Girls’s school basketball top-25 preseason groups for 2024-25, ranked and defined

Final season, South Carolina was good. The Gamecocks completed the season 38-0, defeating Iowa and Caitlin Clark’s crew within the nationwide championship sport to take house the trophy.

With South Carolina returning 10 gamers from its championship group, the Gamecocks undeniably enter this season as the favourite. Nonetheless, with many groups trying totally different with transfers and incoming gifted freshmen it must be one other thrilling and aggressive season in ladies’s school basketball.

We break down the highest groups forward of the season beginning on Monday. We’ve enlisted the consultants from our SB Nation group communities to assist preview the top-25 groups coming into the yr. Right here’s what that you must find out about this season’s prime groups.

No. 25 Indiana

The Mackenzie Holmes Period of Indiana ladies’s basketball drew to an in depth this previous season when this system’s all-time main scorer ran out of eligibility. With out her and star sharpshooter Sara Scalia, it very a lot appears like a web page turning second for the Hoosiers.

The group nonetheless has key items like Chloe Moore-McNeil, Sydney Parrish and Yarden Garzon. Teri Moren and co added a brand new capturing expertise, Shay Ciezki, by way of the portal whereas bolstering the frontcourt with Karoline Striplin. They’ll be in search of jumps from Lilly Meister, Lexus Bargesser, Lenee Beaumont and Jules LaMendola to compete within the new look Large Ten. — L.C. Norton, The Crimson Quarry

No. 24 Alabama

Head coach Kristy Curry will look to skilled guard and preseason All-SEC First Staff choice Sarah Ashlee Barker to assist lead her group to an NCAA match berth. Alabama may even lean on senior guard Aaliyah Nye as nicely to be a player-maker. The Tide made it to the second spherical of the NCAA match final yr earlier than falling to No. 1 seed Texas and will make the Large Dance once more this yr, however face a whole lot of robust groups of their convention. — Beth Maiman, SB Nation

No. 23 Nebraska

The Huskers are coming off their first NCAA match win below head coach Amy Williams. Nebraska returns three of their prime 4 scorers together with All Large Ten First Teamer and double-double machine Alexis Markowski. The outlet left by WNBA draft choose Jaz Shelley must be crammed by the return of Allison Weidner from damage and the arrival of 5 star recruit Britt Prince. Reigning Large Ten Freshman of the Yr Natalie Potts shined her first yr within the frontcourt, which suggests opponents can not sport plan solely to cease Markowski. Callin Hake was the fifth starter within the exhibition sport, however Florida switch Alberte Rimdal seems to be proper within the combine. The Huskers have the items for one more stable season.

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Whereas the celebs might get the early ink, the key sauce for a lot of Nebraska’s success final yr got here from their depth. Amy Williams performs her whole roster each sport, and never simply token minutes both. Gamers know what is anticipated of them when they’re on the ground, similar to lockdown defender (Kendall Moriarty), three-point murderer (Logan Nissley), or clog the paint (Jess Petrie). The reserves play their roles nicely, however their expertise permits them to be opportunistic and take benefit when opponents’ sport plans don’t account for that depth. — Jon Johnston, Corn Nation

No. 22 Kentucky

After an incredible run at Virginia Tech, Kenny Brooks is now main the cost in Lexington. He hopes to carry the ladies’s program to unprecedented success, simply as he did in Blacksburg, and he’ll achieve this with former Hokies All-American Georgia Amoore, who shall be among the many finest ground generals in school basketball. She’ll look to take action alongside former Virginia Tech heart Clara Strack, who has the potential to turn into an All-SEC-caliber participant after a promising freshman season.

A extra under-the-radar identify to observe for shall be freshman Clara Silva, a world prospect from Portugal who had an enormous exhibiting on this yr’s FIBA U18 EuroBasket Championships after enjoying professionally in Spain.

After failing to make the NCAA match in every of the previous two years, search for Brooks to information this group again to the Large Dance and doubtlessly win a number of video games there. —Jason Marcum, A Sea Of Blue, @marcum89

No. 21 Creighton

From Edwin Garcia at Swish Enchantment: The Bluejays pose the most important menace to UConn. They’re ranked No. 21 within the AP ballot and completed 15-3 within the Large East final yr. With Lauren Jensen and Morgan Maly returning for one final dance, Creighton shall be pretty much as good as ever and shouldn’t be taken flippantly.

No. 20 Ole Miss

Yolett McPhee-McCuin has legitimately constructed a prime 25 program at Ole Miss that was in absolute ruins when she took over. From 0-16 in SEC play early on in her tenure, the pinnacle coach has introduced in WNBA expertise and produced constantly in one of many hardest conferences in America. The departures of Marquesha Davis and Snudda Collins can’t be understated, however final yr’s group had an early setback from an damage to KK Deans who returns for one more season in Oxford. Madison Scott and Kennedy Todd-Williams will cleared the path for a squad seeking to break again into the Candy Sixteen. — By Ben Piper, @OneMan2BeatRCR, Pink Cup Rebel

No. 19 Florida State

From Cat Ariail at Swish Enchantment: Expertise additionally shall be important at Florida State, the place junior guard Ta’Niya Latson and senior ahead Makayla Timpson, each of whom have been chosen to the Preseason All-ACC Staff, are set to steer the Seminoles. Final season, the Noles have been the convention’s highest scoring group, propelled by the scoring exploits of Latson, who averaged nearly 22 factors a sport. Search for FSU to stay a point-scoring powerhouse in 2024-25.

No. 18 Maryland

Coming off a disappointing season final yr, Maryland ladies’s basketball appears to bounce again with a reconstructed roster. Head coach Brenda Frese and the Terps introduced in seven transfers and three freshmen to pair with 5 returners, hoping for enchancment.

Shyanne Sellers and Bri McDaniel are again after being the celebs of final yr’s group, and transfers Saylor Poffenbarger, Sarah Te-Biasu and Kaylene Smikle ought to spherical out the beginning 5.

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The Terps might have a while to regulate with a largely a brand new roster, however they’ll have an opportunity to show themselves towards the nation’s finest, with eight video games towards ranked opponents and 12 video games towards groups that made the 2024 NCAA Event.

Maryland remained within the preseason prime 25 for the fifteenth consecutive season, after falling out of rankings final yr for the primary time since 2010-11. — Ben Messinger, @benmessi_, Testudo Occasions

No. 17 Louisville

From Cat Ariail at Swish Enchantment: Louisville welcomes a five-player freshman class, headlined by three prime 25 recruits in guard Imari Berry, ahead Mackenly Randolph and guard Tajianna Roberts. Berry has been named to the ACC’s Newcomer Watch Checklist. Senior guard Ja’Leah Williams additionally has traded the inexperienced and orange of Miami for Louisville’s crimson and white. Nonetheless, the Cardinals success will come all the way down to skilled returners: senior guard Jayda Curry and graduate ahead Olivia Cochran. To prepare for an enormous season, Curry spent a part of the offseason in Paris, coaching with Cardinals legend Angel McCoughtry.

No. 16 West Virginia

Expectations are excessive for the No. 16 West Virginia’s ladies’s basketball group as they enter their second season below head coach Mark Kellogg. The Mountaineers return eight gamers, together with 4 of 5 starters, led by senior guard JJ Quinerly. Quinerly emerged as one of many nation’s prime gamers final season, incomes All-Large 12 and Defensive Participant of the Yr honors. She’s joined within the backcourt by Jordan Harrison, whose playmaking and defensive prowess earned her a spot on the All-Large 12 Second Staff as a freshman.

Collectively, Quinerly and Harrison type one of the dynamic backcourts within the nation, and so they’re flanked by veterans Kylee Blacksten and Kyah Watson, each returning starters. Watson was a drive on the glass final season, main the group in rebounds.

West Virginia’s identification is constructed across the full-court press protection. Final yr, the Mountaineers led the nation in turnover margin and have been among the many prime in pressured turnovers, thanks largely to their prime trio in steals — Quinerly, Harrison, and Watson — who mixed for a staggering 271 steals. The protection will get an added increase this season with the arrival of switch Sydney Woodley, who racked up 104 steals final yr at Lengthy Seashore State.

The Mountaineers kick off the yr on Nov. 5 towards Towson on the WVU Coliseum. — Michael Miller, The Smoking Musket

No. 15 North Carolina

Issues resulted in fairly brutal vogue final season for the Tar Heels. After getting instantly bounced within the ACC match by Miami, they’d make it to the second spherical of the NCAA match solely to run into the brick wall that was South Carolina. After shedding that sport by 47 factors, it was time to regroup — former UNC guard Deja Kelly packed her baggage and flew out to Oregon, Courtney Banghart introduced in some key transfers, and most significantly, Alyssa Utsby, Lexi Donarski, and Maria Gakdeng caught round to attempt their arms at getting redemption for what was a poor 2023-24 postseason.

The secret for UNC this season shall be spacing — Donarski would be the head on the three-point capturing snake, however Banghart additionally introduced in Arizona State switch Trayanna Crisp so as to add some firepower to this offense. This can assist maintain the necessity for capturing, however what about playmaking? That’s the place Grace Townsend is available in — the Richmond switch averaged 5.5 assists per sport with the Spiders, which was second-best within the Atlantic 10 convention.

We are going to possible study lots about what this group is manufactured from in a short time, as they’ll face off towards UConn on November fifteenth. Very similar to the lads’s group, the potential for the ladies to have a enjoyable season is there, however whether or not or not they’ll is anyone’s guess. Constant capturing and extra resilience shall be wanted if this group needs to make a whole lot of noise within the NCAA match as a substitute of leaving early in a whimper. — Brandon Anderson @thbbrandon, Tar Heel Weblog

No. 14 Ohio State

It would come as a shock seeing Ohio State ladies’s basketball again within the prime 25 contemplating all of the group misplaced. After an early second spherical NCAA match exit, AP All-American Jacy Sheldon and Defensive Participant of the Yr finalist Celeste Taylor every left for the WNBA. Plus the commencement of beginning ahead Rebeka Mikulasikova and Ohio State is changing over half its beginning 5.

Nonetheless, head coach Kevin McGuff used the switch portal and the 2024 recruiting class to maintain the Buckeyes aggressive. Former Kentucky and LSU ahead Ajae Petty brings a ten.6 rebounds per sport common within the SEC to a Scarlet and Grey facet who ranked final within the Large Ten in rebounds per sport. Then, sharpshooter Probability Grey returned to her house state after two seasons in Oregon. Then, No. 1 total level guard recruit Jaloni Cambridge enters the group following a nationwide championship-winning last highschool season.

Photograph by Pamela Costello/NBAE through Getty Pictures

Add AP All-American Honorable Point out Cotie McMahon and a guard/ahead hybrid who hurts groups on each side of the court docket in Taylor Thierry and Ohio State will nonetheless problem close to the highest of the convention. Coach McGuff nonetheless has his havoc-inducing full court docket press, and the pace added by way of Cambridge and Grey shouldn’t decelerate the tempo for the Buckeyes.

The massive query is can all the brand new items get on the identical web page in sufficient time to make an affect by the point postseason play comes round? — Thomas Costello, @1thomascostello, Land-Grant Holy Land

No. 13 Kansas State

Ok-State has been a robust program the previous few years, however accidents to star heart Ayoka Lee has hampered their capability to get excessive. The Wildcats have been potent sufficient to go 2-1 over two seasons towards Caitlin Clark and Iowa, however withered down the stretch in Large 12 play each seasons and made early exits from the large dance. This season shall be Lee’s final rodeo, and he or she brings skilled assist to attempt to money in lastly.

A No. 4 seed within the NCAA match final yr, the Cats return over 85% of their manufacturing, with All-Large 12 first teamer senior Serena Sundell returning and the Glynn Twins — Jawlyn and Brylee — again in assist. The massive loss is guard Gabby Gregory, whose 2023-24 season was much less productive than prior years; moving into her sneakers shall be Tulsa switch Temira Pointdexter, the participant of the yr within the American final season.

Jeff Mittie has executed a improbable job bringing complementary items in on the recruiting path, and Ok-State has excessive hopes after being named the preseason No. 1 within the Large 12. However Iowa State and Baylor lurk, and TCU and West Virginia are going to be robust outs as nicely; No. 21 Creighton and No. 11 Duke are additionally looming on the non-conference schedule. Holding Lee wholesome would be the precedence; as she goes, so will go the Wildcats. — Jon Morse, Carry on the Cats

No. 12 Baylor

Final season, the Bears have been robust on the guard place, particularly with Sarah Andrews and Jada Walker main the way in which. This season, Baylor picked up switch heart Aaronette Vonleh from Colorado. Led by head coach Nicki Collen, Baylor has a chance to essentially make waves within the Large 12 and can look to compete for the highest group within the convention towards Iowa State and Kansas State.

Baylor ought to face first rate competitors on the Battle 4 Atlantis vacation match round Thanksgiving. How the group preforms there might be a key indicator for a way prepared they’re to steer the Large 12 convention and in the end what they might carry come match time in March. — Beth Maiman, SB Nation

No. 11 Duke

Duke made it to the Candy 16 spherical in final yr’s NCAA match and upset 2-seed Ohio State within the spherical of 32. Led be head coach Kara Lawson, the Blue Devils ought to discover their method again to the NCAA match once more this season.

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Duke is a well-balanced group with loads of depth. Senior guard Reigan Richardson leads the Blue Devils together with a handful of returning gamers. The Blue Devils additionally welcome in freshman Toby Fournier, a top-10 recruit for the 2024 class, and often known as a gifted, younger Canadian who went viral at 14 years previous for her impressing dunking expertise. — Beth Maiman, SB Nation

No. 10 Oklahoma

The Sooners enter the SEC with many returning gamers and a key new switch in former Oregon State star Reagan Beers. Final season, Beers lead the nation in subject objective proportion (66.37%) and averaged 17 factors and 10 rebounds a sport. Oklahoma additionally returns final yr’s Co-Large 12 Participant of the Yr, Skylar Vann, who averaged 15 factors and 7 rebounds final season. Vann was honored as a preseason All-SEC Second Staff nominee.

It is going to be fascinating to see how Oklahoma stands up in its new convention, because the SEC had eight groups make the NCAA match final season. The Sooners will look to make their fourth consecutive NCAA match berth and may be capable of given the energy of their returning expertise. The beginning of their schedule isn’t too grueling, so how they present as much as convention video games would be the true take a look at for a way the Sooners’ season might go. — Beth Maiman, SB Nation

No. 9 NC State

NC State had a tremendous run final season, going to the Last 4 and calling themselves the “social gathering crashers” because the No. 3 seed upset Texas to make it to Cleveland. The Wolfpack return the dynamic duo of Aziaha James and Saniya Rivers, together with guard Zoe Brooks. NC State, led by head coach Wes Moore, might discover themselves making one other run in March resulting from their expertise and returners. The Wolfpack additionally add the No. 21 recruit within the nation in incoming freshman Zamareya Jones, who will add to the already spectacular backcourt.

NC State could have a take a look at early within the season when the group takes on South Carolina on Nov. 10 in a rematch for the semifinals final season. — Beth Maiman, SB Nation

No. 8 Iowa State

From Beckett Harrison at Swish Enchantment: Audi Crooks, stomping into her sophomore season, might by no means be ignored once more. Crooks was solely the No. 57-ranked ladies’s basketball recruit within the class of 2023 in keeping with ESPN’s HoopGurlz. She ended her freshman yr as one of the promising younger gamers within the nation. Crooks set the Iowa State report for many subject objectives made in a season, and was the primary freshman in class historical past to be named an AP All-American honorable point out. She was the third highest scoring freshman within the nation, trailing USC’s JuJu Watkins and Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo.

Don’t let the heliocentric nature of Criminal’s utilization idiot you—this Iowa State group has depth. Final season they took No. 9 ranked Stanford to time beyond regulation within the second spherical of the NCAA match, shedding by solely six regardless of Crooks capturing an abysmal 3-for-21. Addy Brown, additionally getting into her second season, averaged 13 factors, eight rebounds, and 5 assists as a freshman.

Iowa State will make the NCAA match. That looks like a foregone conclusion. Nonetheless, their capability to contend for a Large 12 championship, and a nationwide championship, could also be intrinsically tied as to if Crooks can take a sophomore playmaking leap and broaden her horizons past scoring.

No. 7 LSU

The Angel Reese period at LSU has ended and it is going to be fascinating to see how Kim Mulkey’s squad appears with the dominant famous person now not there. Nonetheless, the Tigers do have loads of expertise that has skilled NCAA match runs earlier than. Returners Aneesah Morrow, Flau’jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams shall be key to the Tigers’ success for this upcoming season.

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Together with Reese, LSU misplaced guard Hailey Van Lith, who transferred to TCU within the offseason. Nonetheless, LSU picked up Shayeann Day-Wilson (Miami) and Kailyn Gilbert (Arizona) from the switch portal. What doubtlessly stands in LSU’s method are robust convention foes in Texas and South Carolina. Nonetheless, as they’ve confirmed earlier than, the Tigers could make it to the Last 4 even when folks doubt them. — Beth Maiman, SB Nation

No. 6 Notre Dame

The Notre Dame ladies’s basketball group is again to being one of many elite groups within the ACC after a rebuilding course of through head coach Niele Ivey after the retirement of Irish legend Muffet McGraw. Notre Dame gained the ACC final season and have been as scorching as any group within the nation till they fell within the Candy 16 matchup to the Oregon State Beavers.

Issues are projected to be just a little totally different for the Irish this season — higher, even.

Notre Dame has had a number of star gamers go down with critical accidents over the previous few years, however the well being of the roster is in nice form to start out the brand new season — and what a powerful roster it’s. The Irish return three of the very best guards within the nation with Sonia Citron (14.4 profession ppg), Olivia Miles (13.6 profession ppg), and Hannah Hidalgo (22.6 profession ppg).

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If there was a roster weak point for the Irish over the previous few years, it has been the shortage of depth within the frontcourt. Notre Dame returns ahead Maddy Westbeld for a fifth season together with senior Kylee Watson, and their accidents final season caught as much as the Irish within the NCAA Event.

Notre Dame hit the switch portal for Liatu King from the Pitt Panthers. Final season, King averaged 18.7 factors and 10.3 rebounds per sport on her technique to a 1st-team All ACC choice.

Ivey additionally did an exquisite job on the recruiting path and signed the highest publish participant within the nation in Kate Koval. At the same time as a freshman, Koval shall be anticipated to supply a whole lot of minutes for the Irish this season.

Notre Dame will begin the season ranked No. 6, and can want all of that wholesome depth instantly. By the center of December, Notre Dame could have performed No. 3 Southern Cal, No. 4 Texas Longhorns, and No. 2 UConn Huskies, so we must always know pretty early how good the Irish may be this season.

One other ACC Championship is on the desk for Notre Dame, but when they’ll keep wholesome and a few newcomers play their half — Ivey could have this group preventing for one more Nationwide Championship. — Joshua Vowels, One Foot Down

No. 5 UCLA

The Bruins have prime returning expertise in KiKi Rice and Lauren Betts to steer UCLA to success in its first yr of Large Ten convention play. Head coach Cori Shut additionally added former Pac-12 switch expertise in Washington State switch Charlisse Leger-Walker and Oregon State switch Timea Gardiner, in addition to Texas A&M switch Janiah Barker.

UCLA additionally has three top-100 recruits that be a part of the roster this season. In what must be a really aggressive Large Ten convention, the Bruins shall be examined all through the season. How they present up in March and their match hopes shall be fascinating to observe play out.

UCLA opens the season dealing with No. 17 Louisville in Paris, France and tackle No. 1 South Carolina at house on November 24. — Beth Maiman, SB Nation

No. 4 Texas

If questions encompass head coach Rodney Terry’s capability to teach on the highest degree on the lads’s facet of the Texas basketball facility, fifth-year head coach Vic Schaefer is attempting to show that he can lead the Longhorns again to the Last 4 for the primary time in additional than 20 years. Texas has been shut below Schaefer, making the Elite Eight in three of his first 4 seasons on the Forty Acres, however he hasn’t damaged by way of to the ultimate weekend since main Mississippi State to back-to-back nationwide runner-up finishes in 2017 and 2018.

The items actually seem like in place – star level guard Rori Harmon is again after tearing his ACL late final yr and star level ahead Madison Booker, who took over because the lead ball-handler when Harmon went down, changing into the primary freshman to win the Large 12 Participant of the Yr award. So too are ahead Aaliyah Moore, seeking to construct on a sensational run to the Large 12 match title, guard Shay Holle, the group’s emotional heart, and ahead Taylor Jones, a stout inside presence.

Photograph by Steph Chambers/Getty Pictures

Schaefer’s groups are at all times identified for his or her toughness and gritty protection, however the limiting issue within the group’s upside over the past a number of seasons has been the shortage of three-point capturing. Harmon and Booker are each low-volume long-distance shooters, though Holle gives extra of a menace. The actual three-point capturing must come from the transfers and signees, a gaggle that features Michigan switch guard Laila Phelia, who shot 41.7 % from three on 3.2 makes an attempt per sport, and the nation’s No. 9 prospect, guard Jordan Lee. — Wescott Eberts, @SBN_Wescott, Burnt Orange Nation

No. 3 Southern California

As far a skilled expertise, USC appears like a squad that would compete with a number of the finest groups within the nation this upcoming season. Led by star JuJu Watkins, who now enters her second season of school hoops, the Trojans picked up some spectacular names through the switch portal this offseason. Graduate transfers Kiki Iriafen and Talia von Oelhoffen ought to actually assist a USC group who made it to the Elite Eight in final yr’s NCAA match.

So as to add to the potential for the Trojans, head coach Lindsay Gottlieb has the No. 1-ranked freshman class led by prime recruit Southern California native Kennedy Smith. USC opens its season in Paris towards fellow-ranked Ole Miss on Monday. How good the group appears to start out the season earlier than getting into Large Ten play shall be telling on what we might anticipate some March. — Beth Maiman, SB Nation

No. 2 UConn

Final season, UConn reached the Last 4 with an injury-ravaged roster due to a veteran core of Paige Bueckers, Aaliyah Edwards and Nika Muhl. Now, the Huskies will attempt to do it a unique method, buying and selling expertise for depth and expertise. Bueckers is again because the lone wholesome upperclassman, although Aubrey Griffin and Azzi Fudd are anticipated to return from damage after the season begins.

Past them, there’s a bunch of sophomores in vastly totally different phases of their improvement, headlined by KK Arnold and Ashlynn Shade, who began the ultimate 33 video games and helped hold UConn afloat after accidents struck final yr.

By way of newcomers, the Huskies added Kaitlyn Chen, a two-time First Staff All-Ivy choice at Princeton, alongside a freshman class that options Sarah Robust (ESPN’s prime 2024 prospect), Allie Ziebell (No. 7) and Morgan Cheli (No. 11).

With all of the youth and new faces, the Huskies gained’t be a completed product on day one. They’ll have a number of weeks to get every thing sorted earlier than they start a defining stretch that features No. 17 Louisville, No. 6 Notre Dame, No. 8 Iowa State and No. 3 USC in a five-game span.

Nonetheless, UConn’s seasons are measured by what occurs in April, not December — and there shouldn’t be a lot doubt that the Huskies shall be among the many final groups standing. Bueckers will get the Huskies to the Last 4 however the remainder of the roster will determine whether or not they win all of it. — Daniel Connolly, The UConn Weblog

No. 1 South Carolina

It is going to be onerous to prime final yr’s good season for the Gamecocks, however we all know head coach Daybreak Staley and squad will definitely attempt. With all of the returning expertise for South Carolina, it could not be stunning to see them as soon as once more again on the Last 4.

South Carolina did lose a key piece to its success final season, as star heart Kamilla Cardoso graduated and headed to the WNBA. Nonetheless, the group returns 10 gamers from the 2024 nationwide championship roster. As well as, Staley provides two freshman to the roster, the general No. 3 recruit Joyce Edwards and a top-100 recruit in Maddy McDaniel. With a stacked roster, whether or not they see a lot of enjoying time is unknown proper now.

Expectations shall be excessive for South Carolina, because the Gamecocks ought to stay the group to beat all season lengthy. — Beth Maiman, SB Nation