By OkayGoal 
NIL and the Transfer Portal have changed college sports forever. Players now have the freedom to leave and play with their new school right away. The rule previously stated you had to sit out an entire season if you transferred, which offered less flexibility.
What’s unique about the transfer portal is the opportunity. Yes, big-name players can team up with another stacked team, but some small school players have made the jump to the big leagues to show what they can do. There are so many key transfers to look at, it was tough to narrow this list down. In the end, we have nine of the biggest impact transfers to watch this season.
Sophia Cavaliere – Midfielder, Graduate Senior, Columbia → USC
Sophia Cavaliere was one of the best players in the Ivy League last season for Columbia. The grad student started all 45 games for the Lions over her four years in New York and was First-Team All-Ivy. We’ve seen numerous Ivy League programs in the Top 25 rankings over the years. It’s a strong mid-major conference with solid players. Cavaliere has already played in a few games for the Trojans and will be a nice addition to their midfield.
Irene Campos – Midfielder, Sophomore, South Alabama → Purdue
Get familiar with the name Irene Campos because she’s going to take college soccer by storm this year. Campos was the Offensive Player of the Year in the Sun Belt conference and an easy first-team All-Sun Belt selection. Campos recorded 12 goals and six assists for the Jaguars, which is impressive coming from the midfield position. Since transferring to Purdue, she already has two goals and an assist in three games early on. She’s made the transition in non-conference play. Keep an eye on her when the Big 10 game rolls around; she’s going to make an impact.
Kennedy Bell – Defender/Midfielder, Junior, Maryland → Michigan State
Kennedy Bell was one of the more underrated defenders in the nation at Maryland last season. She hasn’t missed a game in her two years as a defender and has already made an impact for Michigan State. It appears the Spartans are using Bell in a different capacity and have moved her up the pitch. In three games for Michigan State, Bell has three goals and an assist to her name. Looks like we’re going to see Kennedy Bell get forward and score some more goals this year; she’s on pace to become an All-Big Big-10 player if she can consistently produce this season.
Liza Suydam – Midfielder, Junior, Monmouth → Louisville
Liza Suydam is another former small-school midfielder leaping to a major conference. Suydam was the Freshman of the Year in the CAA in 2023 and Co-CAA Midfielder of the Year in 2024. She was essentially the best player in the conference, dazzling with nine goals and four assists. Since coming to Louisville, Suydam has already made a difference with two goals and an assist in four games. If anyone is going to help turn Louisville around this season, Liza Suydam is going to play a part in it.
Iba Oching – Defender, Sophomore, Syracuse → Iowa
Iba Oching is an exciting prospect who played for Canada at the last U-17 World Cup. The defender had a solid first season at Syracuse and decided to take a step up in competition and move to the Big 10 to play for Iowa. As we know well at GSN, thanks to Sam Cary, Iowa is known for having a strong defense. Oching has a chance to be the next great defender for the Hawkeyes and has an assist through her first three games in Iowa City. Be sure to remember her name in a few years.
Laila Booker – Defender, Graduate Senior, Yale → Georgia
Laila Booker was one of the best defenders in the Ivy League for the last few seasons. Booker burst onto the scene at Yale in 2022, earning First-Team All-Ivy League and Second-Team All-Ivy over the next two seasons. With an extra year of eligibility, Booker used her final year to transfer to the SEC and play for Georgia. Booker has played key minutes for the Bulldogs so far, including a 2-0 win over North Carolina most recently. Expect her to be an impact defender for Georgia this season.
Yuna McCormack – Midfielder, Junior, Virginia → Florida State
Yuna McCormack was a key piece of Virginia’s midfield for the last two seasons before her move to Tallahassee. McCormack was due to have a big season as a Sophomore for Virginia, but missed half of it due to the U-20 World Cup. Virginia is one of the premier programs in college soccer, but Florida State is one of the few programs that can say they’ve achieved more. The Seminoles are competing for national championships year in and year out, which makes it easy to see why McCormack chose Florida State. Her best path to the pros is through the Seminoles, and McCormack is on pace to do that if she has a good two years in Florida.
Sophie Reale – Forward, Junior, UCLA → Boston College
Sophie Reale followed her sister Lilly Reale to UCLA initially, but a lack of playing time last season likely led to her departure. A Massachusetts native, the move closer to home at Boston College makes more sense considering the playing time she’s going to receive. In three games for the Eagles, Reale already has a goal, matching her entire output at UCLA over two years. It’s time for college soccer to see what Sophie Reale can do in a tough ACC conference.
Larkin Thomason – Forward, Junior, Mercer → Alabama
Alabama boosted its scoring with a true striker in Larkin Thomason. Thomason might not start for the Crimson Tide, but she’s going to do what she does best, and that’s score goals. Thomason racked up 26 goals in two years at Mercer, and she was the Player of the Year in the SoCon in 2024. The former Mercer star has already proven she’s ready for the big stage with a goal and assist off the bench against Michigan. If you love watching goal scorers, tune into some Alabama games this year and watch Larkin Thomason work her magic as a super sub, at least for this season.
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