Women’s college basketball preseason Top 25 team outlooks

After a season of massive television ratings and attendance records, women’s college basketball will have a much different look in 2024-25. Gone are two of the sport’s biggest stars – Caitlin Clark of Iowa and Angel Reese of LSU.

But there will be new faces and some familiar faces who become stars, as well as several teams looking to dethrone South Carolina.

Here is USA TODAY Sports’ annual outlook for the Top 25 teams in the preseason women’s college basketball coaches poll.

1.   South Carolina (38-0)

Points: 770 (27 first-place votes). Last year’s final ranking: 1

The question for the Gamecocks is who will be the next dominant post player? Freshman Joyce Edwards could be the one. But South Carolina has plenty of firepower to make another national title run with MiLaysia Fulwiley, Te-Hina Paopao and Tessa Johnson back in the mix. Dawn Staley’s steady hand will eliminate any signs of complacency to ensure her team is there at the end.

2.  Connecticut (33-6)

Points: 734 (3 first-place votes). Last year’s final ranking: 3.

It’s hard to believe, but UConn hasn’t won a national championship since Breanna Stewart left Storrs in 2016. Most of that has to do with significant injuries, but Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd are healthy, and the team has sufficient depth that was missing in previous years, including KK Arnold and Kaitlyn Chen, a Princeton transfer and 2023 Ivy League player of the year.

3. Southern California (29-6)

Points: 716 (1 first-place vote). Last year’s final ranking: 6.

It’s all about Juju Watkins. But the Trojans are absolutely loaded with Stanford transfer Kiki Iriafen and returning center Rayah Marshall there to help take the pressure off Watkins, who averaged 27.1 points per game as a freshman. Coach Lindsay Gottlieb brought in a talented recruiting class, and anything outside a Final Four appearance would be a major disappointment for the women of Troy.

JuJu Watkins (12) of the USC Trojans drives towards the basket past Talana Lepolo (10) of the…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/womens-college-basketball-preseason-top-161006518.html

Author : USA TODAY Sports

Publish date : 2024-10-24 16:10:00

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