Dayana Mendes will reportedly become the first USC women’s basketball player to enter the transfer portal, according to On3.com, after one season with the program.
The 6-foot-3 sophomore averaged 3.0 points and 2.8 rebounds per game in 32 games this season on a Trojans team that struggled to find its identity early without the star power of JuJu Watkins as she recovered from a torn ACL suffered in last year’s NCAA Tournament.
Mendes, who arrived after one season at Washington State, scored a season-high 13 points in an 88-83 loss at then-No. 10 Ohio State on Feb. 22.
USC (18-14) still reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament and beat Clemson in overtime in the first round before losing to South Carolina, which is playing in the national championship game against UCLA on Sunday.
Mendes, who is from Paris, was one of four transfers to join USC prior to the 2025-26 season along with Yakiya Milton, Londynn Jones and Kara Dunn. Dominique Darius, Aaliyah Gayles, Kayleigh Heckel and Avery Howell each transferred out of the program.
Dunn and Jones are out of eligibility and graduating, leaving the Trojans without their second- and fourth-leading scorers from this season. However, returning USBWA Freshman of the Year Jazzy Davidson and a healthy Watkins, combined with a talented incoming freshman class, could set USC up for success.
Head coach Lindsay Gottlieb and the Trojans signed their third straight No. 1-ranked recruit in the country in Saniyah Hall, a 6-foot-1 guard and McDonald’s All-American who has been noted for her ability to play anywhere on the floor. They’ll also add Sitaya Fagan, a 6-foot-4 forward who enrolled early to train with the team, but did not play in any games this season. She’s an accomplished international player, and won gold with Australia at the 2025 FIBA U17 Women’s Oceania Cup.
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