Emerging Stars in Women’s College Basketball This Year

Welcome to football fans transitioning into college basketball, especially women’s college basketball now that the NFL season has concluded—you’ve arrived at an exciting moment. The women’s college basketball scene is bustling with conference play, highlighted by rivalry match-ups each week as we approach conference tournaments and the excitement of March Madness.

Wondering which teams are in contention and which stars will follow in the footsteps of Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese? Here’s everything you need to know as March approaches.

Big Teams You Need to Know

Despite winning last season’s national title and only losing three games in the past three years combined, the South Carolina Gamecocks have faced three losses this season. Early in the year, they lost to the current national number one, UCLA, then suffered a defeat on Super Bowl Sunday to SEC newcomer Texas, led by sophomore Madison Booker. Most recently, they were handed a significant loss by the UConn Huskies, ending 87-58 at home, marking their worst home loss since 2008, when Dawn Staley took over coaching. Currently ranked 6th in the nation, this is the first time they’re out of the top five all season, but they remain a formidable contender for the Final Four under the guidance of three-time national champion Staley.

These recent losses opened the door for competition at the top of the SEC, with a key matchup earlier today between the Texas Longhorns and LSU Tigers. The Longhorns have been somewhat underrated as a tournament threat, led by veteran coach Vic Schaefer and sophomore standout Madison Booker, averaging 16.6 points per game. They solidified their status by defeating LSU, who features a talented lineup, including senior Aneesah Morrow and junior Flau’Jae Johnson. Despite this latest setback, LSU is likely to secure a high seed in the tournament, likely a two seed, while Texas and South Carolina are positioned for one seeds. This year’s SEC is exceptionally competitive, with seven teams ranked in the top 25.

Beyond the SEC, standout teams this season include UCLA, Notre Dame, USC, and UConn. UCLA, led by sophomore Kiki Rice and junior Lauren Betts, earned the top ranking after defeating South Carolina in November. The Bruins dominated the Big 10 with an 11-0 record until losing to USC, where sophomore JuJu Watkins scored over half of her team’s points with 38 in the rivalry matchup, dropping UCLA to #3 and elevating USC to #4 in the polls. Nevertheless, both teams are still expected to secure one or two seeds in the tournament.

This year, Notre Dame, now ranked #1, features the impressive trio of Hannah Hidalgo, Olivia Miles (who leads the nation in triple-doubles), and Sonia Cintron. Notre Dame remains unbeaten in conference play, with Hidalgo as the second-highest scorer in the conference behind Florida State’s Ta’Niya Latson, the nation’s leading scorer. Though they faced two losses early in the season to TCU and Utah, they have achieved significant victories against USC, Texas, and UConn.

Another powerhouse to keep an eye on is the UConn Huskies, a team synonymous with winning in crucial moments and now seeking redemption after nine years without a title. Despite two losses to USC and Notre Dame earlier this season, UConn recently bounced back with a 29-point victory over South Carolina, regaining the fifth position in the top 25. With talented players like freshman sensation Sarah Strong and fifth-year seniors Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd, they are determined to reclaim championship glory, especially after battling injuries in their careers. The Huskies face criticism for competing in a weaker conference, but they will likely enter the tournament with a high seed, at least a two or three.

Big Stars

While the 2024 WNBA rookie class is notably absent, including Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, there are still prominent stars to watch in this year’s March Madness tournament. The spotlight falls on sensational sophomores like Madison Booker, Hannah Hidalgo, JuJu Watkins, and Audi Crooks. At just 5’6″, Hannah Hidalgo ranks second in the nation for scoring, third in steals, and has shot 42% from three-point range while reaching her 1,000th career point in just 44 games.

USC’s Juju Watkins continues to impress, following her freshman season where she set a record by scoring 51 points in a single game—all while maintaining her reputation for consistency. Currently ranked fifth in the nation for scoring, Watkins has scored in double figures throughout the season, recently netting 38 points against UCLA. Meanwhile, Vanderbilt’s Mikayla Blakes recently set a new NCAA freshman scoring record with 55 points, breaking Watkins’ previous record.

Iowa State’s talented sophomore Audi Crooks has not received the recognition she deserves, recently becoming the first Big 12 center to hit 600 points this season. She ranks fourth nationally in scoring and is the fastest player in Iowa State history to reach 1,000 points, achieving this in just 49 games. Although her team might not be in the spotlight, expect Crooks to make a significant impact in the Big 12 and March Madness tournaments.

Headliners for March

This year’s tournament may lack the rivalry of Caitlin Clark versus Angel Reese, but it still brims with compelling storylines. Can UConn finally win a title again after nine years? For fifth-year seniors Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd, it’s their final chance at redemption, ranking in the top five nationally for assist-to-turnover ratio and three-point percentage (47%).

Next, Neile Ivey seeks her first national title win as the head coach of Notre Dame. After winning two championships as an assistant under Muffet McGraw, Ivey aims to achieve this milestone as a head coach, a unique accomplishment that few players have achieved in any capacity.

Additionally, can the California schools forge a deep tournament run? Last season, UCLA fell in the Sweet 16 to LSU, while USC made it to the Elite Eight before succumbing to UConn. Both teams have remained in the top 10 all season—could this be the year they progress further to the Final Four? For UCLA, this would be a first in the school’s history, whereas USC last reached this stage in the mid-1980s under legends Cynthia Cooper and Cheryl Miller.

The quest for a title is not exclusive to the California teams; Vic Schaefer at Texas is also chasing his own championship after having won one as an associate head coach at Texas A&M in 2011. Schaefer is eager to break through to the Final Four after back-to-back Elite Eight appearances at Mississippi State (2017 & 2018). His tenure at Texas thus far hasn’t yet resulted in a Final Four berth—will this season be different?

To conclude, the anticipated powerhouses—LSU and South Carolina—will attempt to reclaim their positions at the top. Dawn Staley and the Gamecocks have been dominant, failing to miss the Sweet Sixteen since 2014, the Elite Eight since 2015, and making six Final Four appearances in the last decade, winning titles in 2017, 2022, and 2024. Similarly, since Kim Mulkey took the reins in 2021, LSU has enjoyed success, reaching the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight back-to-back before winning the championship in 2023.

While this year’s tournament will undoubtedly feel different without the iconic performances of Caitlin Clark and the dominant rebounding of Angel Reese, it remains filled with stars and captivating stories, ensuring high viewership. Though it may not reach last year’s extraordinary average of 18.7 million fans watching the national championship, we can expect impressive numbers as the popularity of women’s basketball continues to rise, propelled by new stars steering the sport into the future.