USC women’s basketball star JuJu Watkins announced Sunday night she will sit the 2025-26 season as she continues to rehab from a serious knee injury.
While a major bummer for women’s basketball fans, there’s still plenty to be excited about for the upcoming season. Watkins was the next in line of household names, following the likes of Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark. But the cupboard is far from bare.
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Here are 10 players who should have your attention (and yes, there are plenty more than 10 worthy):
Lauren Betts, UCLA
UCLA Bruins center Lauren Betts (51) walks off the court during a Sweet 16 NCAA Tournament basketball game against the Ole Miss Rebels at Spokane Arena. at Spokane Arena.
The reigning Naismith Defensive Player of the Year, Betts was a first-team All-American last season and won the Lisa Leslie Award, given to nation’s best college center. She averaged 20.2 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.9 blocks a game for the Bruins, who went 34-3 and reached the Final Four. The 6-foot-7 Betts set a school single-season record with 100 blocks last year.
Mikayla Blakes, Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt Commodores guard Mikayla Blakes (1) looks on during a free throw in the second half against the Tennessee Lady Vols at Bon Secours Wellness Arena.
Last year’s National Freshman of the Year, Blakes earned second-team All-American honors after finishing second in the SEC in scoring (23.3 points per game). She also averaged 3.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.4 steals per game. She scored 50-plus points twice last season, including 55 vs. Auburn on Feb. 16, which broke Elena Della Donne’s NCAA single-game freshman record (54).
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Madison Booker, Texas
Apr 4, 2025; Tampa, FL, USA; Texas Longhorns forward Madison Booker (35) dribbles against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the third quarter in a semifinal of the women’s 2025 NCAA tournament at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
A first-team All-American and the SEC Player of the Year as a sophomore last season, Booker averaged 16.3 points and 6.6 rebounds and hit 40.3% from the 3-point line. She won the Cheryl Miller Small Forward of the Year Award and helped the Longhorns reach the Final Four. Paired with Rori Harmon, Booker and the Longhorns should be a national title contender again.
Audi Crooks, Iowa State
Iowa State Cyclones’ center Audi Crooks (55) and guard Emily Ryan (11) during the fourth quarter in the Big 12 women’s basketball at Hilton Coliseum on Sunday, March 2, 2025, in Ames, Iowa.
Crooks announced herself on the national stage as a freshman, scoring 40 points in the 2024 NCAA Tournament vs. Maryland, making 18-of-20 shots. Yes, you read that correctly. As a sophomore last season, the 6-foot-3 Crooks was named third-team All-American after leading the Big 12 in scoring (23.4 points) and setting a Cyclones school record for points in a season (820).
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Azzi Fudd, UConn
Connecticut Huskies guard Azzi Fudd (35) gets confettied by her teammates while interviewed by ESPN reporter Holly Rowe after the national championship of the women’s 2025 NCAA tournament against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Amalie Arena.
Fudd, who has overcome two major knee injuries of her own, was named the Final Four Most Outstanding Player after helping lead the Huskies to the 2025 national championship. She averaged 13.6 points per game last season, but with Paige Bueckers fresh off a WNBA Rookie of the Year season, Fudd figures to be one of UConn’s go-to options this year.
Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame
Notre Dame guard Hannah Hidalgo celebrates during the second round of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament between Notre Dame and Michigan at Purcell Pavilion on Sunday, March 23, 2025, in South Bend.
The ACC Player of the Year and ACC Defensive Player of the Year, Hidalgo was also a first-team All-American. Her 23.8 points per game average last season was a program record, breaking her own record she set as a freshman. And owning records like that at a school like Notre Dame is no small feat considering the history of the Irish program. She also averaged 5.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 3.7 steals per game.
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Flau’Jae Johnson, LSU
LSU Lady Tigers guard Flau’Jae Johnson (4) reacts after play against the UCLA Bruins during the first half of a Elite Eight NCAA Tournament basketball game at Spokane Arena.
A first-team All-SEC pick and third-team All-American, Johnson averaged 18.6 points and 5.6 rebounds a game for Kim Mulkey’s Tigers. Johnson has helped lead LSU to at least the Elite Eight in each of her three seasons in Baton Rouge, including the 2023 national championship. She’s also a rapper, who has appeared on “America’s Got Talent,” so the spotlight won’t bother her.
Ta’Niya Latson, South Carolina
Ta’Niya Latson
The rich get richer. Dawn Staley reached into the transfer portal and pulled out the nation’s leading scorer. Latson averaged 25.2 points per game last season for Florida State and became just the third payer in ACC history to hit 2,000 career points in their first three seasons. The 5-foot-8 guard scored at least 20 points 25 times last season and also contributed 4.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game.
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Olivia Miles, TCU
Notre Dame guard Olivia Miles (5) is checked out of the second round of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament between Notre Dame and Michigan at Purcell Pavilion on Sunday, March 23, 2025, in South Bend.
Another transfer on this list, Miles arrives in Fort Worth after a standout career at Notre Dame. A second-team All-American and first-team All-ACC pick, Miles averaged 15.4 points, 5.8 assists and 5.6 rebounds per game last season. Miles could have entered the WNBA draft, but decided on a final college season at TCU, which knocked off Notre Dame in last year’s NCAA tournament.
Sarah Strong, UConn
UConn Huskies forward Sarah Strong (21) drives the ball against Arkansas State Red Wolves guard Wynter Rogers (2) in the first half at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion.
You’ve got to be good to start 40 games at UConn as a freshman, and Strong became only the second Huskies freshman to score 600 points in a season. Maya Moore is the other. Not bad company. A second-team All-American, Strong led the national champion Huskies in rebounds, blocks and steals and was second in scoring and assists last season.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: JuJu Watkins injury means these WBB players will be names to know
