Ladies’s NCAA basketball megapreview, predictions for 2025-26

The Highway to Phoenix and the ladies’s Ultimate 4 begins Monday, when the 2025-26 ladies’s faculty basketball season opens.

Reigning NCAA champion UConn returns as the favourite, however some new names will likely be vying for nationwide participant of the 12 months. UConn’s Paige Bueckers has moved on to the WNBA, and USC’s JuJu Watkins will sit out this season after a knee harm prematurely ended her NCAA match run in March.

Of their stead, Huskies teammates Sarah Robust and Azzi Fudd will likely be within the combine in a crowded participant of the 12 months race. Who will be part of them? And what else will form the season?

ESPN’s Kendra Andrews, Charlie Creme, Alexa Philippou and Michael Voepel reply these questions and make predictions on what we’d see over the following 5 months of girls’s hoops.

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Championship picks, convention winner |
Awards, All-America predictions

Will UConn repeat?

Creme: Sure, and the Huskies is likely to be much more dominant this season.

It appears unusual to say {that a} workforce that misplaced Bueckers is likely to be higher than it was a 12 months in the past, however this Huskies workforce could possibly be much more profitable than the 2024-25 model that misplaced three video games en path to the nationwide title. In including Wisconsin switch Serah Williams, coach Geno Auriemma gives assist that Robust may not even want however will certainly welcome. Robust has an opportunity to be one of the best participant within the nation, and a wholesome Fudd might give UConn two All-Individuals. The Huskies have the scale, shooters and big-game expertise to make a run at a second consecutive nationwide championship and thirteenth general.

Voepel: Sure, the Huskies look like in nice form to repeat.

We will count on them to cruise by way of the Large East once more, so a robust nonconference displaying ought to get UConn the No. 1 seed that may make reaching the Ultimate 4 smoother. That mentioned, if the identical 4 groups attain the Ultimate 4 as final season, that have will assist UCLA and Texas, groups that appeared overwhelmed by the second final April. That wasn’t a difficulty with South Carolina, however the Gamecocks did not play properly towards the Huskies within the title recreation. If all 4 groups are in Phoenix, we’d see three nearer, extra thrilling video games than final season.

Which convention race are you most wanting ahead to?

Andrews: The ACC will likely be entertaining and considerably unpredictable.

The offseason introduced numerous change to the ACC’s rosters and star energy as simply eight of 25 all-conference choices return this season. But it surely ought to result in a considerably wide-open league race. Duke, NC State and North Carolina had been chosen as the highest three within the ACC’s preseason ballot, whereas Miami is predicted to take some huge jumps and Notre Dame maybe takes just a few steps again. Just a few new coaches, some rebuilding tasks and a ton of recent faces will make the ACC race extraordinarily entertaining.

Creme: The SEC is loaded with nice groups and storylines.

South Carolina was the media choose to win the convention. Texas acquired the coaches’ nod. The Gamecocks’ Chloe Kitts, the reigning SEC match MVP, is out with a season-ending harm. The Longhorns and LSU are No. 1 seed materials — and nobody could be shocked if any of these three groups gained the convention. Throw in Oklahoma, Tennessee and Ole Miss, and the SEC accounts for half of the groups among the many prime three seeds in preseason Bracketology. The Gamecocks will go to LSU on Valentine’s Day on ABC in a recreation that would resolve the convention title.

Voepel: Can the Large 12 put a workforce within the Ultimate 4?

Final season, former Pac-12 faculties Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah joined the convention, whereas Oklahoma and Texas left for the SEC. The 12 months earlier than, BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF joined the Large 12. The league acquired seven groups into the 2025 NCAA match, with TCU reaching the Elite Eight. Iowa State’s Invoice Fennelly, who has been within the convention because the final season it was the Large Eight (1995-96), mentioned the present Large 12 remains to be establishing its id.

“We have to help one another and discuss up the league,” he mentioned. “We have numerous actually good groups. However now we have to get somebody again to the Ultimate 4.”

Philippou: UCLA is the Large Ten’s clear front-runner, however what occurs past the Bruins?

Will Maryland and Michigan truly problem the Bruins and make some noise on the nationwide scene? The Terps snagged two massive transfers in Yarden Garzon and Oluchi Okananwa this offseason, whereas the Wolverines are hoping to take a step ahead with their stellar sophomore class. Expectations are low on USC given Watkins’ absence and the Trojans’ different roster turnover, however can freshman Jazzy Davidson and sophomore Kennedy Smith assist the Trojans surpass expectations?

Which workforce will make the most important leap from 2024-25?

Andrews: Miami Hurricanes

The Hurricanes are simply two seasons faraway from their first Elite Eight look. Since then, coach Katie Meier, who had been there for 19 seasons, retired in 2024 and was changed by Tricia Cullop. The Hurricanes missed the NCAA match the previous two years — Meier’s ultimate season and Cullop’s first — however Cullop introduced in a robust recruiting class, with 4 gamers within the SC Subsequent 100 rankings. Miami was 14-15 general and 4-14 (ending sixteenth within the 18-team ACC) final season, however the Canes are projected to complete eighth within the convention this season and will get again into the NCAA match.

Creme: Washington Huskies

The final time Washington gained an NCAA match recreation with a workforce that didn’t embrace Kelsey Plum was in 2006. That can change this season. A First 4 participant a season in the past, the Huskies shouldn’t need to sweat out Choice Sunday this March. As a substitute, Washington will play inside or proper across the prime 25 — and with the proper breaks might compete to be a top-four seed with Candy 16 potential.

Voepel: Kansas Jayhawks

The Jayhawks’ most up-to-date Candy 16 journey was in 2013. They misplaced within the second spherical of their previous two NCAA match appearances (2022 and 2024). Final season, they had been 16-14 general and 6-12 within the Large 12. They carry again all 5 starters, led by junior guard S’Mya Nichols, an all-Large 12 first-team choice her first two seasons. They add 4 freshmen, together with five-star prospects Jaliya Davis and Keeley Parks, and switch Lilly Meister from Indiana. Picked to complete sixth within the Large 12 this season, Kansas might make it again into March Insanity and possibly keep awhile.

Philippou: Stanford Cardinal

Final season, in Kate Paye’s first as head coach, the Cardinal missed the NCAA match for the primary time since 1987. However with a stacked freshman class, headlined by top-15 recruits Hailee Swain and Lara Somfai, they’re going to be enjoying in March as soon as extra and have a clearer course shifting ahead with a brand new younger core.

First top-25 workforce to exit the NCAA match

Creme: Louisville Cardinals

After 5 straight journeys to at the least the Elite Eight, the Cardinals misplaced within the first spherical in 2024 and the second spherical final March. The expertise stage hasn’t fairly been ready match the excessive bar this system has set. This Louisville workforce is nice sufficient to compete for an ACC championship and earn a top-four seed within the NCAA match, nevertheless it nonetheless may not be able to make a deep run.

Voepel: USC Trojans

It is onerous to understand how the Trojans will regulate with out Watkins. As a freshman in 2024, she led them to the Elite Eight. USC nonetheless made it that far once more final season regardless of dropping Watkins to harm within the second spherical. This season’s workforce has numerous expertise. However with Watkins out and Kiki Iriafen and Rayah Marshall within the WNBA, we do not know but how properly the Trojans will carry out in November, not to mention March.

Most intriguing mid-major

Andrews: Gonzaga Bulldogs

They had been picked second behind Oregon State within the West Coast Convention, however the Zags tied for first final season, are a perennial WCC energy and misplaced within the quarterfinals of the WBIT final season. Yvonne Ejim’s collegiate profession is over after 5 seasons, so there’s a stage of newness the Bulldogs must navigate.

Creme: Princeton Tigers

Richmond is one of the best mid-major, however the Tigers are intriguing. All 5 starters return from a workforce that earned an at-large bid to the NCAA match, plus coach Carla Berube welcomes again Madison St. Rose. Princeton’s second-leading scorer in 2023-24 and the Ivy League’s 2022-23 rookie of the 12 months, St. Rose missed all however 4 video games final season due to a knee harm. A wholesome St. Rose is likely to be the Ivy’s finest participant. With highway video games at Georgia Tech, Villanova and Maryland to open the season, we’d know early simply how good the Tigers will be.

Voepel: Richmond Spiders

How far would possibly the Spiders get within the NCAA match? They’ve made 5 NCAA appearances, together with the previous two seasons once they went a mixed 57-13 general and 33-3 within the Atlantic 10. Final season, they beat Georgia Tech within the first spherical for this system’s first NCAA match victory, then fell to eventual Ultimate 4 workforce UCLA. With standouts Maggie Doogan and Rachel Ullstrom again for Richmond, maybe a Candy 16 journey is feasible. Watch for a way properly the Spiders play in two massive nonconference video games vs. Texas and TCU in November.

Athlete with outdoors shot to win nationwide participant of the 12 months

Andrews: Ta’Niya Latson, South Carolina Gamecocks

After main all Division I gamers in scoring final season, averaging 25.2 factors per recreation with Florida State, Latson introduced she would end her faculty profession with the Gamecocks. With Kitts sidelined by an harm and Ashlyn Watkins’ resolution to take a season off, Latson’s function with South Carolina grew much more essential. Coach Daybreak Staley has already mentioned how she needs so as to add extra layers to Latson’s recreation, and if the guard catches on shortly, she is going to cement herself within the participant of the 12 months race.

Creme: Mikayla Blakes, Vanderbilt Commodores

After averaging 23.3 factors per recreation as a freshman, Blakes will seem on some first-time All-America lists however remains to be a determined underdog to Robust, Betts or Hannah Hidalgo for the highest honors. With the opposite two double-digit scorers for the Commodores — Khamil Pierre and Iyana Moore — not in Nashville, Blakes’ alternatives to place up massive numbers would possibly enhance. That is for a participant who already has two 50-point video games. If Vanderbilt can exceed expectations, it will likely be due to Blakes — and that may put her within the participant of the 12 months dialog.

Voepel: Madison Booker, Texas Longhorns

She was Large 12 Participant of the Yr as a freshman in 2024, then with Texas altering leagues she gained the identical honor within the SEC final season. The 6-foot-1 ahead has crammed a number of roles for Texas, averaging a mixed 16.2 factors, 5.8 rebounds and three.8 assists in her two years in Austin, and is prone to present much more development in her recreation this season.

Coach with probably the most at stake in 2025-26

Andrews: Cori Shut, UCLA Bruins

Whereas the Bruins had a ton of roster turnover, Shut enters the season with seven seniors, two juniors and an excellent freshman class. After UCLA made the Ultimate 4 final season for the primary time within the NCAA period (since 1982), Shut has an actual shot of successful a nationwide championship with such an skilled workforce. There will likely be a ton of rebuilding after this season; Shut ought to make the most of the group she has now.

Creme: Niele Ivey, Notre Dame Preventing Irish

Of their ultimate two NCAA match seasons below Muffet McGraw, the Irish reached the nationwide championship recreation, successful one title. Within the 5 seasons since below Ivey, Notre Dame has but to play past the Candy 16. Final season confirmed nice promise however resulted in disappointment, and now Ivey should exchange 4 starters. 4 gamers transferred within the offseason, and the six that got here to South Bend by way of the portal do not equal the expertise of the group that left. In her sixth season on the Preventing Irish bench, this will likely be Ivey’s largest problem.

Voepel: Nicki Collen, Baylor Bears

In her first 4 years at Baylor, Collen has three second-round losses and one Candy 16 look within the NCAA match. Final season, the No. 4 seed Bears had six seniors however fell at house within the second spherical to No. 5 Ole Miss. This season, Baylor once more has six seniors, led by guard/ahead Darianna Littlepage-Buggs (13.8 PPG, 10.0 RPG). Collen’s job is protected, however it will likely be disappointing to her if one other very skilled workforce does not produce at the least a Candy 16 journey.

Philippou: Kim Caldwell, Tennessee Woman Vols

Possibly Caldwell does not have probably the most at stake, definitely not in a sizzling seat sort of means. However after a profitable debut season in Knoxville, there’s little doubt that the expectations for the Woman Vols will likely be sky excessive internally and externally as this system seeks its first Ultimate 4 look since 2008. Will having a full 12 months in Caldwell’s unorthodox system make a significant distinction for her returners? (Alternatively, opponents within the SEC particularly could have had extra time to scout towards it.) And the way a lot will newcomer Janiah Barker (switch from UCLA) and Tennessee’s second-ranked recruiting class have the ability to elevate its ceiling?

CHAMPIONSHIP PREDICTIONS

Ultimate 4

Andrews: UConn, UCLA, South Carolina, LSU
Creme: UConn, UCLA, South Carolina, Duke
Philippou: UConn, UCLA, South Carolina, LSU
Voepel: UConn, UCLA, Texas, South Carolina

Nationwide champion

Andrews: UConn
Creme: UConn
Philippou: UConn
Voepel: UConn

Convention winners