This Indiana Miss Basketball entered transfer portal. UConn 'meant the world' to her
· Yahoo Sports
Fort Wayne native Ayanna Patterson has entered the transfer portal, according to On3.
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The 6-foot-2 redshirt sophomore — a Homestead graduate and 2022 Indiana Miss Basketball — spent the past four years at UConn, but played in only two full seasons (2022-23, 2025-26) due to injury. She appeared in 55 games (one start), totaling 99 points, 96 rebounds, 18 assists, eight steals and nine blocks.
Patterson, who was part of the Huskies' 2025 national championship team, has two years of eligibility remaining.
"This program has meant the world to me these last four years," Patterson told Maggie Vanoni of CT Insider following UConn's Final Four loss to South Carolina. "They've been through every obstacle with me. And all my coaching staff, training staff and support staff have helped me along the way and just supported me and been there for me. So, I just thank them."
A Naismith All-American and four-time sectional champion, Patterson was a five-star recruit coming out of Homestead, where she collected seven school records and the second-most points in program history (1,912).
She appeared in 27 games and averaged 1.9 points and 2.1 rebounds as a freshman, then missed the first few weeks of her sophomore season recovering from an offseason knee procedure. That recovery never got on track, however, and she was forced to undergo season-ending knee surgery in December 2023 to address the patellar tendinitis she'd been dealing with since high school.
Coach Geno Auriemma said in a statement they anticipated Patterson to make a full recovery, which she did, but then suffered a shoulder injury the following October which ultimately required another season-ending surgery.
A fully healthy Patterson returned to the UConn lineup this season and played in 28 games, averaging 1.7 points (51.6% FG) and 1.4 rebounds. She is set to graduate with her undergraduate degree and participated in UConn's senior day festivities against Providence in late February.
“I finished academically, so I felt like that was fitting, and I was really proud of that moment of graduating, even though I have more years in basketball to play,” Patterson told reporters at the time. “I feel like being able to graduate from college is a big moment. So, being able to walk on senior day was phenomenal. … (I) couldn't ask for more."
Teammate Azzi Fudd described Patterson following the game as "one of the hardest workers" on the team.
"Even though it doesn't always show on the court — she doesn't get the most playing time in the world — she comes every single day and we can rely on her to get that rebound, to get that loose ball, the hustle play that we need," Fudd said, a teary-eyed Patterson seated beside her. "No matter how many minutes she gets, she comes in and gives it her all.
"I just want to make that public announcement because she doesn't get the attention that she deserves," she continued, "but she is one of the best teammates to play with because she's going to run through a wall for you."
KK Arnold echoed Fudd's sentiment, adding Patterson "always keeps a smile on her face."
That's the "best thing about it," she said.
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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Ayanna Patterson enters transfer portal, UConn women's basketball stats