As Tina Langley and the Washington Huskies sit at No. 16 in the preseason AP poll and hope to improve on a Round of 32 exit in the 2026 NCAA Tournament, the sixth-year head coach turned to the transfer portal in hopes of adding to a strong core headlined by guards Sayvia Sellers and Avery Howell and forward Brynn McGaughy.
"The transfer portal is something that we have really taken our time with," Langley told Dawgman.com's Kim Grinolds at Big Ten Media Days.
"We've been in a program that's built primarily with high school players. We want to be able to have the time that we need to develop them. I think two factors come into the transfer portal. One is, do we have a need? The second one is, are they a great fit? Sometimes you'll have a young person that comes to you out of the portal that just is an incredible fit for our program. Then sometimes you have a need that also is an incredible fit. We've had both those happen."
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Tilda Trygger was efficient and impactful, scoring 23 points on 10-of-14 shooting with six rebounds to help NC State secure a road victory at Boston College.@PackWomensBball | @PackAthletics | #GoPackpic.twitter.com/ekyecuQeUy
One of those fits is former North Carolina State center Tilda Trygger, who was one of the top-ranked players in the transfer portal after averaging 10.6 points, 7 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game as a sophomore with the Wolfpack.
"We obviously needed a center as Yulia Grabovskaia graduated," Langley continued. "I think it's two things. I think she's incredibly skilled and really talented. She's not a traditional post player. She faces up, but she can also play back to the basket. She has a great IQ and skill set; she's also a tremendous leader, like our kind of leader. A humble, strong, confident, thoughtful, disciplined leader. She speaks with such kindness, but also strength."
The 6-foot-6 Swedish center should slot in well alongside Langley's established core, and as the Huskies look to host an NCAA Regional, her length and experience should give Washington another boost in what is expected to be a loaded Big Ten.
This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Tilda Trygger brings a big boost to Washington basketball