Incoming Washington Huskies sophomore Kaelyn Carroll told her new teammate and fellow transfer portal addition, guard Brooke Carlson, why she chose to transfer from Kentucky to UW this past offseason.
Carroll, a 6-foot-3 versatile forward and former five-star recruit, is one of the last confirmed transfer additions for the Huskies after one season in the SEC with the Wildcats. The standout first-year made 34 appearances for UK and averaged 3.4 points and 2.2 rebounds per game as an emerging option for second-year coach Kenny Brooks.
Although Kentucky made the NCAA Tournament in both seasons under Brooks, the Dedham, Massachusetts native opted to make the move to the Emerald City to play for sixth-year coach Tina Langley and the Huskies.
"I chose
to come to Washington because of the culture that coach Tina has instilled in the program," Carroll told Carlson in a clip posted on social media. "Just right away when I came on my visit, I met the girls and how they act and love each other on and off the court. That's something that stood out."
Carroll is expected to pair in the frontcourt with 2025-26 All-Big Ten Freshman Team forward Brynn McGaughy—who ranked four spots ahead of the Massachusetts native in the 2025 recruiting class by ESPN and became the highest-rated recruit to sign with the program out of Colfax, Washington—and fellow incoming transfer, center Tilda Trygger from North Carolina State
Langley utilized her resources coming off her first NCAA Tournament berth going into year six as the UW women's head coach to make another, hopefully deeper, run in the big dance. Along with Carroll and Trygger, the Huskies added a trio of guard transfers: Macey Huard (via Oklahoma State), Petra Toman (via Hungary), and Carlson (via Colorado State), with six returning scholarship players.
UW opens the 2026-27 season at Alaska Airlines Arena on November 2 against UC Davis, the first of three consecutive home games before the team hits the road to face Washington State on Nov. 17.
This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: New Washington Women's Basketball Forward Explains Transfer Decision
