Penn State women’s basketball center Gracie Merkle intends to enter the transfer portal, according to On3’s Talia Goodman.

Merkle started her collegiate career by spending two seasons at Bellarmine, where she won the 2022-23 ASUN Freshman of the Year award. She led the Knights in scoring, rebounding, field goal percentage, blocks, field goals made, free throw attempts, and field goals made while breaking the single-season program records for field goal percentage and rebounds. Merkle utilized a medical redshirt in 2023-24.

Merkle decided to bring her presence in the paint to the Lady Lions for the 2024-25 season. The 6’6″ center immediately established herself as Penn State’s offensive motor. She notched a 21-point, 13-rebound double-double in her Lady Lions debut in Penn State’s win over Bucknell to open the season.

The star center continued her stellar start through non-conference play. Merkle shined with a season-high 31 points in November’s overtime win over Drexel. She averaged 20.3 points per game before Penn State fully entered Big Ten play in late December. On the whole season, Merkle averaged 15.5 points and 8.6 rebounds per game on 67% shooting from the field, all team leads.

Merkle notched 10 games with 20 points or more in 2024-25, but the Lady Lions’ struggles as a whole and injuries late in the season ultimately lowered her production. However, Merkle capped off her first year with the Lady Lions with an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention from Big Ten media.

Merkle became the second Lady Lion to reportedly hit the portal after Grace Hall.