NC State women’s basketball has secured a major addition in the transfer portal, landing a commitment from Colorado guard Desiree Wooten. The 5-foot-8 junior scorer announced her decision on Monday, giving the Wolfpack a proven veteran to bolster its backcourt.
Wooten averaged a career-high 13.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.6 steals per game last season while appearing in all 34 games for the Buffaloes (starting seven). She led Colorado in scoring and shot 35.2 percent from three-point range, providing the kind of perimeter shooting and secondary creation the program desperately needed. A former high-major talent out of North Texas, the Dallas native earned All-Big 12 Honorable Mention honors in her lone season in Boulder.
Filling the Zam Jones Void
The commitment directly addresses a glaring roster need created when sophomore guard Zamareya “Zam” Jones entered the transfer portal in early April and quickly committed to Louisville. Jones, a former five-star McDonald’s All-American, was one of NC State’s top offensive weapons, averaging 14.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.7 assists while flashing elite scoring and playmaking ability. Her departure along with that of another guard, Devyn Quigley left the Wolfpack thin on experienced perimeter talent heading into Wes Moore’s next chapter.
Wooten is an ideal fit to step into that vacancy. While Jones was a dynamic, high-usage creator, Wooten offers proven volume scoring (team-high at Colorado), reliable three-point shooting, and defensive tenacity (1.6 steals per game). As a redshirt junior with one year of eligibility remaining, she brings immediate experience and leadership to a young or reshaped backcourt, helping maintain NC State’s competitiveness in the ACC.
This move signals NC State’s aggressive approach in the portal to stay competitive after key losses. For Wooten, it is a chance to join a power-conference program with Final Four aspirations and showcase her skills on a bigger stage. The Wolfpack’s backcourt just got a whole lot more dangerous.
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