BREAKING: Amina Maatoug Joins Washington as Grad Transfer

Earlier today, the University of Washington announced that Amina Maatoug will be joining the Huskies as a graduate transfer. According to TFRRS, the future west coast runner is expected to hold one full year of eligibility across all three seasons of competition. The Stride Report first reported that Maatoug had entered the transfer portal back in April.

To say that Amina Maatoug is a big signing win for the Washington women would be an understatement. Ever since her arrival to the NCAA in the fall of 2022, the Dutch distance star has been a consistently competitive national-caliber name. On the track, the former Blue Devil produced times of 2:03 (800), 4:29 (mile), 8:46 (3k) and 15:37 (5k). She has also earned a 9th place finish and a 28th place finish at the last two NCAA XC Championships.

In total, Maatoug has made five appearances on the national stage and has earned four All-American honors across all three seasons of competition. She has not raced since the Raleigh Relays which took place earlier this spring.

On paper, the Washington women make perfect sense for Maatoug. The Huskies are a team that thrive in the middle distance events (specifically the mile) which is arguably Maatoug's best event on the track. However, both parties have also found great success on the grass. Last fall, the Huskies earned a huge 8th place finish at the NCAA XC Championships after upsetting the Stanford women for the PAC-12 title a few weeks beforehand.

With TFRRS suggesting that six of Washington's top-seven from last year's cross country team are set to return, (including their entire top-four), the introduction of a superstar low-stick like Maatoug gives this squad the much-needed scoring potency that they were missing last fall. And arguably more importantly, this recruiting win theoretically boosts the Washington women into podium contention for the coming fall.

Not only that, but Maatoug's unreal versatility and dynamism will make her an excellent fit for Washington's objectives on the indoor oval, specifically for the DMR, an event that they often focus on. When paired with Sophie O'Sullivan and Chloe Foerster, the Huskies could end up having the best trio of milers in the country if all three women are able to stay healthy and develop greater consistency.