The confetti has settled in Cleveland. With UCLA's victory on April 5th crowning a new national champion, the 2024-25 women's college basketball season is officially in the books. For programs across the country, including Michigan State, the focus now shifts decisively to the future as the transfer portal opens and the offseason begins in earnest.
Head coach Robyn Fralick faces a significant roster rebuild for the second consecutive year, with nearly half of the Spartans' lineup poised for turnover. The departure of key graduates Grace VanSlooten, Emma Shumate, Abbey Kimball, and Marah Dykstra creates immediate holes. The backcourt takes a major hit with the exit of Jalyn Brown, who announced her entry into the WNBA draft on April 6th.
The changes don't stop there. The transfer portal has already seen activity, with starter Ines Sotelo and reserves Juliann Woodard and Jordan Ode exploring their options elsewhere. A major question mark hangs over the status of Theryn Hallock. The former All-Big Ten guard, honored on senior day, was limited to just eight games this season due to a foot injury. Whether she is granted a medical redshirt and chooses to return for another season remains a pivotal offseason decision for the Spartans' backcourt stability.
All told, Michigan State could see up to nine players from this year's squad depart by the time the 2026-27 season tips off next November. As of April 6th, the returning core presents both promise and questions. Let's break down the known commodities.
In the frontcourt, all eyes will be on 6-foot-3 forward Gabrielle Alexander. Her career has been marred by injuries, but she fought her way into the starting lineup this season before another setback in late December. Demonstrating impressive resilience, Alexander worked her way back to contribute down the stretch. As the lone returning player with significant size, her health and continued development will be crucial for MSU's interior presence. She appeared in 17 games, starting four, and was efficient, averaging 7.6 points on a stellar 60.7% shooting from the field.
The backcourt will lean heavily on the return of DeeDee Hagemann. The guard was a rock of consistency, starting all 32 games and earning Second Team All-Big Ten honors. Hagemann's versatility was on full display as she surprisingly led the Spartans in rebounding at 7.1 boards per game while also serving as a primary playmaker and scorer. Her leadership and all-around game will be the foundation upon which the new backcourt is built.