American Athletic Conference teams boasted two of the top 10 transfer classes in the country, with Charlotte and Vanderbilt being praised by ILWomen for their success in the transfer portal.
Vanderbilt’s transfer class was ranked No. 5 by ILWomen as the Commodores added six players from the portal. Leading that group is draw specialist Maddie Barkate, who recorded 119 draw controls at Harvard in 2024.
“I am thrilled to welcome these six incredible student-athletes to our program,” said Vanderbilt head coach Beth Hewitt. “Each of them brings unique qualities and skills that are critical to our success both on and off the field. They represent a variety of positions and come from successful programs, so they bring championship-level experience.”
Charlotte, which begins its first season of college lacrosse in 2025, had the No. 8 transfer class as the 49ers signed 12 players with experience at other institutions. Isa Torres and Claire Schotta come to Charlotte via Virginia Tech, while former Cincinnati forward Kylie Gioia remains in The American after scoring 50 goals with 28 assists in 50 career games with the Bearcats.
“We have worked hard over the past few months to attract quality lacrosse players to the transfer portal,” said Charlotte head coach Claire Short. “Transfers are important when building an inaugural program because they can bring knowledge, playing experience, leadership skills and college lacrosse experience. We are excited about the level of talent this group will bring to us this season. We look forward to showcasing their success on the field this spring.”
