Big Ten women’s basketball starter finds new team for 2026-27 via transfer portal

Minnesota’s loss is Oregon’s gain.

Former Gophers’ starting forward Mallory Heyer — who entered the transfer portal less than two weeks before the women’s college basketball season started — has committed to Oregon, she announced in a social media post on Wednesday evening.

Heyer will graduate from Minnesota in December. She’ll be eligible to play for Kelly Graves at Oregon in the 2026-27 season.

“So grateful and excited to be a duck,” Heyer wrote on X.

A 6-foot-1 forward, Heyer started in each of the 102 games she played in with the Gophers and established herself as one of the most consistent rebounders in the Big Ten. She’s ranked in the top 10 in the Big Ten in rebounding in each of the past three seasons.

She came to Minnesota as a Lindsay Whalen recruit and stayed with the Gophers in 2023 after Whalen resigned. The Gophers have enjoyed back-to-back seasons of 20 or more wins with Dawn Plitzuweit leading the way and Heyer starting in the frontcourt. Last season, the Gophers won the WBIT as Heyer tallied a double-double with 18 points and a team-high 16 rebounds in the championship game against Belmont.

Across three seasons with Minnesota, Heyer has averaged a near-double-double, posting 9.5 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. Last year, she led the Gophers in rebounding with 290 total boards and also led Minnesota in double-doubles with seven. For her career, she also averages 1.4 3-pointers made and 1.1 assists per game.

Oregon went to the NCAA Tournament last season and lost in the second round to Duke. The Ducks are off to a 3-0 start this season behind the play of Katie Fiso, who ranks fifth nationally in assists per game with 8.3.

Meanwhile, Minnesota is also 3-0. Amaya Battle has led them on the glass this season with nine rebounds per game.