UCLA hype, USC uncertainty, UConn's quest for a repeat: The women's basketball Way-Too-Early Top 25

Change and uncertainty were the themes of assemblage basketball's past offseason. But aft a question of realignment, conferences settled and acquainted faces successful antithetic places produced a thrilling season. Four teams reached the No. 1 ranking successful the AP poll. UCLA precocious to its archetypal Final Four successful the NCAA era. Texas returned determination for the archetypal clip since 2003. TCU had its champion play ever, and the nationalist subordinate of the twelvemonth contention featured aggregate front-runners earlier USC's JuJu Watkins swept the bulk of awards.

But present we're backmost to much uncertainty arsenic the offseason arrives. As usual, the transportation portal looms. Some of the biggest names successful the sport, including Olivia Miles and Ta'Niya Latson, could perchance displacement the equilibrium of powerfulness successful adjacent season's title contention depending connected wherever they play adjacent season.

And not lone did Watkins' ACL wounded successful the 2nd circular of the NCAA tourney change however March Madness mightiness person played out, it besides casts a shadiness implicit 2025-26.

So overmuch is yet to beryllium determined. And ESPN's archetypal women's assemblage hoops Way-Too-Early Top for 2025-26 volition displacement arsenic rosters change. But arsenic the 2025 title trophy is raised, we are taking a snapshot of wherever teams volition beryllium erstwhile adjacent play tips off.

1. UCLA Bruins

The full rotation but for Janiah Barker and Angela Dugalic is expected backmost for the Bruins. That astir notably includes 6-foot-7 Lauren Betts, who volition beryllium connected each preseason subordinate of the twelvemonth list, and Kiki Rice, who volition beryllium among the country's champion constituent guards. Betts volition besides beryllium playing with her sister, 6-4 Sienna Betts, who is the No. 2 enlistee successful the country, according to HoopGurlz. Charlisse Leger-Walker, who missed this play with a genu injury, volition beryllium back. Add her to a backcourt that includes Gabriela Jaquez, Londynn Jones and Elina Aarnisalo, positive Timea Gardiner connected the wing, and Cori Close volition erstwhile again person the prima powerfulness and extent to get UCLA to the Final Four.

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Gabriela Jaquez knocks down a immense 3 for UCLA

Gabriela Jaquez makes a immense 3-pointer to widen UCLA's pb precocious against LSU.

2. South Carolina Gamecocks

An abundance of enactment departs Columbia, but plentifulness of endowment remains. Joyce Edwards and MiLaysia Fulwiley were the Gamecocks' starring scorers disconnected the seat and should beryllium starters adjacent season. Chloe Kitts emerged arsenic South Carolina's champion subordinate precocious successful the campaign. She and Tessa Johnson could beryllium acceptable for seasonlong breakouts. A steadfast Ashlyn Watkins and Maddy McDaniel taking implicit astatine the constituent volition beryllium keys to the Gamecocks reaching a sixth consecutive Final Four.

3. UConn Huskies

The Paige Bueckers epoch is over. That overlapped with the Sarah Strong era, which helped get the Huskies a 12th nationalist title. Getting to a 25th Final Four adjacent play seems similar a bully bet. The Huskies volition inactive person 2 of the nation's champion players successful Strong, the highest scoring freshman for UConn since Maya Moore, and Azzi Fudd. KK Arnold and Ashlynn Shade should besides beryllium acceptable for bigger roles. If Jana El Alfy and Ice Brady proceed to develop, Strong volition person plentifulness of assistance inside. With nary top-20 recruits connected the way, expect the Huskies to find reinforcements successful the portal.

4. Texas Longhorns

Having Madison Booker backmost is simply a large spot to commencement successful the quest for a instrumentality travel to the Final Four. If Rori Harmon stays for a 5th twelvemonth successful Austin, the Longhorns mightiness person the champion backcourt successful the country. Turning the constituent defender spot implicit to the speedy Bryanna Preston would beryllium a coagulated backup plan. If Aaliyah Moore and Laila Phelia are backmost from injuries, Vic Schaefer volition person immoderate lineup flexibility arsenic well.

5. Duke Blue Devils

In the past 3 seasons, Duke went to the 2nd circular of the NCAA tournament, past the determination semis and this twelvemonth to the Elite Eight. Next year, Kara Lawson is bringing backmost capable endowment to instrumentality her squad each the mode to the Final Four. The Blue Devils are expected to person 4 starters back, positive ACC freshman of the twelvemonth Toby Fournier and ACC tourney MVP Oluchi Okananwa.

6. LSU Tigers

No manager has had much occurrence with the transportation portal than Kim Mulkey, truthful expect a large determination oregon 2 for the Tigers this offseason. Now that Flau'Jae Johnson has decided to instrumentality to Baton Rouge, she and Mikaylah Williams volition erstwhile again signifier a dynamic operation connected the wing. Losing Sa'Myah Smith successful the portal hurts, but Mulkey is besides bringing successful 4 players ranked successful the apical 30 of the HoopGurlz recruiting rankings. Talent won't beryllium an contented adjacent play for LSU.

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Flau'Jae Johnson drops Kiki Rice with saccharine behind-the-back move

Flau'Jae Johnson gets a steal, crosses up Kiki Rice, past makes a bucket for LSU.

7. Oklahoma Sooners

Landing the nation's apical recruit, Aaliyah Chavez, was a immense triumph for the program. What mightiness beryllium much important is that Jennie Baranczyk besides expects to instrumentality her apical 3 scorers from past play successful Raegan Beers, Payton Verhulst and Sahara Williams, positive breathtaking freshman Zya Vann. The Sooners led the state successful gait this play and mightiness play adjacent faster adjacent year.

8. Tennessee Lady Volunteers

Despite conscionable a .500 SEC record, a triumph implicit UConn and a Sweet 16 quality marque Kim Caldwell's debut play arsenic manager a monolithic success. It appears overmuch of her halfway volition return, led by Talaysia Cooper, Zee Spearman and Ruby Whitehorn. Caldwell besides landed a highly regarded recruiting people led by No. 11-ranked Mia Pauldo from New Jersey. Mia volition beryllium joined by duplicate sister Mya, No. 56 connected the HoopGurlz list.

9. Baylor Bears

Nikki Collen inactive has immoderate enactment to bash to regenerate 3 starters and Big 12 Sixth Player of the Year Yaya Felder, but she has already made 1 of the biggest aboriginal portal additions successful Taliah Scott from Auburn. If Scott is healthy, she's the scorer Baylor needs to play with Darianna Littlepage-Buggs and Bella Fontleroy.

10. NC State Wolfpack

The Aziaha James/Saniya Rivers/Madison Hayes epoch has ended, but the NCAA tourney provided a glimpse of what a backcourt of Zoe Brooks and Zamareya Jones tin be. The further improvement of Tilda Trygger and Lorena Awou wrong volition beryllium key.

11. Vanderbilt Commodores

Assuming determination are nary changes coming aboriginal successful the transportation portal window, Shea Ralph volition instrumentality 1 of the astir productive trios successful the country. Mikayla Blakes led each freshman scorers. She and Khamil Pierre were the highest-scoring duo successful the country. Iyana Moore besides averaged treble figures and was astatine her champion successful the Commodores' biggest games.

12. USC Trojans

The presumption of JuJu Watkins for adjacent play volition plaything USC's ranking. If she is steadfast to commencement the season, oregon adjacent backmost connected the tribunal by January, the Trojans tin vie adjacent the apical of the Big Ten and play heavy into March. If she sits retired for the full season, USC volition person to get large seasons from sophomore-to-be Kennedy Smith and incoming freshman Jasmine Davidson (No. 3 enlistee successful HoopGurlz rankings). The losses of Avery Howell and Kayleigh Heckel are a setback.

13. Iowa State Cyclones

In 2 years, Audi Crooks has scored astir 1,500 points. She is the cornerstone of the programme on with Addy Brown. Bill Fennelly besides acted rapidly to regenerate seasoned constituent defender Emily Ryan by landing Arizona transportation Jada Williams. Her agility could adhd different magnitude to the Cyclones' offense.

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Audi Crooks, Addy Brown assistance Iowa State past Princeton into Round of 64

Audi Crooks and Addy Brown harvester for 49 points arsenic Iowa State beats Princeton to gain a matchup with Michigan successful the NCAA tournament.

14. North Carolina Tar Heels

The unit losses for Courtney Banghart are important with Alyssa Ustby, Maria Gakdeng and Lexi Donarski each departing. But Reniya Kelly is inactive successful Chapel Hill to pb a radical of young players -- Lanie Grant, Ciera Toomey and Blanca Thomas -- who got a sensation of ACC play this twelvemonth and volition beryllium asked to bash overmuch much adjacent season.

15. Louisville Cardinals

Jeff Walz volition person to regenerate 3 of his apical 4 scorers, but the 1 coming backmost is freshman Tajianna Roberts, who has prima potential. The maturation of Roberts' teammates Imari Berry and Mackenly Randolph volition beryllium cardinal for the Cardinals. So volition Walz's quality to marque a splash via the portal.

16. Michigan Wolverines

Kim Barnes Arico won't beryllium capable to regenerate the acquisition of Jordan Hobbs, but otherwise, she built her Wolverines astir freshmen. Olivia Olson, Syla Swords and Mila Holloway grew up accelerated and helped Michigan to 23 wins and a No. 6 NCAA tourney seed.

17. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

With graduations and a rash of unexpected portal departures, Niele Ivey has important roster spots to fill. But she inactive has Hannah Hidalgo. Adding a mates of reinforcements to play with her prima would assistance Ivey get her Irish backmost adjacent the apical 10.

18. Iowa Hawkeyes

The graduation of Lucy Olsen and the portal defection of Aaliyah Guyton leaves a large spread astatine constituent guard, but if manager Jan Jensen tin find replacements, they volition bask passing to Hannah Stuelke and 6-4 Ava Heiden, who blossomed astatine the extremity of the play and could beryllium acceptable for a large leap arsenic a sophomore.

19. Michigan State Spartans

Grace VanSlooten acceptable close successful with the Spartans aft her transportation from Oregon, and she volition beryllium joined backmost successful East Lansing adjacent twelvemonth by Theryn Hallock and Jocelyn Tate. That gives Robyn Fralick 3 of her apical 4 scorers backmost to physique around.

20. Richmond Spiders

The excitement of the program's archetypal NCAA tourney triumph doesn't person to stop. Atlantic 10 subordinate of the twelvemonth Maggie Doogan, who torched Georgia Tech and UCLA for a full of 57 points successful 2 NCAA tourney games, and All-Atlantic 10 first-teamer Rachel Ullstrom are some expected backmost for 1 much tally with manager Aaron Roussell.

21. Maryland Terrapins

The cardinal for the Terps volition beryllium the steadfast instrumentality of Bri McDaniel, who went down with a genu wounded 17 games into this season. McDaniel and Kaylene Smikle would signifier an experienced backcourt, supplemented by veterans Saylor Poffenbarger and Christina Dalce. With Brenda Frese's palmy past successful the portal, expect much transportation endowment successful College Park adjacent season, too.

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Maryland beats Alabama successful double-overtime thriller

Sarah Ashlee Barker scores 45 points for Alabama, but Maryland holds connected to triumph successful treble overtime.

22. Oklahoma State Cowgirls

Jacie Hoyt should beryllium capable to physique connected this year's astonishing occurrence with starring scorers Stailee Heard and Micah Gray expected backmost and the Cowgirls already adding defender Amari Whiting from BYU and Haleigh Timmer from South Dakota State via the portal.

23. Princeton Tigers

The instrumentality of Madison St. Rose from the genu wounded that outgo her astir of this play to articulation Skye Belker and Ashley Chea successful the backcourt volition enactment the Tigers backmost successful the acquainted spot of favorites to triumph the Ivy League.

24. Washington Huskies

With programme foundations Elle Ladine, Sayvia Sellers and Hannah Stines expected to return, Tina Langley should person the Huskies successful the NCAA tourney for a 2nd consecutive twelvemonth and much safely successful than a First Four game.

25. Ohio State Buckeyes

Cotie McMahon jumping into the transportation portal hurts, but Jaloni Cambridge and Kennedy Cambridge, arsenic good arsenic Chance Gray, springiness Kevin McGuff thing to physique upon. He besides has a past of adding endowment successful the portal.

Also considered: Ole Miss Rebels, Kentucky Wildcats, Minnesota Golden Gophers