Three Maryland women’s basketball freshman enter transfer portal

Last offseason, four new freshmen entered the Maryland women’s basketball program, a top-ten class looking to help continue the strong recruiting classes of the past. Coach Brenda Frese raved about the new class, with three players ranked inside the top 60 overall recruits in the 2022 Class according to ESPN.

Just a year later, only one player remains.

Gia Cooke, Ava Sciolla and Mila Reynolds all announced they will be leaving the program, as each saw little playing time in their freshman year. The trio combined to only play just over two percent of Maryland’s total minutes this season.

Cooke was the highest regarded of the three entering the season, as the guard decommitted from Texas A&M before committing to Maryland. Cooke was the No. 52 recruit in the class according to ESPN. She saw some backup minutes early in the season, but those minutes started to dwindle as the season progressed

Hailing from Indiana, Reynolds was the No. 60 recruit according to ESPN, but struggled to see the floor in her freshman year. Reynolds only averaged five minutes and one point a game.

Sciolla hails from Pennsylvania and entered the program as someone with shooting potential according to Frese. But she barely played, only appearing in 16 games, mainly in blowouts.

The three transfers leaves just Bri McDaniel as the only remaining member of the 2022 Class. McDaniel flashed the most potential out of all of the freshman, as she saw action in 34 games and scored a season-high14 points against Northwestern.

Despite seniors Lavender Briggs, Faith Masonius and Brinae Alexander returning, the exits of Cooke, Reynolds and Sciolla leave Maryland with open scholarships to potentially bring in players from the transfer portal.

Abby Meyers, Diamond Miller and Elisa Pinzan all declared for the 2023 WNBA Draft, meaning only two starters remain from the Elite Eight team. But the Terps will bring in four Class of 2023 recruits and potentially bring back Emma Chardon and Allie Kubek back from injury.