Daniela Karnaugh has announced her transfer to USC for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year. Karnaugh spent one season at Indiana and has three years of eligibility remaining.
Karnaugh arrived at Indiana last fall and swam a personal best 2:12.80 200 breast at midseason. In January, she swam even faster to post another personal best 2:12.51 200 breast.
She made the team’s Big Ten roster but was a non-scoring swimmer. She swam to a personal best in the 200 IM with a 2:06.41. She also was just off her best time with a 2:12.77 200 breast during a time trial while she swam a season best 1:01.53 100 breast.
After Big Tens, Karnaugh swam at the IU Men’s Last Chance Meet. She posted personal best times in both breaststroke events, swimming a 1:01.16 100 breast and a 2:10.53 200 breast.
Karnaugh’s Best SCY Times Are:
- 100 breast: 1:01.16
- 200 breast: 2:10.53
The USC women finished 5th at the 2025 Big Ten Championships and went on to finish 11th at 2025 NCAAs. Minna Abraham led the team at NCAAs with 31 points including a 2nd place finish in the 200 free.
Based on her best times, Karnaugh is a huge pick up for USC. The team’s breaststroke group was led by fifth year Kaitlyn Dobler this past season as Dobler won the Big Ten title in the 100 and 200 breaststrokes so the arrival of Karnaugh comes at the right time. Karnaugh’s best time in the 200 breast would have made the Big Ten ‘A’ final while her best time in the 100 breast would have made the ‘C’ final.
Karnaugh is not the only transfer to USC this fall. Also joining the Trojans is NCAA qualifier Nicole Maier, who was originally slated to take her COVID-19 fifth year at Florida. Notably, the Trojans were home to former Indiana Hoosier Ella Ristic who transferred to the team this past season for her COVID-19 fifth year.
FIGHT ON!!!
related to Ron Karnaugh?
Same thought
Yes Dr Ron’s daughter
Very cool!
another great swimmer leaving IU… can the ncaa investigate what’s going on there please?
This one just sounds like a roster cut since she didn’t make the Big Ten championship squad.
iu graduate here. she wasn’t cut, we only had to cut a couple girls and she was not one of them.
IU cut more than just a couple of girls — but Daniela wasn’t one of them. And let’s be clear: they didn’t have to cut those athletes. They chose to, reclaiming scholarships and reinvesting them into a new set of bright, shiny recruits with high potential.
That would be silly on Ray’s end considering how weak his BR squad is now
Nice try deflecting. Daniela chose to leave, and she made the right call.
All IU transfers are thriving — happier, healthier, and already performing better. Go figure.
She wasn’t cut. Chose to transfer.
congrats! awesome decision on both ends. excited to see the progression of her career as a Trojan
That screen name is outstanding.