Utah women’s basketball lands a transfer from a fellow Big 12 school

Kansas guard Laia Conesa (6) during an NCAA college basketball game on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023 in Lawrence, Kan. | Colin E Braley

The Utah women’s basketball team has its first transfer portal addition this offseason — and it comes from the Big 12 ranks.

Former Kansas guard Laia Conesa announced on social media Tuesday that she will play her final season for Gavin Peterson’s squad.

Who is Laia Conesa?

The 5-foot-11 guard from Barcelona, Spain, has spent the past three seasons as a Jayhawk.

Her best year came in 2024-25, when Conesa, as a sophomore, started 25 games and averaged 7.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.6 steals per game.

As a junior last season, Conesa primarily came off the bench — though she did start five games — and averaged 3.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, a career-high 2.1 assists and 1.0 steals per contest.

How does Laia Conesa fit into Utah’s 2026-27 plans?

Things are in flux for Utah right now, with six Utes entering the portal and four — LA Sneed, Reese Ross, Avery Hjelmstad and Brooke Walker — already announcing their next destinations.

All four are headed to other Big 12 schools — Sneed committed to Oklahoma State, Ross to Baylor, Hjelmstad to TCU and Walker to Colorado.

Combine that with three graduating players, including last year’s leading scorers in Lani White and Maty Wilke, and there are only four returning players at the current moment for Utah.

Conesa will have an opportunity to make an impact as a result of the high turnover.

The only guard expected to return for Utah is Ella Todd, who redshirted as a freshman in 2025-26 because of injury.

The Utes are also bringing in freshman guards Peyton Jones, a four-star talent rated the No. 67 talent in the 2026 class by ESPN, and Bountiful High’s Milika Satuala, as well as forward Emma Petrie and Kanab High center Rylee Little.