2026 NCAA qualifier Haley McDonald of Texas has entered the NCAA transfer portal. McDonald just finished her freshman season, swimming in prelims of the 200 back and 400 IM at the 2026 NCAA Championships.
McDonald was the #7 ranked recruit in the girls high school class of 2025 and battled injury during her junior year of high school, causing her to miss 2024 Olympic Trials.
McDonald made the SEC ‘A’ final in the 200 back after swimming a season best 1:52.94 in prelims. She swam a 1:55.36 for 8th in finals. She also swam the 400 IM at SECs, swimming a 4:13.60. Her best time in the event came from midseason when she swam a 4:07.55 which was a lifetime best by over four seconds.
This past weekend, McDonald swam in prelims of the 200 back and 400 IM at NCAAs. She finished 39th in both events with a 1:55.34 200 back and a 4:13.48 400 IM.
Best Times
| HS Best Times | Freshman Year | |
| 200 Back | 1:52.74 | 1:52.94 |
| 400 IM | 4:12.26 | 4:07.55 |
McDonald is the 2nd Texas swimmer who made 2026 NCAAs to enter the portal. Berit Berglund entered her name when the portal opened, and Berglund scratched from 2026 NCAAs. The Texas women finished 3rd at 2026 NCAAs, just four points behind 2nd place Stanford.
McDonald is originally from Louisville, Kentucky and swam for Lakeside Swim Team.
Other Portal Notes:
- Missouri’s Mia Henninger dove at 2026 NCAAs in the platform event, finishing 18th. She entered the portal after the meet concluded
she should go train with Bella Sims
injuries suck. Hope she can get back to the form she had pre-injury.
Haley McDonald has the potential that Todd DeSorbo can work with.
Perhaps? I understand she’s close with Thomas Mercer though.
It has begun.
The beginning of the end of the University of Texas women’s swimming program.
we need to be able to block users on this website man, i’m so tired of seeing relay names guy everywhere spreading this bs
And being an embarrassment to the women that he seems to be trying to celebrate.
Could be a she
Didn’t expect to see this, but hope everything goes well for her.
wasn’t there a website last year, that didn’t give names
but did give the number of swimmers from each school, conferences, roster limits, etc
anyone remember?
It was a diving organization.
What is up with Missouri. It seems like they have not scored a point at the women’s NCAA meet in a while
They ran off a really good coach about, what, eight years ago.
Very little on portal news for the men. Any big surprises? Any programs with multiple swimmers in the portal? Any programs with a significant number of men and women in the portal?
https://swimswam.com/us-olympian-david-johnston-of-texas-enters-ncaa-transfer-portal/
The bottom bullet has the previous leaders from when it first opened. I am working on putting together an updated list
Think a few things were mentioned in an earlier article. Some might wait until after NCAA is over.