The women’s college basketball season was fantastic. There was intrigue, stars, and UConn ended up winning the championship. But which team will win the title this year? We are here to rank the Top 25 teams going into the 2025-2026 season.
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2025 Early Women’s Basketball Top 25
1. 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.
2. South Carolina Gamecocks
Though the news just struck that MiLaysia Fulwiley will be transferring from South Carolina, the Gamecocks are still one of the favorites. 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. Though there will be a change, the Gamecocks are in a good position to return to the Final Four.
3. 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.
The Huskies will still be a top women’s college basketball team with players like KK Arnold, Ashlynn Shade, Allie Ziebell, Jana El Alfy, and Caroline Ducharme.
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.
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.
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, and they are retaining many of the players they had last season.
The Blue Devils have a top-four-ranked prospect (according to HoopGurlz) coming on campus to help freshman star Toby Fournier, junior Ashlon Jackson, and the rest of the Duke roster reach the Final Four for the first time in 20 years.
7. Oklahoma Sooners
The Oklahoma Sooners have one of the best recruits in the 2025 class joining their team. Aaliyah Chavez joins Raegan Beers, Payton Verhulst, and Sahara Williams to create an electric offense to score buckets in bunches.
This Sooners roster has a mixture of veterans and youth and should be a tough out in the tournament next season.
8. Tennessee Volunteers
The Tennessee Volunteers started hot last season and hit their pinnacle, beating the UConn Huskies in Knoxville. The back half of their season was met with some turbulence as they did not fare as well in SEC play.
The Volunteers are returning their leading scorer, Talaysia Cooper, and leading rebounder, Zee Spearman. Along with landing four of the top 50 recruits (according to HoopGurlz), Tennessee is set to continue its success under coach Kim Caldwell.
9. 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.
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The Commodores have the talent to continue to develop and become one of the more dangerous teams in the country.
10. NC State Wolfpack
The NC State Wolfpack has two big pieces to fill. 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.
11. 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.
12. USC Trojans
Juju Watkins’s injury makes the Trojans a less dynamic team, and with Avery Howell transferring to Washington and with Kiki Iriafen and Rayah Marshall being drafted to the WNBA, USC is in a more vulnerable position to slip in the rankings.
They do have one of the top three recruits (according to HoopGurlz), Jasmine Davidson, coming to town, and with Kennedy Smith on the roster, this team still possesses good talent.
13. Baylor Bears
The Baylor Bears have lost a few of their top players from last year’s team, notably Aaronette Vonleh and Yaya Felder. They only have one top-50 recruit (according to HoopGurlz) joining their roster, but players like Darianna Littlepage-Buggs and Bella Fontleroy still make this team dangerous.
14. Michigan Wolverines
Though the Wolverines are losing Jordan Hobbs, 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.
15. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish were one of the best teams in the country for most of the year, but lost in the Sweet 16 to TCU. This offseason, they lost Sonia Citron and Maddy Westbeld to the draft and Olivia Miles to TCU in the transfer portal. The Irish still have Hannah Hildalgo; she alone could make this team formidable.
16. 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, plus two of the top 30 recruits (according to HoopGurlz) coming to Chapel Hill. This team should still be competitive in the ACC.
17. 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.
18. Ole Miss Rebels
The Ole Miss Rebels are losing key pieces from last year’s team. Though players like Madison Scott are gone, the Rebels have been busy in the transfer portal.
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They got senior forward Latasha Lattimore from Virginia and junior guard Cotie McMahon from Ohio State to help the Rebels produce in the SEC.
19. Oklahoma State Cowgirls
The Oklahoma State Cowgirls had a good regular season last year but did not fare well in the tournament, losing their Round of 64 game to South Dakota State. Stailee Heard led the team in points, rebounds, and steals per game this season, and she, along with Micah Gray, should put this team in a good spot.
20. 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. This team has some growth to do over the offseason, but it still has an upside.
21. Maryland Terrapins
The Maryland Terrapins are in an offseason that has seen some turnover with their star, Shyanne Sellers, but they still have some talent on this roster. They added Yarden Garzon from Indiana to the transfer portal. Kaylene Smikle led the team in scoring, and Bri McDaniel’s return could give them a puncher’s chance.
22. Richmond Spiders
The Richmond Spiders played well in last year’s tournament and got their first win in school history. Maggie Googan and Rachel Ullstrom led the way for the Spiders, and they have the potential to continue their success.
23. 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.
24. 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.
25. TCU Horned Frogs
The TCU Horned Frogs made their first Elite Eight in school history, primarily due to the big three of Hailey Van Lith, Sedona Prince, and Madison Conner.
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All three players are gone, but in the transfer portal, they got star Olivia Miles and 6’3 “forward Marta Suarez to help bring this team deep into the NCAA tournament.
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