found their fit, elevated their gymnastics, or brought a spark to a new team.
Which transfer felt like a perfect match this season?
Savanna: Despite the controversy surrounding it, Selena Harris-Miranda heading to Florida was exactly what the Gators needed. With Kayla DiCello missing the season after her Achilles tear in the lead-up to the Olympics and then Sloane Blakely going down halfway through, having Harris-Miranda alongside Leanne Wong kept that lineup extremely steady during a tumultuous time with high scoring routines.
Julianna: Skylar Killough-Wilhelm was already a standout at Washington, but she was a perfect fit immediately at Kentucky. Bringing an additional level of seniority and experience to the Wildcat team as a fifth year was certainly beneficial, not only as an athlete but as a leader. Killough-Welhelm definitely made a mark on the Wildcat program in just a year with the team.
Peri: Grad transfer Isabella DeCroo was a vital piece of Towson’s leg events this past season, joining the Tigers from Illinois State. Competing in every regular season meet is no walk in the park, especially at a program with the floor depth Towson has, but doing so after being limited with injuries since junior year is all the more of an accomplishment.
Tara: Selena Harris-Miranda fit in well at Florida, picking up right where she left off at UCLA. Ana Padurariu also provided Utah with experience, becoming a really solid leadoff for the Utes on beam and stepping into the bars lineup as well.
Who benefited most from a change of scenery?
Savanna: Alex Irvine without a doubt. I was so happy to see her shine at Auburn this season after getting lost in UCLA’s bars lineups her freshman year. Her consistency set the tone in a big way for the Tigers’ bars lineup; she never dipped below a 9.800.
Julianna: I would have to say Amy Weir getting her chance to shine in her junior season. Being a part of the Oklahoma program for her first two seasons and only having the chance to exhibition, Weir proved to be a staple in the beam lineup for the Missouri Tigers this year. Being in the lead off spot and putting the team in a good position on an event it had previously struggled, Weir definitely fell into place with Missouri this season.
Peri: Emmalise Nock shone bright as a Fighting Illini this year after being a staple for Northern Illinois. She was already a name to watch for in the MAC, and was able to capitalize on a new environment and coaching staff in the Big Ten with a near-9.900 NQS on her pet event.
Tara: Tara Walsh had quite the transfer journey, going from Auburn to Michigan State to Clemson. She didn’t get a ton of lineup opportunities with Auburn or Michigan State, but was able to settle in nicely to Clemson’s vault and beam lineups.
Which transfer elevated their new team the most?
Savanna: I’m going to mention three that all transferred to the same program: Abby Mueller, Elise Tisler, and Amy Wier elevated an already good Missouri team to phenomenal heights this year. Weir, in particular, emerged as a reliable lead-off routine on beam after only competing exhibition at Oklahoma. Mueller also made significant contributions when she competed on beam. Tisler may not have done floor in the postseason, but she was a key routine in several wins over SEC competition this year.
Julianna: I would have to agree with Savanna and the trio of Missouri transfers that came in and immediately had an impact on the greatest season yet for the program. I would also add in Csenge Bacskay going from Nebraska to Georgia and adding a level of experience and high scoring potential to a young team. On that same note, Mati Waligora in her sixth year going from Alabama to Arkansas I feel almost slid under the radar with how much she brought to that team in her final season.
Peri: The entirety of Missouri’s transfers, hands down.
Tara: I sound like a broken record, but Missouri’s. Even with Macpherson unable to compete this season, Mueller, Weir, and Tisler all played a pivotal role in Missouri’s record-breaking season.
Was there a transfer that surprised you—in a good way?
Savanna: I think I was the most shocked when Ana Padurariu returned to NCAA, secretly transferred to Utah, and somehow no one knew about it until a fan shared the team poster. Looking back on the Red Rocks’ season though, it was a really good fit. Utah had some issues on bars throughout the season, so having that experienced routine to slot it when needed was important. Beam was where she shined, ending her season as the Big 12 co-champion on the event.
Julianna: Sarah Zois surprised me this season in the best way! Coming from George Washington to Auburn and becoming a staple in the vault lineup was so impressive. I was excited to see her make such a big impact in her last year on a big SEC team!
Peri: Trinity Macy’s move from Eastern Michigan to West Virginia surprised me for a few reasons. It was the second transfer of her college career, and it was to a team we’ve seen have their share of retirements and outgoing transfers. Her move materialized with incredibly consistent work on bars, and the occasional depth routine in a storied and deep floor lineup. Both events she contributed on also improved their national ranking from the 2024 season.
Tara: I wasn’t totally sure what to expect from Alex Irvine after her transfer from UCLA, but she was a rockstar for Auburn on bars. Trinity Macy also provided West Virginia with much needed stability on bars as the Mountaineer bar squad navigated ups and downs. It was also really nice to see Skylar Killough-Wilhelm finally break out her Yurchenko one and a half after showing it in training during her time at Washington.
What’s one underrated transfer you’re excited to see more of?
Savanna: I think this counts as underrated only because she was injured before she could compete, but I am so excited to see Lauren MacPherson make her debut at Missouri in 2026! She had so much success at San Jose State and I was really anxious to see how that translated over to the SEC. Diamond Cook also made waves for Wilberforce in its first season as a team, so I’m very excited to see how she grows and develops in her final two years.
Julianna: Claire Stippich going into her second season with the Tar Heels this year after transferring from Kentucky and I just don’t think she’s broken out yet. Stippich has done bars and floor and scored well, and now with a big graduating group of consistent lineup competitors, this year might be her season to go in and make even more of an impact in her senior year.
Peri: Isabella Rivelli’s transfer was a huge loss for Bowling Green, and I initially wasn’t sure if she’d make it into Kentucky’s stacked lineup as a bars specialist. She proved me wrong right away in January, and became a reliable 9.8+ for the team week in and week out.
Tara: I don’t know if this is underrated per say, but I was really sad Lauren Macpherson missed the season with injury and am glad she’s coming back for a fifth year so we can hopefully see her next season!
How did the portal shake up conference dynamics this year?
Savanna: I think the biggest impacts came with the dissolution of the Pac-12 and the Big Ten becoming a mega-conference essentially. We saw several athletes from those teams opting to transfer to a conference that didn’t require as much travel commitments. Whether that’s due to an athlete’s preference or academic gains, we likely won’t ever know.
Julianna: I would agree the conference realignment definitely plays a big part in the transfer portal process. I don’t see this slowing down either, especially with new rules and potential roster caps, I think the transfer portal is going to become an even bigger part of the collegiate experience.
Peri: With the MAC specifically, more of the conference’s teams were affected by the portal than not. It forced six (of a total seven) teams to assess their depth. Many of the outgoing transfers have been in lineups, and we saw that depth on full display from teams like Bowling Green and Northern Illinois after losing major contributors.
What team made the biggest gain through the portal?
Savanna: Missouri obviously made waves with its large transfer class and looks poised to follow that same strategy again this season. However, Trinity Macy was a key piece to West Virginia’s bars lineup in her final season and was a depth option on beam and floor when injuries plagued the Mountaineers. West Virginia ended up finishing its season at regionals after a late-season push, and I believe having Macy as a solid anchor on a struggling event like bars helped calm some of the chaos it was experiencing.
Julianna: Missouri without a doubt definitely takes that “top spot” when it comes to winning the transfer portal. I would also say Arkansas benefitted with the addition of Kaitlyn Ewald and Mati Waligora.
Tara: Missouri’s been aggressive with the transfer portal and we really saw the transfers elevate the team to the next level. Kentucky didn’t add the same number of routines as its SEC foe, but the addition of Skylar Killough-Wilhelm drastically helped the Wildcats ease the effects of graduating Raena Worley.
Do you think the portal has made the sport more exciting or chaotic?
Savanna: Exciting for sure! I love how it’s brought a new level of transparency to the sport that we haven’t previously experienced! There’s probably a little bit of chaos involved that we aren’t privy to, but you can tell the fans enjoy it just as much as we do. I think the potential in roster limits has made a significant impact as well.
Julianna: Having been in the transfer portal, this kept my NCAA career and dream to compete post Covid alive. The transfer portal is an excellent resource for NCAA athletes for a multitude of reasons, and it definitely makes the sport more exciting to see where athletes will end up throughout their careers!
Peri: Who says exciting and chaotic are mutually exclusive? I’m here for both of those, and welcome them as the inseparable descriptors they are.
Tara: It’s definitely more chaotic. Exciting….well, it depends on who’s transferring and where they end up.
READ THIS NEXT: 7 Surprising Moments From the 2025 Season
Article by the editors of College Gym News
