Big Ten Freshman of the Year Mary Ashley Stevenson set to transfer

Mary Ashley Stevenson, star freshman forward and presumed program building block for Purdue, is entering the transfer portal, according to reports.

The news was broken on X Thursday afternoon and echoed across the platform as it was confirmed.

Stevenson was a top-100 recruit from New York, and flourished in her first season as a scoring machine from the post, winning Big Ten Freshman of the Year. She was part of a young nucleus that head coach Katie Gearlds believed would put Purdue, the only Big Ten school with a National Championship, back at the top.

“Our freshmen are forever gonna remember playing with these four," Gearlds said on senior night. "I meant what I said, we are going to win championships at Purdue, and these four are the foundation of what we’re chasing.”

Gearlds said in February that she and Stevenson had conversations that reminded the coach of long talks she had with head coach Kristy Curry while a player at Purdue in the early 2000s.

"Purdue is in for a very special ride with No. 20 for the next three years,” Gearlds said then, referring to Stevenson.

Purdue has a 2025 four-star (ESPN) forward commit in Kira Reynolds joining the team next season.