Transfers a hit for No. 8 Maryland, which brings an unbeaten record into matchup with Michigan State

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — For Brenda Frese and her unbeaten Maryland team, the word “chemistry” is an important one.

After a down season by their standards, the Terrapins have rebounded in 2024-25, winning their first 11 games with a slew of new players. Of the six women who have started for Maryland, four are transfers in their first season with the Terps. There was no way to know for sure how everyone would mesh, but the early signs are positive. No. 8 Maryland hosts No. 19 Michigan State on Sunday.

“I think there’s a lot to like with so many new players, to still be undefeated, and just find different ways to be able to win," said Frese, in her 23rd season as Maryland's coach. "I like our depth. We’ve really been focusing on both ends of the floor.”

It's Maryland's best start since 2018-19.

“I would definitely say that compared to the beginning of the season our team chemistry has really grown," forward Christina Dalce said. "Our team chemistry is growing each time we practice, each time we have a game.”

Frese and the Terrapins have seen both sides of the transfer portal. Angel Reese left Maryland to go to LSU — then became a star on a national champion. Around that same time, the Terps brought in Abby Meyers, Elisa Pinzan, Brinae Alexander and Lavender Briggs. They went to the Elite Eight in 2022-23, the team's longest run in eight years.

After losing a pair of WNBA first-round draft picks in Meyers and Diamond Miller, Maryland tried to reload last season with much shakier results. N.C. State transfer Jakia Brown-Turner was second in scoring, but the team struggled to a .500 record in conference play and lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

So Frese went back to the portal, adding Dalce (Villanova), Kaylene Smikle (Rutgers), Saylor Poffenbarger (Arkansas) and Sarah Te-Biasu (Virginia Commonwealth). But it's not as simple as just finding talented players. They have to fit well with each other and with their new surroundings.

“You bring in players that are hungry and motivated," Frese said. "I think our staff does a really good job of wanting to find the right fits. We’re very selective with who we want to bring in, and we don’t want to build our roster that it’s all the same. I think you see a lot of players that are unique and different.”

From the 5-foot-5 Te-Biasu to the 6-foot-2 Dalce, the transfers are contributing. Smikle is averaging a team-high 17.7 points per game.

Poffenbarger, who actually played at UConn before transferring to Arkansas and then Maryland, now leads the Terps in rebounding.

“She works so hard, and it makes you want to work hard as well, too," Dalce said. "She also brings like a different kind of energy that we all truly need.”

Maryland's biggest win so far was a home victory over Duke in November. The Terps opened Big Ten play with a win at Purdue. Now they take on a Michigan State team that was itself unbeaten until its most recent game.

After facing the Spartans, Smikle will see her old team in a matchup with Rutgers. Then Maryland faces Iowa and Southern California in back-to-back games — a stretch that should indicate how much of a Big Ten title threat the Terps really are.

For now, the vibes at Maryland are excellent.

“When transfers have come in and maybe not had the situation or expectation they thought they were going to have in college, I love being the school and the university that is going to bring back their passion and their love for the game," Frese said. "That’s why we’re in it.”

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FILE - Maryland basketball coach Brenda Frese, center, reacts during an NCAA basketball exhibition game against Seton Hill on Oct. 20, 2024, in College Park, Md. (AP Photo/Mike Buscher, File)

Teoscar Hernández is headed back to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The free agent outfielder has agreed with the reigning World Series champions on a $66 million, three-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press late Friday night.

The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal was pending a successful physical.

After initially looking for a three-year contract that never materialized in free agency last offseason, Hernández and his representatives turned their focus to getting the best short-term deal from the best team interested. That led to a $23.5 million, one-year deal with the Dodgers, where he joined a loaded lineup that included Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman.

Hernández wanted to play deep into October, and did, becoming a a World Series champion during an All-Star season when he was the Home Run Derby champion and won his third career Silver Slugger, which got him a $1 million bonus.

The Dominican outfielder had a huge impact as the Dodgers won their second World Series title in five seasons. He hit .272 with a career-high 33 homers and 99 RBIs in 154 regular-season games.

Hernández had made it clear he wanted to stay in Los Angeles, saying that was his priority. He got emotional when thanking fans during the World Series celebration at Dodger Stadium after the club's championship parade.

“I play this game to win,” he told the fans that day. “And the Dodgers gave me the opportunity to come here so I could help this organization, this team, these people, this city, win a championship. You guys made this dream come true. Thank you for making me a world champion.”

Now they will get to try to do it again, with Hernández likely switching from left field to right field, his best defensive position. There are plans for Betts to move back into the infield next season.

Hernández turned 32 during the playoffs, when he hit .250 with three homers and 12 RBIs in 16 postseason games. He struggled during the six-game National League Championship Series against the New York Mets, going 2 for 21 with one RBI. That was after he hit .333 with seven RBIs in a five-game Division Series against San Diego, and before hitting .350 in the World Series against the Yankees — including a two-run double in the fifth inning of Game 5 for a 5-all tie before the Dodgers clinched the title with a 7-6 victory.

Hernández has a .263 career batting average with 192 homers, 572 RBIs and 65 outfield assists for Toronto (2016-22), Seattle (2023) and the Dodgers. His first All-Star season came withe Blue Jays in 2021, when he hit 32 homers while setting career highs with his .296 average and 116 RBIs.

His 2024 deal with Los Angeles included $8.5 million in deferred money that will be paid over 10 equal installments each July 1 from 2030-39.

AP Baseball Writer Mike Fitzpatrick contributed to this report.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

FILE - Los Angeles Dodgers' Teoscar Hernández watches his two-run home run against the New York Yankees during the third inning in Game 2 of the baseball World Series, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez, File)

FILE - Los Angeles Dodgers' Teoscar Hernández is high-fived in the dugout after scoring on a sacrifice fly ball by Gavin Lux during the second inning in Game 2 of a baseball NL Division Series against the San Diego Padres, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, File)