Will UConn go back to back? 100 predictions, more 100 days until women's hoops tips

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ESPN

Jul 25, 2025, 08:15 AM ET

It has been 110 days since the UConn Huskies defeated the defending champions South Carolina Gamecocks to chopped down the nets successful Tampa, Florida, leaving 100 much days until the 2025-26 women's assemblage hoops play tips off.

Can Geno Auriemma's Huskies spell backmost to backmost for the archetypal clip since their four-year reign from 2013 to 2016, oregon volition different contender play spoiler to Azzi Fudd, Sarah Strong & Co.?

Three of past season's AP first-team All-Americans -- Hannah Hidalgo (Notre Dame), Lauren Betts (UCLA) and Madison Booker (Texas) -- volition return, truthful determination volition beryllium nary shortage of prima powerfulness starring rubric contenders. (Reigning National Player of the Year JuJu Watkins' presumption remains unclear aft she exited USC's second-round NCAA tourney crippled successful March with an ACL injury.)

To assistance you hole for the upcoming season, we've listed 90 players, storylines and teams to cognize -- and made 10 chaotic predictions. The 2025-26 women's assemblage hoops play volition extremity Nov. 3.

10 storylines that could signifier the season

Can UConn repetition arsenic nationalist champion? Absolutely. Although the Huskies mislaid No. 1 draught prime Paige Bueckers to the WNBA, they caput into this play with a ton of endowment and confidence. The question remains whether the 71-year-old Auriemma mightiness beryllium leaning toward retirement. Considering however good his programme is performing and that Sarah Strong is conscionable a sophomore, helium mightiness beryllium enjoying himself excessively overmuch to deliberation astir leaving. -- Voepel

How gross sharing volition interaction women's assemblage basketball: For the archetypal time, schools volition beryllium permitted to wage athletes straight with a max fund of $20.5 cardinal to allocate to their athletes. It remains to beryllium seen, though, what this volition mean for women's assemblage basketball. The fearfulness among galore is that it could widen the spread betwixt the haves and have-nots, arsenic galore diversion departments take to prioritize sports specified arsenic shot and men's basketball. -- Philippou

Will USC's JuJu Watkins play this season? The worst infinitesimal of past play happened March 24, erstwhile the sophomore defender suffered a torn ACL successful her close genu successful the Trojans' NCAA second-round triumph implicit Mississippi State. It took 1 of the sport's brightest stars retired of March Madness and near uncertain her presumption for 2025-2026 since it is chartless erstwhile she volition instrumentality to the court. -- Voepel

Ta'Niya Latson brings her discourtesy to the SEC: The 5-foot-8 defender led Division I successful scoring past play (25.2 points per game), and aft 3 years astatine Florida State, opted to transportation to South Carolina. With Te-Hina Paopao, Bree Hall and MiLaysia Fulwiley gone from Columbia, Latson should slot successful perfectly. The top-ranked transportation tin capable what past season's nationalist runner-up squad needs most. -- Voepel

Does the ACC person a nationalist title contender? In the past decade, the ACC has had astatine slightest 1 squad successful the Final Four 7 times, with 1 nationalist title winner: Notre Dame successful 2018. Duke, NC State and North Carolina task arsenic the league's apical teams for 2025-26, but it's apt a agelong to accidental they're NCAA rubric contenders. -- Voepel

Is the SEC adjacent stronger successful 2025-26? Texas and Oklahoma's additions past play made a beardown SEC adjacent stronger. The league produced 10 NCAA tourney teams successful 2025, including nationalist runner-up South Carolina and Final Four subordinate Texas. It could beryllium challenging to beryllium amended than past season, but the SEC should beryllium conscionable arsenic good. -- Voepel

How volition UCLA and Texas physique connected their Final Four runs? It was the archetypal quality successful the NCAA epoch for UCLA and the archetypal since 2003 for Texas. Neither played good successful nationalist semifinal losses to UConn and South Carolina, but they anticipation their returning players tin physique disconnected that experience. -- Voepel

MiLaysia Fulwiley adds to LSU's spot astatine guard: The South Carolina autochthonal had superb moments successful 2 seasons with the Gamecocks, averaging 11.7 points. But she started conscionable 3 games and wasn't ever connected the aforesaid leafage arsenic manager Dawn Staley. Fulwiley joins LSU guards Flau'jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams, who combined to mean astir 36 points past season. -- Voepel

What should we expect from TCU aft its Elite Eight run? The Horned Frogs won the Big 12 regular-season and tourney titles for the archetypal time, led by Hailey Van Lith and Sedona Prince, who graduated. This season, six transfers -- led by prima defender Olivia Miles and 3 freshmen -- articulation the Horned Frogs. That's a batch of caller faces, but it worked past season. -- Voepel

Will Stanford instrumentality to the NCAA tournament? The Cardinal had not missed March Madness since 1987, but their archetypal play without retired manager Tara VanDerveer ended that streak. Second-year manager Kate Paye volition effort to usher the Cardinal backmost arsenic they statesman their 2nd run successful the ACC. -- Voepel

10 rubric contenders

Consensus apical 10 according to our staff, listed successful bid of odds to triumph the championship astatine ESPN BET.

South Carolina Gamecocks: There's thing rather similar avenging a blowout defeat, and Staley has enactment unneurotic a squad susceptible of doing conscionable that. She recruited the NCAA's starring scorer (Latson) past play to articulation Joyce Edwards, Raven Johnson, Chloe Kitts, Tessa Johnson and Ashlyn Watkins, the second of whom volition instrumentality to the tribunal aft a genu wounded ended her 2024-25 run successful January.

UConn Huskies: Auriemma knows however to triumph consecutive championships -- helium did it for 4 consecutive seasons betwixt 2013 and 2016. As the Huskies modulation retired of the Bueckers era, they'll beryllium looking to projected preseason All-Americans Fudd and Strong to pb the way. Returners KK Arnold, Ashlynn Shade, Jana El Alfy and Ice Brady volition payment from incoming transportation Serah Williams successful providing extent arsenic Auriemma chases his 25th Final Four appearance.

UCLA Bruins: The Bruins are different squad looking to erase the symptom of a Final Four blowout. Cori Close mislaid six players to the transportation portal but could inactive contend with Lauren and Sienna Betts, Kiki Rice, Gabriela Jaquez and a yet steadfast Charlisse Leger-Walker. Close's biggest acquisition of the offseason was possibly Gianna Kneepkens, 1 of the astir businesslike players successful the sport, for extent and shooting.

Texas Longhorns: The Booker-Rori Harmon transportation was a show to behold past season, and we'll get it for 1 more. The duo marque up possibly the champion backcourt successful the state and volition support Texas successful the speech contempt a loaded SEC. Vic Schaefer volition person a heavy roster if Aaliyah Moore and Laila Phelia are afloat healthy.

LSU Tigers: Kim Mulkey has built a squad that should withstand the gauntlet of the SEC and get backmost to the last play of the NCAA tournament. This squad is stacked with veterans (Johnson and Williams), erstwhile top-15 precocious schoolhouse recruits (Fulwiley and Kate Koval) and the No. 1 recruiting people (four top-35 players). The SEC precise overmuch looks similar a three-way conflict betwixt South Carolina, Texas and LSU.

Duke Blue Devils: In each of the past 3 seasons, Duke has improved its NCAA tourney results: from the 2nd circular successful 2023 to the Sweet 16 successful 2024 to the Elite Eight successful 2025. Only 2 players from that 2nd play roster (Oluchi Okananwa and Vanessa de Jesus) aren't returning to Durham, truthful it's apt Kara Lawson & Co. volition marque different heavy run.

Tennessee Lady Volunteers: Kim Caldwell won the transportation portal with the additions of Janiah Barker, Nya Robertson and Jersey Wolfenbarger. Caldwell besides got the nation's second-best recruiting people (five top-100 players). And she has Talaysia Cooper, Zee Spearman and Ruby Whitehorn returning. The caller epoch of Lady Vols hoops continues strong.

Oklahoma Sooners: The Sooners held their ain successful their archetypal SEC season: a fourth-place decorativeness with 27 wide wins and their archetypal Sweet 16 quality successful 12 years. With a bully information of the roster returning and No. 3 enlistee Aaliyah Chavez stepping successful with her marque of playmaking, they could play adjacent faster than past season's nation-leading pace.

NC State Wolfpack: Wes Moore mislaid Saniya Rivers, Aziaha James and Madison Hayes to graduation, but this is not a rebuilding twelvemonth by immoderate stretch. Zoe Brooks and Zamareya Jones showed flashes of enactment past season, and rising sophomores should assistance equilibrium things successful the Wolfpack's quest to predominate the ACC.

Maryland Terrapins: Brenda Frese has the cheat codes to the transportation portal. She knows precisely however to triumph with a roster of players which has ne'er played together. Expect a agreed radical successful College Park erstwhile November comes with the incoming Yarden Garzon and Oluchi Okananwa complementing veterans Kaylene Smikle, Saylor Poffenbarger and a hopefully steadfast Bri McDaniel. -- ESPN staff

10 teams that could marque a jump

A leap meaning into the nationalist spotlight, into the apical tier of their league oregon onto the NCAA tourney bubble. Listed successful alphabetical order.

Georgia Lady Bulldogs: After 3 consecutive NCAA second-round losses from 2021 to 2023, Georgia has missed the tourney the past 2 years with a combined 25-37 record. Guard Dani Carnegie, the reigning ACC Sixth Player of the Year, transferred from Georgia Tech and could assistance the Lady Bulldogs beryllium much competitive.

Iowa State Cyclones: Ranked No. 8 successful past year's preseason poll, Iowa State struggled successful its marquee nonconference matchups and finished seventh successful the Big 12. The Cyclones inactive made it to the 2nd circular of the NCAA tournament, but it wasn't the play they wanted. Behind inferior station players Audi Crooks and Addy Brown, they anticipation for a amended 2025-2026.

Michigan Wolverines: The Wolverines person made the past 7 NCAA tournaments and got arsenic acold arsenic the Elite Eight successful 2022. Could they instrumentality to being a top-10 squad this season? They person the endowment with rising sophomores Olivia Olson, Syla Swords and Mila Holloway backmost arsenic starters, portion besides bringing successful transfers Kendall Dudley (UCLA) and Ashley Sofilkanich (Bucknell, Patriot League Player of the Year).

Missouri Tigers: Mizzou hasn't been to the NCAA tourney since Indiana Fever defender Sophie Cunningham led the Tigers to 4 consecutive appearances from 2016 to 2019. Under caller manager Kellie Harper, Missouri has a cleanable slate and its starring scorer, inferior defender Grace Slaughter, is back.

Ole Miss Rebels: This programme isn't looking for a breakthrough; the Rebels person made the NCAA tourney the past 4 years with 2 Sweet 16 appearances. This is astir making it to that adjacent level: the Elite Eight oregon Final Four. Coach Yolette McPhee-McCuin, who has capitalized connected transfers, has added 2 cardinal ones this play successful forwards Cotie McMahon (Ohio State) and Latasha Lattimore (Virginia).

Penn State Lady Lions: After finishing successful the cellar of the Big Ten astatine 1-17 past season, Penn State has obscurity to spell but up. Transfers Kiyomi McMiller and Maggie Mendelson could help: McMiller averaged 18.7 points arsenic a freshman astatine Rutgers and is looking for a caller commencement aft navigating a rocky narration with Scarlet Knights manager Coquese Washington. And Mendelson is simply a two-sport jock who transferred from Nebraska past twelvemonth and played for Penn State's nationalist title volleyball squad successful 2024. She volition adhd hoops to the premix this season.

Richmond Spiders: The Spiders person gone a combined 57-13 wide and 33-3 successful the Atlantic-10 during the past 2 seasons, earning the program's archetypal NCAA tourney triumph past play successful the 2nd of back-to-back appearances. With its apical 2 scorers Maggie Doogan and Rachel Ullstrom back, Richmond's archetypal Sweet 16 quality could beryllium successful the cards.

Stanford Cardinal: The programme contended with 2 important changes past season: longtime manager VanDerveer's status and joining the ACC. Under erstwhile adjunct turned caput manager Paye, the Cardinal went 16-15 and missed the NCAA tourney for the archetypal clip since 1987. But inferior guardant Nunu Agara, who led the squad successful scoring and rebounding past season, is backmost and should assistance Stanford look much similar Stanford again.

Virginia Cavaliers: The Cavs person made it to conscionable 1 of the past 14 NCAA tournaments: successful 2018, which is besides the past clip they had a winning ACC record. But manager Amaka Agugua-Hamilton has improved her grounds successful each of her archetypal 3 seasons astatine Virginia: from 15-15 successful 2022-23 to 16-16 successful 2023-24 to 17-15 past season. The Cavs are besides coming disconnected their champion ACC grounds (8-10) since 2019-20. A instrumentality to the NCAA tourney is wrong scope this season.

Washington Huskies: Last season's First Four nonaccomplishment to Columbia was the Huskies' archetypal NCAA tourney quality since 2017, erstwhile Los Angeles Sparks defender Kelsey Plum was a senior. It came successful Tina Langley's 4th play arsenic Washington's manager with the Huskies making the modulation to the Big Ten astatine 9-9. That's a batch of positives to physique on. -- Voepel

10 chaotic predictions

UConn goes undefeated for the seventh clip successful programme history. UConn was already slotted arsenic an aboriginal title favorite. But to spell undefeated? Only 1 team, South Carolina, has done that since 2016. The Huskies could look a learning curve since Bueckers has graduated, but with Strong, Fudd and a stacked transportation class, the Huskies are susceptible of moving the table. -- Philippou

The SEC makes up the full Final Four. It sounds beauteous chaotic to suggest that UConn mightiness not beryllium backmost to support its nationalist championship. But what if immoderate operation of South Carolina, LSU, Texas, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Ole Miss someway are dispersed retired successful the bracket and extremity up playing successful Phoenix for the title? It's possible. -- Voepel

Tennessee returns to the Final Four for the archetypal clip since 2008. Year 1 nether caller manager Caldwell resulted successful a Sweet 16 berth for the Lady Vols. But Year 2 could beryllium the existent breakthrough play successful Knoxville if Caldwell is capable to successfully blend (Talaysia Cooper, Zee Spearman, Ruby Whitehorn) with transfers Janiah Barker, Jersey Wolfenbarger and Nya Robertson, positive ESPN's second-ranked freshman class. -- Philippou

TCU makes the Elite Eight again. Mark Campbell has been a magician with his TCU rosters these past fewer years, culminating with the Horned Frogs' historical tally to the Elite Eight successful March. He mightiness person a fewer much tricks up his sleeve aft losing cardinal contributors Van Lith, Prince and Madison Conner to graduation. Reloading with the likes of Miles, Clara Silva and Marta Suarez should help. -- Philippou

Washington makes the Sweet 16 for the archetypal clip since 2017. The Huskies, who instrumentality their apical 2 scorers successful Elle Ladine and Sayvia Sellers, person the way to physique connected past season's First Four quality and marque a astonishment tally successful the tournament, bolstered by the transportation portal additions of Avery Howell from USC and Yulia Grabovskaia from Michigan. -- Philippou

Arizona, Arizona State and Grand Canyon each marque the NCAA tournament. The 32-3 Lopes made it into the NCAA tract for the archetypal clip past season, portion the 19-14 Wildcats and 10-22 Sun Devils missed it. All 3 programs person caller coaches. -- Voepel

Minnesota gets different NCAA tourney bid. The Gophers person made conscionable 2 NCAA tourney appearances since 2009: successful 2015 and 2018 nether erstwhile manager Marlene Stollings. They were 25-11 wide and 8-10 successful the Big Ten past season, winning the WBIT title. Dawn Plitzuweit volition look to physique connected the WBIT occurrence successful her 3rd play astatine Minnesota. -- Voepel

USC plummets retired of the apical 25. With truthful overmuch roster turnover -- Kiki Iriafen and Rayah Marshall are successful the WNBA, portion Avery Howell and Kayleigh Heckel transferred -- and uncertainty astir JuJu Watkins' return, the Trojans person a agelong mode to spell successful uncovering a caller individuality and mightiness stumble. They won't beryllium abbreviated of endowment with the accomplishment of Jazzy Davidson, but it's surely not the run anyone anticipated earlier that fateful time successful March. -- Philippou

South Carolina produces 3 All-Americans. Florida State transportation Latson volition beryllium dissimilar immoderate different defender Staley has had successful a agelong time, and Edwards and Kitts could beryllium acceptable to instrumentality large steps. Don't place an interaction a subordinate specified arsenic Tessa Johnson, who is poised to person a coagulated season, and Ashlyn Watkins, who returns from injury. South Carolina volition support winning, and 3 of those players could beryllium tabbed to All-America teams. -- Philippou

Hannah Hidalgo volition get a quadruple-double. The Notre Dame defender has averaged 23.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 4.2 steals implicit her archetypal 2 seasons. She could scope treble digits successful each 4 categories successful a crippled this season. She has the endowment and plays a batch of minutes, averaging 35.6 for her Irish career. -- Voepel

10 nonconference matchups to watch

California vs. Vanderbilt successful Paris connected Nov. 3: Vandy's rising sophomore defender Mikayla Blakes volition instrumentality halfway signifier astatine Oui Play successful France. She averaged 23.3 points past season, with 55- and 53-point performances. Cal's 25-9 grounds past play marked the Bears' astir victories since their Final Four run successful 2012-13, erstwhile they went 32-4.

Baylor vs. Duke successful Paris connected Nov. 3: Another Oui Play matchup. The Blue Devils were an Elite Eight squad past season, portion the Bears fell successful the 2nd round. This volition beryllium the programs' 2nd meeting, with the archetypal occurring during Brittney Griner's freshman play astatine Baylor, which bushed Duke successful the 2010 Elite Eight.

UConn vs. Louisville successful Germany connected Nov. 5: Former league rivals successful the aged Big East, the Huskies and Cardinals -- who person met doubly for the NCAA rubric (2009, 2013) -- look disconnected connected ESPN successful the Armed Forces Classic astatine Ramstein Air Base. It volition beryllium the archetypal clip a women's crippled has been included successful the Armed Forces Classic, which volition beryllium held for the 10th time.

Duke vs. South Carolina successful Las Vegas connected Nov. 26: The No. 2 effect Blue Devils gave the No. 1 effect Gamecocks a scare successful the Elite Eight past play earlier losing 54-50. Both teams volition beryllium successful the apical 10 to commencement this run and volition conscionable successful this Players Era Women's Championship matchup.

Texas vs. UCLA successful Las Vegas connected Nov. 26: National semifinalists past season, the Longhorns and Bruins volition besides vie successful the Players Era Women's Championship -- the tourney gives players and teams the accidental to gain astatine slightest $1 cardinal successful NIL opportunities.

Tennessee astatine UCLA connected Nov. 30: The teams precocious agreed to a home-and-home series, starting astatine Pauley Pavilion this season. The Lady Vols person an 18-3 bid borderline implicit the Bruins, but UCLA has won the past 2 meetings successful 2022 and 2019.

NC State astatine Oklahoma connected Dec. 3: These programs person ne'er met earlier but volition play for the archetypal clip successful the ACC/SEC Challenge. Both are expected to commencement the play arsenic top-10 teams.

LSU astatine Duke successful Germany connected Dec. 4: This is portion of the ACC/SEC Challenge and volition beryllium the sixth gathering betwixt the programs, which some made the Elite Eight past season. Duke won the past matchup successful the 2nd circular of the 2010 NCAA tournament.

Notre Dame astatine Ole Miss connected Dec. 4: Another ACC/SEC Challenge game. The programs' lone erstwhile gathering was a triumph by the Fighting Irish successful the 2nd circular of the 2024 NCAA tournament.

UConn vs. Tennessee, TBD: The Lady Vols bushed the Huskies successful February past play for the archetypal clip since 2007, winning 80-76 successful Knoxville. The bid was connected hiatus betwixt 2008 and 2019, but it was inactive a large triumph for Tennessee, which trails UConn 17-10 successful the series. -- Voepel

10 freshmen to watch

Jasmine Davidson, G, USC: The lanky 6-2 defender steps into a larger relation than expected pursuing JuJu Watkins' ACL wounded successful the NCAA tournament. A starter for the golden medal-winning USA U19 team, Davidson earned all-tournament second-team honors and acceptable a programme grounds for single-game ratio arsenic she averaged 14.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 3.0 steals and 1.4 blocks. Expect her to lend connected the perimeter connected some ends of the court.

Sienna Betts, F, UCLA: UCLA is acquainted with the past sanction Betts: Sienna's sister, Lauren, is the 6-7 All-American cornerstone successful Westwood. The younger Betts brings her ain awesome size, astatine 6-foot-4, and her unsocial benignant of play. She's much ascendant connected the artifact with a amended grip and face-up elements astatine this signifier of her career. She was besides portion of the golden medal-winning U19 USA World Cup squad and was named to the event's All-Star Five aft averaging 14.6 points, 10 rebounds and 2.1 blocks and shooting 59.7% from the field.

Aaliyah Chavez, PG, Oklahoma: Chavez specializes successful aboriginal offense, modulation scoring and long-range shooting -- each traits Oklahoma not lone values but encourages. Her heavy scope extends good beyond the arc, and she tin make her ain shot, arsenic her precocious schoolhouse scoring records and decorated elder play attest. With Oklahoma losing perimeter threats Nevaeh Tot and Lexy Keys to graduation, the No. 3 enlistee successful the people of 2025 is poised to assistance capable that void.

Emilee Skinner, PG, Duke: Skinner is the champion defender Duke manager Kara Lawson has gotten to Durham. Another golden medalist connected that stacked USA U19 team, Skinner's planetary acquisition spans aggregate competitions. She's a large defender who tin pb the amusement oregon descent implicit successful seamless manner to beryllium much assertive successful a scoring role.

Aaliyah Crump, G, Texas: A 3-and-D player, Crump has the versatility to play the helping oregon agelong guardant and sprout from heavy -- thing the Longhorns desperately need. Texas ranked 325th nationally successful made 3s (122) and 224th successful 3-point percent (30.1%) past season, a glaring weakness during its Final Four run. Crump could beryllium cardinal to addressing that gap.

Agot Makeer, W, South Carolina: Staley has South Carolina humming. The Gamecocks are coming disconnected their seventh Final Four and landed a brace of McDonald's All-Americans successful Makeer and chap signee Ayla McDowell. The 6-1 Makeer helped Canada to a fourth-place decorativeness astatine the U19 Women's World Cup, wherever she averaged 10.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2 assists. She'll beryllium different versatile perimeter threat, passer, shot handler and slasher for Staley to deploy.

Grace Knox, W, LSU: Knox has ample shoes to capable since Aneesah Morrow graduated and Sa'Myah Smith transferred to Virginia. But Knox is the prototypical powerfulness guardant Mulkey has developed successfully passim her career. She's highly progressive connected the glass. She's a strong, mobile defender who tin defender aggregate positions. Offensively, she has the accomplishment to agelong the defence beyond the arc.

Hailee Swain, PG, Stanford: Swain stands retired among a large, decorated Cardinal recruiting people that features 5 signees and 3 McDonald's All-Americans. She brings a level of endowment to the constituent defender presumption that Stanford hasn't had successful years, and she'll marque an contiguous interaction defensively. As she learns to orchestrate the endowment astir her connected offense, look for the Cardinal to get amended passim the season.

Mia Pauldo, PG, Tennessee: Pauldo is the catalyst of Tennessee's second-ranked recruiting people that consists of 5 top-60 players and 3 McDonald's All-Americans. Pauldo is simply a relentless constituent defender who brings changeless shot pressure, attacks disconnected the bounce and stretches defence with her heavy range. Don't fto her 5-5 framework fool you -- she'll interaction the level and marque her Lady Vols teammates better.

Brynn McGaughy, F, Washington: McGaughy could beryllium the subordinate who propels Washington beyond a First Four bid and into the NCAA tournament's archetypal round. McGaughy volition request clip to turn into the relation vacated by Dalayah Daniels, but the 6-2 guardant could beryllium acceptable to grip the work by league play. A coveted recruit, McGaughy was the astir businesslike subordinate successful the McDonald's All-American crippled with 17 points connected 8-of-10 shooting. -- Shane Laflin

10 transfers to watch

Ta'Niya Latson, G, South Carolina: Latson led the federation successful scoring past play astatine 25.2 points per crippled astatine Florida State -- astir doubly the mean of South Carolina's champion scorer (12.7 points). She is the astir productive defender Staley has ever recruited to Columbia; her violative popular volition support the Gamecocks astatine the apical of the SEC and nationalist title conversations.

Olivia Miles, G, TCU: An ACL wounded derailed her 2023-24 season, but Miles returned with a vengeance successful 2024-25, averaging a career-high 15.4 points and 15th-best 5.8 assists connected the mode to a 3rd Sweet 16 quality with Notre Dame. She moves to a caller strategy successful Fort Worth that should let her to support improving her already fantabulous ballhandling, scoring and modulation skills.

MiLaysia Fulwiley, G, LSU: A top-15 precocious schoolhouse enlistee successful 2023, Fulwiley was South Carolina's second-leading scorer past play contempt coming disconnected the seat each season. She moves to a imaginable starting spot with the rival Tigers successful Baton Rouge. Mulkey is getting a dynamic playmaker and scorer successful Fulwiley.

Cotie McMahon, F, Ole Miss: McMahon headlines an overhauled Rebels roster, arriving successful Oxford aft 3 seasons astatine Ohio State. She has the powerfulness and physicality to instrumentality connected the SEC gauntlet. She's besides improved her changeable from heavy (from 23% successful 2023-24 to 38.6% past season), truthful expect her to lend astatine some ends of the level for McPhee-McCuin.

Serah Williams, F, UConn: One of the champion players successful Wisconsin's programme past and a unanimous first-team All-Big Ten selection, Williams averaged 19.2 points, 9.8 rebounds and 2.4 blocks for the Badgers past season. She should supply cardinal seasoned acquisition and extent for the Huskies to marque a back-to-back rubric run.

Gianna Kneepkens, G, UCLA: Known for her efficiency, the 6-foot elder defender was an awesome 50.4% from the field, 44.8% from heavy and 89.0% from the escaped propulsion enactment past season. She besides hasn't changeable beneath 38.4% from 3 successful her assemblage vocation and should acceptable good with the Betts sisters and Kiki Rice arsenic UCLA tries to instrumentality to the Final Four.

Yarden Garzon, G, Maryland: The erstwhile Indiana Hoosier volition measurement into the void near by Shyanne Sellers astatine Maryland. Garzon is 1 of 2 seasoned newcomers for manager Frese and should beryllium important subordinate successful the Terps discourtesy with her ballhandling and 3-point shooting -- she leaves Indiana arsenic the Hoosiers' all-time 3-point makes leader. She could marque the second-highest scoring squad successful the Big Ten adjacent amended this season.

Janiah Barker, F, Tennessee: After 1 play astatine UCLA pursuing 2 astatine Texas A&M, Barker returns to the SEC acceptable to instrumentality connected Caldwell's up-and-down style. Barker volition lend cardinal powerfulness and physicality to the Lady Vols' frontcourt -- and plentifulness of 3-pointers, too.

Dani Carnegie, G, Georgia: The ACC's Sixth Player of the Year, Carnegie is relocating astir 70 miles eastbound to Athens aft a stellar freshman play astatine Georgia Tech (12.9 PPG, 33.8% 3FG). The Lady Bulldogs are successful rebuilding mode, and Carnegie could beryllium cardinal to them making immoderate sound successful the heavy SEC.

Oluchi Okananwa, G, Maryland: Despite her ne'er starting a crippled for the Blue Devils past season, Duke got arsenic acold arsenic it did acknowledgment to Okananwa and her stifling antiaircraft style. After earning ACC Tournament MVP honors and making an Elite Eight run, Okananwa helps presumption Frese's squad arsenic a top-15 squad entering 2025-26. -- ESPN staff

10 players with breakout potential

Hannah Stuelke, F, Iowa: The elder has been a large portion of the Hawkeyes since her freshman season, making 2 trips to the Final Four. She has averaged 10.9 points and 6.0 rebounds implicit her archetypal 3 seasons, but this play could beryllium her astir palmy yet individually. She is coming disconnected winning a golden medal with Team USA successful the AmeriCup contention successful Chile.

Jordan Lee, G, Texas: Part of the SEC's all-freshman squad past play averaging 6.2 points, she had 16 successful the nationalist semifinal nonaccomplishment to South Carolina. This summer, she was portion of the gold-winning U.S. squad astatine FIBA Women's U19 World Cup successful the Czech Republic.

Kate Koval, F, Notre Dame: A 6-5 autochthonal of Ukraine who went to precocious schoolhouse connected Long Island, New York, she spent her archetypal play astatine Notre Dame averaging 5.3 points and 4.7 rebounds portion being named to the ACC All-Freshman team. Even arsenic a sophomore astatine LSU, she volition beryllium 1 of the much experienced station players arsenic astir of the Tigers' veterans are guards.

Nunu Agara, F, Stanford: In a play of change, Agara was the brightest spot for the Cardinal. A erstwhile precocious schoolhouse teammate of Paige Bueckers successful Hopkins, Minnesota, Agara averaged 15.8 points and 7.6 rebounds for Stanford and was named to the second-team All-ACC. Expect adjacent much from her arsenic a junior.

Sahara Williams, F, Oklahoma: She averaged 10.5 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists successful her archetypal 2 seasons with the Sooners. This summer, she played for Team USA successful the FIBA 3x3 World Cup successful Mongolia. Look for Williams to asseverate herself adjacent much this season.

Sira Thienou, G, Ole Miss Rebels: A autochthonal of Mali who played 2 precocious schoolhouse seasons successful Virginia, Thienou averaged 10.5 points and 4.7 rebounds and was apical 5 successful the SEC successful steals (2.4 SPG). She started 22 games for the 22-11 Rebels and was connected the conference's all-freshman team. She's speedy and agelong astatine 6-1, which helps her defense.

S'Mya Nichols, G, Kansas: An All-Big 12 enactment past season, Nichols was 5th successful the league successful scoring (18.6 points) and averaged 4.7 assists. The Jayhawks made the 2nd circular of the NCAA tourney her freshman season, but were 16-14 past play and didn't marque the field. If KU fares better, Nichols volition get much announcement nationally.

Syla Swords, G, Michigan: A cardinal portion of the Wolverines' beardown freshmen people past season, Swords is simply a autochthonal of Canada who played precocious schoolhouse hoops astatine Long Island Lutheran with LSU's Kate Koval. This summer, Swords has been engaged with Team Canada: She made the winning layup successful treble overtime of the AmeriCup bronze medal crippled against Australia and helped Canada to a fourth-place decorativeness astatine the FIBA U19 World Cup.

Tajianna Roberts, G, Louisville: She started each crippled for the 22-11 Cardinals, averaging 12.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists. Roberts was named 2nd squad All-ACC and the conference's all-freshman team.

Tilda Trygger, F, NC State Wolfpack: The 6-6 autochthonal of Sweden was connected the ACC's all-freshman squad past year, averaging 6.9 points and 5.0 rebounds. She started successful the Wolfpack's past 23 games. She had highs of 19 points and 14 rebounds arsenic a freshman, and her imaginable is vast. -- Voepel

10 All-America candidates

Lauren Betts, C, UCLA: Betts returns to Westwood for her elder play to play alongside her sister, Sienna, and physique connected a breakthrough run that ended successful a Big Ten tourney rubric and a Final Four appearance. She is coming disconnected Naismith DPOY, WBCA DPOY, Big Ten DPOY and Big Ten Tournament MOP performances. Betts was besides named to archetypal teams for the AP All-America and All-Big Ten and won the Lisa Leslie Award aft averaging 20.2 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.9 blocks connected 64.8% shooting from the field.

Sarah Strong, F, UConn: Strong, the No. 1 enlistee successful the 2024 class, enters this play arsenic the look of the reigning champions. Earning nationalist and Big East Freshman of the Year honors, Strong scored successful treble figures successful each but 3 games past season, signaling a double-double against South Carolina successful the nationalist rubric game. Anyone who draws comparisons to Maya Moore and Breanna Stewart is simply a mandatory inclusion connected this list.

Azzi Fudd, G, UConn: Auriemma's run for a repetition title starts with Fudd, who made rather the connection successful her archetypal afloat steadfast play successful Storrs. She averaged 13.6 points and changeable a whopping 43.6% from 3 successful 34 games en way to winning the rubric and nabbing the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player honors. As agelong arsenic she stays healthy, it's hard to discount her successful the subordinate of the twelvemonth and All-America conversations.

Hannah Hidalgo, G, Notre Dame: The reigning ACC Player of the Year is conscionable the 2nd assemblage subordinate implicit the past 25 years to people 1,500 points and crockery retired much than 300 assists done her archetypal 2 seasons. The first? Caitlin Clark. Her numbers dipped arsenic a sophomore due to the fact that of the instrumentality of Olivia Miles, but with Miles gone, expect Hidalgo's output to rise. She was named to the FIBA Women's AmeriCup All-Star Five aft helping Team USA triumph a golden medal with 12.4 PPG and a team-best 22 steals this offseason.

Flau'jae Johnson, G, LSU: Johnson has been a consistent, coagulated beingness for Mulkey's Tigers and took a monolithic measurement guardant past play with vocation highs successful scoring (18.4 points per game, 2nd highest connected the team), 3-point shooting percent (38.3%), made 3-pointers (49) and escaped propulsion percent (81.0%). She could person gone to the WNBA but returns acceptable to pursuit a 2nd nationalist championship.

Ta'Niya Latson, G, South Carolina: The NCAA's starring scorer past play volition play for 1 of the game's champion coaches. A three-time first-time All-ACC and second-team AP All-American, Latson should lone adhd much honors successful the SEC.

Joyce Edwards, F, South Carolina: Edwards carried a batch of work arsenic a freshman past play successful Columbia, and stepped up admirably, contempt the rubric crippled nonaccomplishment to UConn. She was the Gamecocks' starring scorer disconnected the seat contempt ne'er making a 3-pointer. Named to the All-SEC first-team, she's got a afloat twelvemonth of acquisition nether her loop and a accidental to further beryllium herself arsenic a starter for Staley.

Olivia Miles, G, TCU: Miles could person go the No. 2 prime successful the WNBA draught 3 months ago; instead, she's returned for different play and volition play for a antithetic manager successful a antithetic conference. Can she support growing? The two-time second-team AP All-American should marque the adjacent level.

Madison Booker, F, Texas: Booker has been a accordant beingness connected contender lists for years. She was co-Big 12 Player of the Year and a second-team AP All-American arsenic a freshman. As a sophomore, she was the SEC Player of the Year successful Texas' archetypal play successful the league and earned AP All-America honors. She besides co-powered the Longhorns to their archetypal Final Four since 2003.

Mikayla Blakes, G, Vanderbilt: Blakes broke the NCAA grounds for astir points scored successful a crippled by a freshman successful Division I history, antecedently held by Elena Delle Donne, successful January -- and past surpassed herself successful February. She was named the Tamika Catchings Freshman of the Year and SEC Freshman of the Year. This summer, she powered Team USA to the FIBA Women's AmeriCup golden medal and was named the tournament's MVP. -- ESPN staff

10 coaches astatine caller programs

Kellie Harper, Missouri: Harper played for Pat Summitt earlier coaching Tennessee to 2 Sweet 16s -- and was inactive fired. That's however precocious the expectations are successful Knoxville. Missouri won't expect arsenic overmuch instantly from Harper: The Tigers haven't been to the NCAA tourney since 2019 nor reached the Sweet 16 since 2001. Simply contending for a bid volition beryllium advancement for a programme that finished 13th successful the SEC past season.

Adia Barnes, SMU: After a middling archetypal play with Arizona successful the Big 12, Barnes moves connected to pb the squad that finished astatine the bottommost of the ACC standings successful its archetypal play successful a caller conference. She is accustomed to winning: She finished with a 169-114 grounds successful 9 years astatine Arizona with 4 consecutive NCAA tourney appearances, advancing to the 2021 rubric game. Anything she accomplishes volition beryllium a measurement up for the Mustangs successful Year 2 of their ACC era.

Becky Burke, Arizona: Burke arrives successful Tucson aft 3 seasons astatine Buffalo, wherever she won a program-record 30 games and led the Bulls to the 2025 WNIT title. She besides played connected Louisville's 2009 squad that reached the nationalist title game. Arizona is looking to Burke to amended connected the 19-14 grounds (10-8 successful league play) from its archetypal play successful the Big 12 and beforehand beyond the 2nd play for the archetypal clip since reaching the rubric crippled successful 2021.

Karen Blair, Georgia Tech: The erstwhile Maryland subordinate caput manager has elephantine shoes to capable aft Nell Fortner retired with 272 victories successful 15 seasons arsenic a assemblage caput coach. Georgia Tech mislaid 1 of its much impactful players from past play with Dani Carnegie transferring to Georgia, but Blair knows however to win: She was portion of 3 Big Ten title campaigns nether Terps caput manager Brenda Frese.

Raina Harmon, Florida Gulf Coast: The erstwhile Iowa adjunct is bringing her 8 years of acquisition with the Hawkeyes -- helping them to a 208-63 record, a combined 5 Big Ten titles, 8 consecutive NCAA tourney appearances and back-to-back rubric games -- to the Nest. And expectations are high: Her predecessor, Chelsea Lyles, coached the Eagles to a 30-3 grounds (18-0 successful the Atlantic Sun), a league rubric and NCAA tourney bid successful her lone play astatine the helm.

Matthew Mitchell, Houston: Part of the Pat Summitt coaching tree, Mitchell is coming retired of status aft 5 seasons to instrumentality implicit astatine Houston. He past served arsenic caput manager astatine Kentucky from 2007 to 2020, starring the Wildcats to 303 wins, 9 NCAA tourney appearances, 3 Elite Eights and 5 Sweet 16s earlier a caput wounded prompted him to retire astatine the commencement of the 2020-21 season. The Cougars privation to physique connected his erstwhile occurrence to instrumentality to the NCAA tourney for the archetypal clip since 2011.

Molly Miller, Arizona State: Miller was a shoo-in erstwhile this occupation opened, having led Grand Canyon to its archetypal NCAA tourney quality past play acknowledgment to a 30-game winning streak. With her occurrence astatine GCU and Division II Drury earlier that, she volition effort to revitalize Arizona State, which finished 2nd to past successful its archetypal play successful the Big 12 astatine 10-22 (3-15 successful conference) and is looking for its archetypal NCAA tourney invitation since 2019.

Larry Vickers, Auburn: Vickers led Norfolk State to consecutive MEAC championships and NCAA tourney appearances implicit the past 3 seasons. Meanwhile, Auburn past saw the archetypal play of the Big Dance successful 2019 (it didn't marque it retired of the First Four successful 2024) and wants to bash amended than its 3-13 SEC grounds (12-18 overall) to start.

Winston Gandy, Grand Canyon: The Lopes were looking for idiosyncratic who could travel adjacent to matching the occurrence of erstwhile manager Molly Miller. And who amended than idiosyncratic from South Carolina -- a programme utilized to winning a lot? Gandy was an adjunct nether Dawn Staley, including during the 2024 title season, and has plentifulness of different high-major coaching experiences to bring to this program.

Kelsi Musick, Arkansas: Musick arrives astatine Arkansas aft starring Oral Roberts to back-to-back postseason appearances, making past past twelvemonth with the program's archetypal 20-win play since 2011-12. She should beryllium a boost for the Razorbacks, who are looking to beryllium much competitory successful a loaded SEC and instrumentality to the Big Dance for the archetypal clip since 2022. -- ESPN staff

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