It’s time for another season in women’s hoops.
We are nearly seven months removed from when Connecticut won its 12th national championship, with the 2025-26 season tipping off on Monday, Nov. 3. The game continues to grow as its expected to be another exciting campaign. There are veteran stars that are ready to make that push for a title, while a new crop of players are ready to make their introduction to the country. Parity is as strong as ever with so many teams capable of making the Final Four and hoisting that national championship trophy.
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Here are the top 10 storylines to watch in women’s college basketball as the race to Phoenix and the 2026 Final Four tips off.
UConn repeat?
Geno Auriemma will be turning the Paige with Bueckers gone, but his team still remains the top dog in the sport. Unanimous USA TODAY Sports preseason All-America selection Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd will be leading the national championship defense alongside KK Arnold, Jana El-Alfy and Ice Brady. Reinforcements come from transfers Kayleigh Heckel and Serah Williams to give Auriemma another loaded team.
When Connecticut wins titles, it doesn’t just do it once. The past three times the Huskies broke a national title drought, they won it again the following year (2002-04, 2009-10, 2013-16). UConn has the pieces to break off another back-to-back title run, and everyone will be chasing it all season.
Connecticut forward Sarah Strong (21) controls the ball against Southern California during their Elite Eight game of the 2025 NCAA women’s tournament at Spokane Arena.
Dawn Staley reloads South Carolina
South Carolina has made the Final Four five consecutive seasons, and while Dawn Staley lost several key players that got the Gamecocks there, the expectation is still to get back.
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Leading scorer Joyce Edwards will get a more expanded role, and she’ll be joined on the court by Ta’Niya Latson, who led the nation in scoring at Florida State last season. Plus, a pair of five-star freshmen join the fold in Agot Makeer and Ayla McDowell, giving South Carolina plenty of firepower to keep the Final Four streak going.
UCLA Betts on sister duo
Lauren Betts is back at UCLA following her dominant run to get the Bruins in the Final Four for the first time, and she’s brought help with little sister and touted freshman, Sienna. It will be a veteran core leading the Bruins with the Betts sisters, with seniors Kiki Rice, Gabriela Jaquez, Angela Dugalic and Utah transfer Gianna Kneepkens making up the attack.
With this being the last run for a squad that has taken UCLA to new heights, it feels like its the best shot the Bruins have to win their first national championship. They are the clear favorite to run the Big Ten.
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USC without JuJu
Arguably the best player in the sport won’t be on the court this season with Southern California star JuJu Watkins sitting out as she recovers from her torn ACL she suffered in the tournament last March. Given the Trojans will be without their do-it-all guard, the hype has died down for USC.
However, don’t sleep on the Trojans just yet. Even though they lost some players to graduation or transfer portal, No. 1 recruit Jazzy Davidson arrives and has the ability to keep the team a threat alongside Kennedy Smith and Londynn Jones. Even without Watkins, USC may be the dark horse team to watch this season.
Kim Mulkey and LSU
Some might have expected the loss of Angel Reese would mean a down year for LSU, but the Tigers nearly made the Final Four again. After two consecutive Elite Eight appearances, coach Kim Mulkey is eyeing a return to the national semifinals.
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The Tigers got Flau’jae Johnson back and she’ll be the center piece of Mulkey’s high scoring offense alongside Mikaylah Williams. A trio of highly-rated freshman also join the fold, as well as MiLaysia Fulwiley from South Carolina. Mulkey always make her teams worth watching, but LSU will be a mystery for the few month with a really easy non-conference schedule. We won’t know if the Tigers are legit until 2026 comes around.
SEC gauntlet
The SEC was great in hoops last season, getting two teams in the Final Four in men’s and women’s. Now to start the season, the league is looking incredibly deep and one that’s going to have plenty of high stakes matchups.
Three teams − South Carolina, Texas and LSU − start the season in the top five of the coaches poll, with another five ranked. Oklahoma and Tennessee are building off solid seasons, and Mississippi could be a new power on the block with the arrival of Cotie McMahon. Plus, there’s the ever entertaining Mikayla Blakes of Vanderbilt. It’s going to be tough for every team to navigate this heavy conference slate.
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TCU looks for encore with new players
How do you follow up a dream season at TCU? Do everything you can to make it more than a one-hit wonder.
The Horned Frogs advanced to their first Elite Eight with Hailey Van Lith leading the charge, but nearly everyone is gone. TCU coach Mark Campbell got the best addition of the transfer portal with star Olivia Miles coming from Notre Dame. New arrivals also include Clara Silva, Kennedy Basham and Veronica Sheffey to make it not just a completely new team in Fort Worth, but one that can run the Big 12 again. This is by far the most intriguing team to watch in the country.
Who runs the ACC?
Every conference has its top contenders, but the race in the ACC is as good of a guess as anyone with so many teams trying to claim the league.
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It starts with Duke since it is the defending tournament champions and have Toby Fournier back. But there’s also North Carolina State and North Carolina which are trying to replace veteran stars with transfer portal additions. Notre Dame did lose Miles, but Hannah Hidalgo is also still in South Bend to lead the Fighting Irish team. There’s really so much unknown in this league, it’s going to make a compelling race to watch and see who rises to the top.
Which mid-major makes Cinderella run?
Only one double-digit seed advanced to the second round of the tournament last season in South Dakota State. Could this be the year a mid-major or double-digit seed makes it to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2022?
The Jackrabbits still have a deep team that will definitely run the Summit League and likely make the tournament, where it could get to its first Sweet 16 since 2019. There’s also Richmond, which gave UCLA all it could handle in the second round and returns top two scorers in Maggie Doogan and Rachel Ullstrom to dominate the Atlantic 10. Princeton also looms as well. This could be the year we get a great Cinderella run in the big dance.
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Can a new team make Final Four?
Along with Texas, UConn, South Carolina and UCLA made up the 2025 Final Four and every team has everything they need to do it again. So, will anyone be able to make sure the semifinals look different this time around?
It hasn’t happen in nearly 30 years, when in 1996, UConn, Tennessee, Georgia and Stanford all made it back to the Final Four one season later. It’s happened several times with three of the teams, with 2015 being the last occurance. For more than 350 other teams, it will be their mission to make sure its not a repeat when the NCAA Tournament gets to Phoenix.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Top 10 storylines to watch in women’s college basketball this season
