UConn: Title Defense Hinges on Replacing Paige Bueckers and Talented Freshmen
The Huskies' quest for their 13th national title is expected to be fueled by a deep and versatile frontcourt, led by highly productive sophomore Sarah Strong. The 6-foot-2 forward is quietly dominant, averaging 16.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game last season. Pairing Strong with other talented freshmen like Serah Williams, Jana El Alfie, Ice Brady, and Blanca Quiñonez could make this the most well-rounded team UConn has had in recent memory.
However, replacing Paige Bueckers, the top draft pick and Rookie of the Year this past WNBA season, will be a significant challenge. The Huskies' success is heavily reliant on Strong's emergence as a player, and the team will need to adapt quickly if they want to contend for another championship.
Other Top Contending Teams
USC: A Talented but Inexperienced Team Without JuJu Watkins
The Trojans have lost their star player, JuJu Watkins, who suffered an ACL injury in the NCAA tournament. Kennedy Smith's sophomore leap and top-rated recruit Jazzy Davidson could propel USC to a top-15 team, while transfers Kara Dunn and Londynn Jones will play key roles.
LSU: Freshmen Flau'Jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams Give the Bats a High-Octane Offense
The Bats are looking to capitalize on their high-powered offense with Flau'Jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams leading the charge. With a strong supporting cast, LSU could be a force in the SEC.
Texas: Bookers to Lead the Longhorns
Junior forward Madison Booker is expected to repeat as the SEC player of the year. The Bruins have a challenging non-conference schedule but retain most of their core from last season, making them a contender for the national title.
TCU: Transfer Talent Fuels Horned Frogs' Rebuilding
The Horned Frogs are coming off their best-ever season and will look to capitalize on transfer talent led by Olivia Miles. With a new coach in Mark Campbell, TCU is projected to be the Big 12 preseason favorite but faces stiff competition from Baylor, Iowa State, Oklahoma State, and West Virginia.
Duke: The Blue Devils' Next Step Under Kara Lawson
Coach Kara Lawson has built a talented team under her guidance, with standout players like Toby Fournier and Emilee Skinner. If veterans like Ashlon Jackson can produce enough offense, Duke could break through to its first Final Four since 2006.
Notre Dame: Hidalgo's Rise Could Be the Key to a Better Finish
Junior guard Alee Hidalgo is expected to win her second straight ACC player of the year award and lead Notre Dame to better finishes in conference play. The Irish have made significant strides under new coach Kate Paye, but still face stiff competition from Duke, NC State, North Carolina, Louisville, and Virginia.
Big Ten Dominance
The Big Ten is projected to produce the most NCAA tournament bids this season, with seven teams seeded No. 6 or lower. This trend could be a sign of the conference's growing strength, with UCLA being the only national title contender from the conference.
The Huskies' quest for their 13th national title is expected to be fueled by a deep and versatile frontcourt, led by highly productive sophomore Sarah Strong. The 6-foot-2 forward is quietly dominant, averaging 16.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game last season. Pairing Strong with other talented freshmen like Serah Williams, Jana El Alfie, Ice Brady, and Blanca Quiñonez could make this the most well-rounded team UConn has had in recent memory.
However, replacing Paige Bueckers, the top draft pick and Rookie of the Year this past WNBA season, will be a significant challenge. The Huskies' success is heavily reliant on Strong's emergence as a player, and the team will need to adapt quickly if they want to contend for another championship.
Other Top Contending Teams
USC: A Talented but Inexperienced Team Without JuJu Watkins
The Trojans have lost their star player, JuJu Watkins, who suffered an ACL injury in the NCAA tournament. Kennedy Smith's sophomore leap and top-rated recruit Jazzy Davidson could propel USC to a top-15 team, while transfers Kara Dunn and Londynn Jones will play key roles.
LSU: Freshmen Flau'Jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams Give the Bats a High-Octane Offense
The Bats are looking to capitalize on their high-powered offense with Flau'Jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams leading the charge. With a strong supporting cast, LSU could be a force in the SEC.
Texas: Bookers to Lead the Longhorns
Junior forward Madison Booker is expected to repeat as the SEC player of the year. The Bruins have a challenging non-conference schedule but retain most of their core from last season, making them a contender for the national title.
TCU: Transfer Talent Fuels Horned Frogs' Rebuilding
The Horned Frogs are coming off their best-ever season and will look to capitalize on transfer talent led by Olivia Miles. With a new coach in Mark Campbell, TCU is projected to be the Big 12 preseason favorite but faces stiff competition from Baylor, Iowa State, Oklahoma State, and West Virginia.
Duke: The Blue Devils' Next Step Under Kara Lawson
Coach Kara Lawson has built a talented team under her guidance, with standout players like Toby Fournier and Emilee Skinner. If veterans like Ashlon Jackson can produce enough offense, Duke could break through to its first Final Four since 2006.
Notre Dame: Hidalgo's Rise Could Be the Key to a Better Finish
Junior guard Alee Hidalgo is expected to win her second straight ACC player of the year award and lead Notre Dame to better finishes in conference play. The Irish have made significant strides under new coach Kate Paye, but still face stiff competition from Duke, NC State, North Carolina, Louisville, and Virginia.
Big Ten Dominance
The Big Ten is projected to produce the most NCAA tournament bids this season, with seven teams seeded No. 6 or lower. This trend could be a sign of the conference's growing strength, with UCLA being the only national title contender from the conference.
! They've got Sarah Strong leading the charge and if they can get their freshies to gel, I think they'll be unstoppable 
. Paige Bueckers might not be on the team anymore, but I'm sure she's gonna do great things in the WNBA 
. USc is looking good too with Kennedy Smith & Jazzy Davidson, and LSU's offense is going to blow some teams away 
!
meanwhile, LSU's just hoping flau'jae johnson and mikaylah wills don't get too bored with all that hype 
That's gotta hurt their momentum. But Kennedy Smith and Jazzy Davidson could still lead them to some wins. Overall, it's gonna be a wild ride in women's basketball this year! 
And don't even get me started on Paige Bueckers' legacy - she's still a huge part of the team's DNA 
. Can't wait to see how it all plays out this season 
. And Texas? Bookers is gonna lead that Longhorns team all the way to the title 
meanwhile other teams are just tryin to find their groove too, like USC losin juju watkins... 
. It's gonna be a wild ride in the NCAA this year, can't wait to see how it all plays out! 
️. But if they don't adapt quick, they'll be left in the dust 
USC & LSU seem like solid contenders too. how bout texas with madison booker leading the charge? 
& ctc is rebuilding w/ transfer talent, wish 'em luck 
. On the flip side, USC has some promising young talent coming in, so that's cool 
theyre rly counting on sarah strong to take over but im not sure if she can carry the team to another championship 
Paige Bueckers was literally the reason why they won last year and now they're expecting Sarah Strong to carry them to another championship? I don't think so 
.
. What do you guys think? Should we expect the Huskies to make it far in the tournament or are they gonna crumble under pressure 
UConn needs to bring in some new faces ASAP 
but can they keep it up without her? 
or risk getting left behind 
Sarah Strong is looking fire 
