Women’s basketball continues to grow at an exponential rate, thanks to excellent play and the emergence of young superstar women, and the viewing public is the beneficiary. This coming year is going to be no different for women’s college basketball.
Though Juju Watkins is likely to miss next season, stars like Lauren Betts, Hannah Hildalgo, and more will lead the way for the sport. Here is our look at a way-too-early Top 25 women’s college basketball teams for this upcoming season.
25) TCU Horned Frogs
TCU got deeper in the March Madness tournament than before, to the Elite Eight. That was on the backs of their big three: Madison Conner, Hailey Van Lith, and Sedona Prince.
Though all of those players are now gone, the Horned Frogs have been able to replace some of that star power by landing star guard Olivia Miles in the transfer portal. Miles and third-year coach Mark Campbell look to build upon last year’s success for the program.
24) Richmond Spiders
Maggie Googan and Rachel Ullstrom are the two stars of the Richmond Spiders. They were part of the program’s first win in the NCAA Tournament. Both of them will be back next season as Richmond looks to duplicate their success last season.
The Spiders won 28 games last year, the second most in their program’s history. They were coming off a season in which they totaled the most wins in history.
23) Notre Dame Fighting Irish
The Fighting Irish had a disappointing end to a season that looked incredibly promising throughout the regular season. This year’s team will look vastly different from last year’s team, as Sonia Citron, Olivia Miles, Maddy Westbeld, and Liatu King are no longer there.
This team still has arguably the best player in the country, Hannah Hildalgo, and this program develops talent well. They will be a team to look out for as the season progresses.
22) Maryland Terrapins
Yarden Garzon from Indiana has joined the Maryland Terrapins via the transfer portal. They also added Oluchi Okananwa from Duke, who will be a suitable replacement for Shyanne Sellers, who they lost to the WNBA draft.
Kaylene Smikle led the team in scoring last season, and Bri McDaniel’s return could give them a chance to propel up the ranking during the season.
21) Ohio State
The Ohio State Buckeyes are experiencing a good amount of roster turnover this year, but they will still bring a talented roster to the court. The Buckeyes still have Jaloni Cambridge and Chance Gray to start the show, and four-star recruits are joining the team.
Ohio State has consistently been making deep tournament runs as a program, and they look for that to continue this year.
20) Louisville Cardinals
The Louisville Cardinals are losing multiple high-level scorers and veterans. Impressive freshman Tajinna Roberts, who was second in scoring for the Cardinals, will have to lead the team with help from Imari Berry to keep the team competitive.
The Cardinals also have a few 4-star recruits joining the roster this season, which can help keep Louisville among the top-ranked teams in the country.
19) USC Trojans
The USC Trojans took a hit when Juju Watkins went down with a torn ACL during the tournament. Watkins’ injury makes the Trojans a less dynamic team this coming season. With Avery Howell transferring to Washington, the team has lost more youth and shooting ability.
They do have one of the top recruits (according to HoopGurlz), Jasmine Davidson, coming to town, and with Kennedy Smith on the roster, this team still possesses good talent. USC will do their best to stay afloat in hopes that Watkins can return for tournament time.
18) Iowa Hawkeyes
The Hawkeyes lost a few key players to their roster, notably Lucy Olsen. Iowa still has Hannah Stuelke on the roster, and they have the 23rd-ranked player in this recruiting class (according to HoopGurlz) in Addison Deal.
With Kylie Feuerbach and Taylor McCabe returning this year, Iowa can do some nice things during the season.
17) Washington Huskies
The Washington Huskies were inconsistent throughout the year but won five of their last six games. This coming year, they have USC transfer Avery Howell joining talented Huskies Elle Ladine and Sayvia Sellers. This team should be improved from last year’s team.
The Huskies have a five-star and a four-star freshman joining their roster this season, and they have a real shot at going over 20 wins for the first time since 2016.
16) Ole Miss Rebels
The Ole Miss Rebels are losing key pieces from last year’s team. Players Madison Scott, Kennedy Todd-Williams, and Starr Jacobs will all be gone from next year’s team. Though some key contributors are gone, Ole Miss has made good moves in the transfer portal.
Virginia senior forward Latasha Lattimore and Ohio State junior guard Cotie McMahon will help the Rebels produce in the SEC. Ole Miss also adds a four-star freshman to their roster this upcoming season.
15) Kentucky Wildcats
The Kentucky Wildcats had a big season last year as they had their first winning season in three years and their first twenty-plus win season since 2020. Last year, the Wildcasts had Georgia Amoore, one of the best players in the country.
Kentucky does not have its 5’7 “leader this year, but it does have Clara Strack, who made massive improvements last season. Strack, along with Teonni Key, a few transfers, and a five-star freshman coming in, has a chance to repeat last season’s success.
14) North Carolina Tar Heels
The Tar Heels lost Alyssa Utsby, Maria Gakdeng, and Lexi Donarski this offseason, which was a big blow to the North Carolina roster. UNC still has Reniya Kelley and Indya Nivar to lean on.
The Tar Heels have also added two top-30 recruits (according to HoopGurlz), Nyla Brooks and Taliyah Henderson, coming to Chapel Hill. This team should still be competitive in the ACC and has the potential to be a top-3 seed in the tournament.
13) Michigan State Spartans
The Michigan State Spartans were 12 games above .500 last year, and a big reason was Oregon transfer Grace Vanslooten. The Spartans have the 33rd-best recruit (according to HoopGurlz), Jordan Ode, joining this roster, and some talented depth pieces.
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The Spartans also have Theryn Hallock on the roster and a couple of good transfers coming to the roster, including Jayln Brown from Arizona State.
12) Vanderbilt Commodores
The Vanderbilt Commodores have one of the best freshmen in the country on their roster, Mikayla Blakes. She and Khamil Pierre were one of the best duos in the country, averaging just under 44 points per game.
Last season, the Commodores reached the tournament but lost in the first round. This year, Vanderbilt looks to win the tournament for the first time since 2013.
11) NC State Wolfpack
The NC State Wolfpack has two big pieces to fill. Although they have lost stars Aziaha James and Saniya Rivers to the WNBA Draft, this team still possesses talented players like Zoe Brooks and Zamareya Jones.
With few big-time recruits joining the Wolfpack, James and Brooks must carry the load for NC State. Those two plus a couple of four-star freshmen, the Wolfpack are in a position to compete at a high level in the country.
10) Iowa State Cyclones
Though Iowa State lost one of its best players, Emily Ryan. They still have stars Addi Crooks and Addy Brown on the roster. The Cyclones were one of the more disappointing teams during the regular season, but with transfer Jada Williams coming on the roster, this team still has a chance to do something special while Crooks is on the roster.
9) Michigan Wolverines
Jordan Hobbs will no longer be on the Michigan Wolverines roster, but they have a freshman trio ready to take over the reins of this Michigan team. Olivia Olson leads the team in scoring and blocks, Syla Swards leads the team in rebounds per game, and Mila Holloway leads the team in assists per game.
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The Wolverines have added a couple of four-star recruits to their roster and have a real chance to be a top seed in the country.
8) Tennessee Volunteers
The Tennessee Volunteers started hot last season and hit their pinnacle, beating the UConn Huskies in Knoxville, but things faded toward the back half of the season. The Volunteers are returning their leading scorer, Talaysia Cooper, and leading rebounder, Zee Spearman.
Tennessee has a few big recruits joining the roster, including UCLA forward Janiah Baker. The Volunteers also have multiple impact recruits joining the roster, including three five-star recruits.
7) Oklahoma Sooners
The Oklahoma Sooners have one of the best recruits in the 2025 class, Aaliyah Chavez, joining their team. The Sooners are returning most of their key players from last season, including Raegan Beers, Payton Verhulst, and Sahara Williams, to create an electric offense that scores buckets in bunches.
This group of Sooners has all of the talent, and with a mix of youth and veteran leadership, they have a great chance to make a deep run in the tournament.
6) Duke Blue Devils
The Duke Blue Devils have been inching closer to the Final Four over the past three seasons. Coach Kara Lawson has done a great job building this team into a defensive nightmare.
Though the Blue Devils will be without Oluchi Okananwa and Reigan Richardson this season, they do have freshman star Toby Fournier and junior Ashlon Jackson to compete. The Blue Devils have a top-four-ranked prospect (according to HoopGurlz) coming on campus to help the Duke roster reach the Final Four for the first time in 20 years.
5) LSU Tigers
Though the Tigers are losing a couple of role players to the transfer portal (Sa’myah Smith, Last-Tear Poa, Aalyah Del Rosario) and one of their best players (Aneesah Morrow) to the WNBA Draft, LSU is still one of the best teams.
Stars Flau’jae Johnson and Mikayla Williams are still in the building, and four of the top 25 recruits (according to HoopGurlz) are coming in to help the Tigers. Kim Mulkey will have this team ready to make another title push.
4) Texas Longhorns
The Texas Longhorns have good news: Rori Harmon is returning to the team for another year. Along with First Team All-American star Madison Booker, the Longhorns are one of the top teams in the country.
There is a chance that Aaliyah Moore and Laila Phelia are coming back from injury to give this team a needed boost. Texas has also landed one of the top 5 2025 recruits (according to HoopGurlz) in Aaliyah Crump.
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This team just made their first Final Four in 30 years and can get back to the Final Four stage.
3) UCLA Bruins
UCLA made it to the Final Four this year but lost to the eventual champion UConn Huskies. The Bruins are returning four starters and key rotational pieces this year. UCLA is also getting the number two recruit (according to HoopGurlz), Sienna Betts, the younger sister of superstar Lauren Betts.
Charlisse Leger-Walker will return from injury, giving the Bruins a big talent boost. The senior center has a good chance of winning the National Player of the Year, and the Bruins have a good chance of going on a Final Four run as the top program in our Top 25 Women’s College Basketball teams ranking.
2) UConn Huskies
The UConn Huskies are back on top of women’s college basketball for the first time since 2016, and a large part of that is due to superstar Paige Bueckers.
Bueckers is now gone and was drafted number one in the WNBA Draft, but the Huskies still have much talent. Azzi Fudd has decided to return and play for the Huskies for another year. Sarah Strong, the best freshman in the country, will be suiting up for UConn.
KK Arnold, Ashlynn Shade, Allie Ziebell, Jana El Alfy, and Caroline Ducharme will return for the Huskies. This team now has a championship pedigree and will be scary this coming season.
1) South Carolina Gamecocks
Although superstar MiLaysia Fulwiley announced her exit, the South Carolina Gamecocks are still one of the favorites for the upcoming women’s campaign. In the transfer portal, they acquired the number one scorer in D1 basketball last year, Ta’Niya Latson.
They lost seniors Sania Feagin, Te-Hina Paopao, and Bree Hall to the WNBA Draft, but they still have Chloe Kitts, Joyce Edwards, and Ashlynn Watkins, who will be returning from her torn ACL.
South Carolina also has two top 22 recruits (according to HoopGurlz) coming, including the number four recruit, Agot Makeer. Dawn Staley has everything that she needs to get back to yet another Final Four this season
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