A season that was alleged to be outlined by parity as a substitute ended with the 2 most iconic manufacturers in ladies’s basketball assembly within the nationwide title sport and UConn including a historic document twelfth title. These packages as soon as once more prime the sphere on this way-too-early take a look at 2025-26.
As is custom in these energy rankings, the defending champions get the highest spot. Nevertheless, an early wave of entrants into the switch portal, mixed with the double graduations of the senior class and the tremendous senior class from the pandemic bonus 12 months, has created much more flux beneath the higher tier.
Some groups barely have sufficient gamers to area a lineup now. Most rosters can be unrecognizable when evaluating at present with the beginning of the common season as transfers decide their new touchdown spots, placing a heavier emphasis on recruiting lessons as a result of the standing of returning gamers is unsure.
Virtually well-known: Baylor, Maryland, Columbia
Remaining 4 groups aren’t going wherever
Even with out Paige Bueckers, UConn is a worthy candidate for the most effective staff within the nation due to its rising famous person Sarah Strong. She completed the season second nationally in win shares behind solely Bueckers and figures to grow to be much more prolific with extra of the offense operating via her as a sophomore.
With Sturdy, Jana El Alfy and Azzi Fudd coming back from the beginning lineup, plus KK Arnold and Ashlynn Shade able to assume larger roles as juniors (they already took on larger burdens as freshmen), that is the most effective 5 within the nation. Ice Brady, Allie Ziebell, Morgan Cheli and the sixth-ranked recruiting class present stable depth even when the Huskies don’t add any transfers.
South Carolina will lose not less than three starters, and probably 4 if Raven Johnson decides to go professional. However the Gamecocks machine is able to backfill, with MiLaysia Fulwiley, Tessa Johnson and Joyce Edwards ready within the wings. This isn’t a program that rebuilds; it reloads.
Texas additionally loses two starters however has a trio of rising sophomores (Jordan Lee, Bryanna Preston, and Justice Carlton) to assist Madison Booker get to the subsequent degree. The expertise is clear, however South Carolina’s historic dominance of the SEC — and Daybreak Staley’s historic dominance over Vic Schaefer — retains the Gamecocks forward of the Longhorns for now.
UCLA can welcome again probably the most gamers from its Remaining 4 staff, with everybody eligible to return. Nevertheless, the nationwide semifinal flameout creates some doubt in regards to the Bruins’ general ceiling in contrast with the remainder of this crew, slotting them in fourth regardless of being the No. 1 staff for a lot of the season.
Kevin Durant is a fan of Sarah Sturdy’s sport 👏
Sturdy’s efficiency within the Nationwide Championship:
◽️24 PTS
◽️15 REB
◽️5 AST
◽️3 BLK
◽️2 STL
◽️10/15 FGM pic.twitter.com/HsGN9CcORO— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) April 6, 2025
SEC remains to be deepest convention
Past the co-conference champions, the remainder of the SEC can be reloading. LSU has the perimeter duo of Flau’jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams plus the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class, headlined by Grace Knox.
Tennessee’s Kim Caldwell can now get gamers to particularly match her system and has introduced within the second-best class with a number of dynamic guards to play alongside Talaysia Cooper, Zee Spearman and Ruby Whitehorn.
The one finest freshman is headed to Oklahoma to hitch Raegan Beers, Sahara Williams and Zya Vann. As such, all three groups, which all superior to the 2025 Candy 16, challenge within the prime 10.
Kentucky is tougher to judge with the lack of Georgia Amoore, who has been central to all the pieces Kenny Brooks has inbuilt Lexington and beforehand at Virginia Tech. Nevertheless, the return of three starters, together with Clara Strack, wholesome seasons for Jordan Obi and Dominika Paurova, plus Brooks’ historic success within the portal hold the Wildcats’ outlook excessive.
Vanderbilt returns the dynamic duo of Mikayla Blakes and Khamil Pierre. Mississippi State has many holes to fill, however a top-15 class coming in to encompass Madina Okot is value together with on this group.
I’m keeping track of Georgia as effectively. The Bulldogs struggled to a 4-12 SEC document in 2024-25 however beat the Girl Vols on the final day of the common season. Rising sophomores Trinity Turner and Mia Woolfolk are a robust core to construct round, and Katie Abrahamson-Henderson brings in a top-20 class.
Which younger groups can take subsequent step?
Duke slides into the highest 5 because it expects to carry again eight of its 10 rotation gamers. Ashlon Jackson had her finest season as a junior, and underclassmen Jadyn Donovan, Oluchi Okananwa and Toby Fournier have all taken vital steps ahead in Durham. With a real middle subsequent season in Arianna Roberson (who missed 2024-25 with an harm), the Blue Devils would possibly lastly have the items to make their first Remaining 4 in 20 years after arising one possession brief in 2025.
Iowa’s freshman class confirmed flashes in its first 12 months. Ava Heiden, Teagan Mallegni and Taylor Stremlow will should be rather more productive to get the Hawkeyes again to internet hosting within the first weekend, although incoming freshman Addison Deal ought to assist juice the offense.
Michigan’s trio of freshmen (Syla Swords, Olivia Olson and Mila Holloway) wants some reinforcements within the frontcourt. The Wolverines can get that within the portal — Swords’ highschool teammate Kate Koval, who would possibly depart Notre Dame, can be a superb addition. If that’s the case, the Wolverines might problem within the Massive Ten.
Louisville had 5 freshmen within the rotation final season, and the Cardinals discovered their subsequent cornerstone in Tajianna Roberts. The veterans are principally all gone apart from Ja’Leah Williams, however this rating is a wager on Roberts being adequate to steer Louisville and Mackenly Randolph filling in Olivia Cochran’s footwear.
Elsewhere within the ACC, this could be a 12 months early for NC State, contemplating the Wolfpack lose a trio of starters and haven’t any seniors. Nevertheless, the freshman class of Tilda Trygger, Lorena Awou, Zamareya Jones and Devyn Quigley is promising. With Zoe Brooks on the helm, there may be nonetheless rather a lot to work with.
Iowa State was the younger staff final season, and we simply can’t give up the potential of Audi Crooks and Addy Brown. The Cyclones’ ceiling remains to be in all probability restricted by Crooks’ protection, however to begin the 12 months, there may be an excessive amount of continuity and expertise to depart Iowa State out of the highest 15.
𝘼𝙡𝙡-𝘼𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙖 🇺🇸@AudiCrooks has been named a Third Crew All-American by the @AP and @USBWA!
🌪️🏀🌪️ | 📰: https://t.co/aSPesV0w9d pic.twitter.com/aR2MhnPRRF
— Cyclone Basketball (@CycloneWBB) March 19, 2025
And a nod to the WBIT champs, Minnesota. Even with out Mara Brown, the Golden Gophers’ core of Amaya Battle, Grace Grocholski and Tori McKinney did some particular issues to shut out the 2024-25 season. If Braun can ever be wholesome, and this rating presupposes that, Minnesota has so many lengthy, versatile forwards/wings and is a contemporary basketball fan’s dream.
Massive names lacking
Culling this record to 25, particularly in the beginning of the season, is all the time tough. Groups resembling Baylor, Ohio State, Columbia and West Virginia might simply have slotted in forward of Maryland or Alabama.
However let’s deal with the elephants within the room: the big-name groups that both didn’t make the rankings in any respect or barely squeezed in. Notre Dame slots in at 25 as a result of it’s not possible to exclude two-time first-team All-American Hannah Hidalgo altogether, even when she has primarily no different teammates however Cassandre Prosper after a portal exodus, which included backcourt mate Olivia Miles. No matter who finally ends up taking part in subsequent to Hidalgo in 2025-26, she will will the Irish to sufficient wins.
USC and TCU, groups that misplaced within the Elite Eight, couldn’t make the reduce, nonetheless. The Trojans are anticipated to be without JuJu Watkins for most of the season, they usually graduated 4 seniors who performed vital roles. Two of their three prime freshmen are within the portal, so the mix of Kennedy Smith, Malia Samuels and incoming Jazzy Davidson wasn’t sufficient to vault previous these different groups.
With TCU, the roster is barren. Though Mark Campbell will virtually actually signal a number of the finest transfers within the nation, as he has completed every of the previous two seasons, they aren’t in Fort Price but. Donovyn Hunter alone doesn’t make a top-25 staff.
(Illustration: Kelsea Petersen / The Athletic; Joe Buglewicz, Patrick McDermott, Jacob Kupferman / Getty Photographs)
