Big 12 women’s basketball power rankings: Can TCU, Hailey Van Lith make a run in 2024-25?

The Big 12 enters the 2024-25 women’s college basketball season as one of the most stacked conferences in the country. It boasts strong returning programs such as Kansas State and Iowa State, but newcomers such as Colorado and Utah are also looking to make some noise.

With the season tipping off Monday, it’s time to bring back the power rankings. Here are the initial rankings:

More: USA Today Sports Network preseason All-Big 12 women’s basketball, awards for 2024-25

Kansas State center Ayoka Lee (50) shakes hands with teammates after making a basket against West Virginia during the 2024 Big 12 tournament at T-Mobile Center.

This week: vs. Green Bay (Monday); vs. Belmont (Thursday)

What to know: The star of the show is Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year Ayoka Lee, a 6-foot-6 graduate center who dominates on both ends of the floor. Kansas State also returns four of its top five scorers in addition to Tulsa transfer forward Temira Poindexter, who earned American Athletic Conference Player of the Year honors last season by averaging 21 points per game. There aren’t many holes to poke in Kansas State’s game, making it the team to beat in the Big 12.

This week: vs. Chicago State (Monday); vs. Indiana State (Thursday); vs. Southern (Sunday)

What to know: Audi Crooks is a bruising center who rose to stardom as a freshman in last season’s NCAA Tournament. The Cyclones will feed her often down low, but they also have some shooting with Marquette transfer Mackenzie Hare and Oregon State transfer Lily Hansford now in the mix. Expectations are high for Iowa State.

This week: vs. Incarnate Word (Thursday); at Oregon (Sunday)

What to know: The loss of lead scorer Dre’Una Edwards is big, but Baylor returns two double-digit scorers in Sarah Andrews and Darianna Littlepage-Buggs. It also added some paint presence with Colorado transfer Aaronette Vonleh, a 6-3 center who averaged 14 points and 5.1 rebounds last season. Kansas State and Iowa State might be the frontrunners in the Big 12, but…

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Author : The Oklahoman

Publish date : 2024-10-31 10:31:00

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