NCAA women’s basketball: Biggest takeaways from the 2026 early signing period

The early signing period for the Class of 2026 ended Wednesday, and there's still a lot to be revealed. Many of the top players announced their decision some time ago, but some, like Kaeli Wynn, decided to give their future coaches a little sweat before breaking the good news.

Most of the top 30 players have largely committed, with 247SportsThe latest announcement is No. 11 Addison Bjorn. The 6-foot-2 small forward from Missouri shared Thursday that she is transferring to Texas. It's been a good few days for the Longhorns, who also landed No. 12 Bree Crittendon on Wednesday.

No. 3 Jerzy Robinson is the only player in the top 30 who has yet to announce her decision, meaning she will likely have to wait until the spring. Official visits she has taken so far include South Carolina and LSU.

The normal signing window will open on April 16, 2026. Here are some of the biggest storylines coming out of the early signing period.

The Tar Heels have 274Sports' No. 1 ranked player in the 2026 class, Kate Harpring. Women's Basketball Scouting Director Brandon Clay said her work ethic and discipline earned her the top spot. Her family knows a thing or two about this because her father played 10 years in the NBA alongside Hall of Famer Allen Iverson.

After a process that took her about four years and a spreadsheet to help her organize her thoughts, Harpring announced her decision over the summer. She said Courtney Banghart seemed like the perfect head coach for her, and she also liked the “family atmosphere” on the UNC campus. During her junior season at Marist School in Atlanta, she averaged 32 points and 10 rebounds per game. Although she knows college is a whole other level, she plans to come to Chapel Hill with high expectations.

“Obviously the main goal will be to win the national championship.” she told CBS Sports. “That will be the main goal, but also just growing and getting better. Just being the best I can for my team. This will be a very different thing than I've ever done before, obviously that's a change that happens to everyone. But just to be the best player I can be and try to be one of the best in college basketball.”

USC adds another top recruit

After JuJu Watkins and Jazzy Davidson, the Trojans scored another recruiting triumph with the addition of Sania Hall at No. 2. Watkins' freshman year saw the program reach the Elite Eight for the first time since 1994. They ran it again last season, and now Davidson will try to lead the team to another deep run while Watkins is sidelined with a torn ACL.

USC was one of the top programs in the country in the 1980s, when it won two national titles. The Trojans are back in the spotlight, and head coach Lindsey Gottlieb said Hall's addition will help them maintain their momentum. She visited Hall as a sophomore in Cleveland, and the coach immediately knew the Trojans would have to pursue her aggressively.

“I already knew she was good, but I was shocked,” Gottlieb said. “The way she interacted with her teammates, the energy she brought to the game, I could tell she was an elite level talent. I thought he was the best player in the country. This is the child we need in this class.”

YUKON is not going anywhere

The Huskies' future already looks bright with Sarah Strong, who just completed a historic freshman season in which she played a key role in winning UConn's 12th national championship. Next year they will add another young weapon in Olivia Vukos, the No. 4 player in the 247Sports rankings.

During her junior season, she averaged 19.4 points, 17.9 rebounds, 5.5 blocks and 3.8 assists per game. UConn head coach Geno Auriemma said her versatility makes her a perfect fit for the program.

“We think Olivia is one of those players that we have had so much success with.” Auriemma said“She’s a big kid who can move, she’s got skills, she’s smart. She works very hard on both ends of the floor. She has a great program. I think she is the basketball big kid the game demands today.

Kaeli Winn surprised Dawn Staley

South Carolina was competing with Stanford for 6-foot-2 power forward Kaeli Wynn, ranked No. 39 in the 247Sports rankings, and a text from Wynn asking the coach for a phone call had Dawn Staley worried.

“The night before she asked, 'Can we talk tomorrow?' Staley said. “And I swear I don't like questions like, 'Can we talk tomorrow' (text messages). They are unpleasant. And that's not good. So I was like, “Can we talk tonight? Tell me tonight!” It was the night before.”

Wynn declined, saying she was busy with a fundraising event. Staley said she “felt the energy” and told her coaching staff that Stanford likely got Wynn, a California native. However, the next day during practice the Gamecocks received a pleasant surprise.

Tennessee's heritage still matters.

Tennessee is one of the most successful programs in women's college basketball history, winning eight national titles. This legacy still attracts some of the country's most talented players. Olivia Edwards, the No. 5 player in the 2026 class, chose the Lady Vols over programs like USC, South Carolina and LSU.

The 6-foot-3 forward averaged 17 points and 7.8 rebounds on 63.5 percent shooting last season. She'll also bring some excitement to Knoxville with her dunking skills.

“I chose the University of Tennessee because I felt welcome from the very beginning.” Edwards told ESPN. “The freshman class immediately made me feel like part of the family. Most importantly, I like their style of play and the freedom it gives me on the court. This program has an amazing legacy and I can’t wait to be a part of it.”

Iowa is still on the map

Jan Jensen has done a great job of keeping Iowa's momentum going in the post-Caitlin Clark era and just signed. highest rated player to join the Hawkeyes since Clarke went to the WNBA. Sixth-ranked McKenna Volichko is a 6-foot-2 forward who Clay called one of the top rebounders in the country with elite energy on both ends of the floor.

During her junior year at Archbishop Mitty in San Jose, Volichko averaged 22.1 points and 8.9 rebounds in 10 games before suffering a season-ending knee injury.

“She's versatile. God, she can shoot a three, but she's easy on the ball,” Jensen said. She's smart. She is a leader. Just a wonderful, wonderful child. Great family. First of all, finding that type of person and then the type of player that she is at the top – that was a really important moment for us. Hawk fans will really enjoy watching her because she has a versatile game. It's smooth. It's beautiful and very impressive.”

Other winners

The Fighting Irish are in the midst of a significant rebuilding season, returning just three players from last year's squad. The team is led by junior Hannah Hidalgo and is certainly off to a great start. However, the next new course could also mean a bright future for Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish have four players ranked in the top 30, more than any other program. They are Jaycee Eby at number 16, Bella Ragone at number 19, Amari Biles at number 23 and Jenica Lewis at number 27.

Duke received two top 15 players: Autumn Fleary at No. 7 and Bella Flemings at No. 13. Kentucky, meanwhile, received No. 8 Maddin Greenway and No. 14 Savvy Swords. It wasn't just the top programs that got big wins. Clemson received ninth-ranked Trinity Jones and Nebraska received tenth-ranked Ashlyn Coupal.

“I chose Clemson because I knew Coach Poppy and the staff saw more than just a basketball player—they only saw Trinity, a girl who is good at basketball.” Jones told ESPN. “I trust them to help me get to the next level.”