Maryland women’s basketball officially announced guard Yarden Garzon’s commitment for the 2025-2026 season on April 8. The junior had entered the transfer portal on March 31 after three seasons with Indiana.

Garzon led the Hoosiers in points per game this season and claimed the school’s record for career 3-point shots made with 220. She joins a Maryland team that seeks a return to the Elite 8 next year after a 71-67 loss to South Carolina ended the Terps’ season early.

Garzon shared new details with Mitzpeh about her transfer process, being a Jewish student-athlete and what to expect on the court next season.

What drew you to Maryland?

“I feel like when Brenda reached out to me after I got in the transfer portal. I really liked their passion to the game and their playing style. We quickly scheduled a visit. I just loved the coaches, loved the facilities. I met the girls and it was really fun to hear from them what they feel about the program and about their last year and experience here. I also talked with former players like Abby Meyers. She played a few years ago and now she plays in Israel. So, I talked with her a little bit…All around, I heard all good things about Maryland and about Brenda. I love the staff and I love the campus, so I feel like it was kind of an easy decision for me.”

How did the transfer process compare to when you originally committed to Indiana?

“It was a little bit different because now I know what to kind of look for. I know college basketball much better. I know what I’m looking for, like very detailed in how it’s going to look like. When I was in high school, I talked with Indiana for almost three years before I came. I feel like it was a lot different because I did not know everything that I know now.”

Did Maryland’s Jewish student population influence your choice?

“Yeah, it’s very important to me even here in Indiana. I’m very involved in the Jewish community, so it’s very important to me. On a visit, they took me to the Maryland Hillel and I loved to see how big it is and how many people are involved in it. I have so many friends who know somebody there, like their brother or their cousin. It’s definitely helped that I know that once I am there, I will have a lot of people that support me and I will feel part of the community.”

Indiana has struggled with antisemitism on campus since Oct. 7. How would you describe your experience as a Jewish student-athlete over the past year? Did you ever feel uncomfortable on campus?

“I feel like there are two sides to it. We have a really big Jewish community here, not as big as in Maryland, but I think they advocate for us really well. A lot of my friends are on boards in both Hillel and Chabad. They do an amazing job in helping the community to feel as safe as possible. They also support me in games. A lot of them showed up and have been there for me. On campus, there were the protests after Oct. 7 for a full year. It’s just kind of scary to walk around the Meadow and around the protest. I kind of had to avoid that part of campus for a while…I had a hamsa necklace that I stopped walking around with because it was kind of scary. I preferred to just put it away for a while to just not get into any incident they don’t want to be in. So on one hand, we had a lot of support from the Jewish community and they tried to do whatever they could to help us to feel comfortable, to feel safe. On the other hand, like the small incidents that somebody would just come up to me, say “free Palestine” or “revolution intifada” or stuff like that. It wasn’t fun to hear and it wasn’t fun to be around. I feel like this year it’s got a little bit better.”

Did anything ever stick out to you when you played against Maryland? Was it memorable playing in the Xfinity Center in front of Maryland fans?

“The atmosphere was great. There are some schools that, sometimes, you go there and they always say you have to bring your own energy. In Maryland, you have to say keep the crowd out of it because, once they’re in, it’s hard to play there. It was a fun experience…I love playing there. It’s not an easy place to play.”

You and Shayanne Sellers had very similar offensive statistics this past season, but you led in most defensive categories. Do you see yourself filling a similar role this season?

“I feel like we’re gonna have a really really good team. Brenda and the staff did an amazing job of bringing transfers in and keeping the core of the team together. I am very excited. I just want to get there, start to work. We will see from there. Obviously, I want to be the best version of myself I can be and help the team win. I feel like those things are the ones that we create during the time that we are on the court. So I don’t want to go out and say, “Yeah, I want to be that, that and that.” I want to be there. I want to help the team win and I hope we’re going to have a really good year. I’m very excited about it.”

You played in all of Indiana’s 97 games across the last three seasons and remained a consistent contributor by scoring 10+ points in 82% of your games this season. How do you keep yourself ready to play during the long season?

“All I try to do is be as consistent as possible. Every day, I am working out, spending my time in the weight room. Recovery is a big part of it. At the end of the day, if you’re not going to eat and sleep as well as you can, it’s hard. It’s getting hard. I’m trying to focus during the season. Everything is about basketball. Obviously, I have to go to school and get my grades there, but I’m trying to really focus on basketball and do whatever I can to be ready for every game, for every practice and I feel like that’s a big part of it.”

You have a reputation for being disciplined throughout the game, even during pivotal plays. How do you stay sharp in intense moments like your game-sealing shot vs. Ohio State?

“I feel like this is part of me. I’m very competitive and I want to win. I’m all in the moment. I feel like sometimes for me that it’s the end of the game. You have to make tough decisions. You have to be very sharp and focused. I feel like sometimes it makes me a little bit even more focused. A lot of times there is not a next play. It’s all about this play, so you have to be all in in this moment. I feel like I just naturally don’t let my head go ahead of myself ahead of the moment. I’m just trying to be in the moment and do the best play for the team. I feel like it’s kind of part of me since I grew up. I love these moments. I love the big moments and I love being there.”

Besides winning a championship with Maryland, do you have any personal goals for next season on or off the court?

“I’m looking for the 2026 draft and I want to be the best version of myself, so it will put me in a good situation for next year. I feel like once the team is going to be good, it will come naturally with that. So I’m less worried about that. I’m going to do all the work I can to help the team win and get better and be there. At the end of the day, if the team is good, you just go from there. Everything just becomes easier when the team is good.”

What do you want Maryland fans to know about you?

“I would love to see them everywhere on campus, on the court. I love seeing Israeli flags all around and I can’t wait to play for them.”