The start of the college basketball season for both men and women is coming up in less than one week. While many stars have transitioned to the WNBA, we still have the opportunity to see several talented players who will become household names at season's end.
On paper, the blue bloods of the women's game look to be back and as good as previous seasons. However, other schools utilized the portal really well to make their team a contender that people may not expect. Let's take a look at our personal top 10 for the upcoming season, revealing 10 through 6.
10. Ole Miss Rebels
Projected Starters:
G: Sira Thienou (Sophomore; 10.5 ppg, 4.7 rpg)
G: Kaitlin Peterson (Senior - Transfer from UCF; 21.4 ppg, 2.1 spg)
F: Christeen Iwuala (Senior; 6.8 ppg, 4.7 rpg)
F: Cotie McMahon (Senior - Transfer from Ohio State; 16.5 ppg, 4.7 rpg)
F: Latasha Lattimore (Senior - Transfer from Virginia; 14.3 ppg, 8.2 rpg)
Head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin did a great job in the offseason by maintaining some of the key players from the Rebels' Sweet 16 team while also being extremely active in the portal. They bring in eight portal players, with the top ones being Cotie McMahon from Ohio State, Kaitlin Peterson from UCF, and Jayla Murray from Wichita State, who is going to be big off the bench. The Rebels bring a combination of transfers and returners, as well as newcomers and veterans, to have depth that could make them very dangerous this season.
9. Duke Blue Devils
Projected Starters:
G: Ashlon Jackson (Sr; 12.1 ppg, 37.1% 3pt)
G: Emilee Skinner (Fr; #4 in ESPN NEXT 100 2025)
G: Jadyn Donovan (Jr; 5.1 ppg, 6.4 rpg)
F: Toby Fournier (So; 13.2 ppg, 5.3 rpg)
F: Delaney Thomas (Jr; 7.4 ppg, 4.7 rpg)
The Blue Devils team that made the elite 8 last year and was oh, so close to making the final four is back with a vengeance this season. Three starters return on the team, including the ACC Rookie of the Year in Toby Fournier. Add on the fact that they add a top 5 recruit in the Class of 2025 in Emilee Skinner, and this is a Blue Devils squad that many have argued could be better than last season. Unlike many other teams, Duke is challenging themselves right away with a season-opening game against Baylor. We will see right away what Duke can do this season.
8. Maryland Terrapins
Projected Starters:
G: Bri McDaniel (Sr; 10.5 ppg, 2.4 apg)
G: Kaylene Smikle (Sr; 17.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg)
G: Oluchi Okananwa (Jr - Transfer from Duke; 10.1 ppg, 5.3 rpg)
F: Yarden Garzon (Sr - Transfer from Indiana; 14.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg)
F: Breanna Williams (RS-FR; DNP in 2024, #45 Recruit in ESPN NEXT Rankings 2024)
Many were unsure how the Terrapins would be this year after losing several key pieces of their team from last year. However, coach Brenda Frese is going to have another solid squad this season, retaining their leading scorer in guard Kaylene Smikle and getting two solid transfers in the portal in Oluchi Okananwa from Duke and Yarden Garzon from Indiana. Saylor Poffenberger will be a great sixth player, and also got Wisconsin's Gatorade player of the year in Rainey Welson. The Terrapins will be as balanced a team as we will see this season, and a team to watch out for.
7. Tennessee Volunteers
Projected Starters:
G: Nya Robertson (Sr - Transfer from SMU; 18.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg)
G: Ruby Whitehorn (Sr; 11.6 ppg, 4.0 rpg)
G: Talaysia Cooper (Jr; 16.6 ppg, 3.1 spg)
F: Janiah Barker (Sr - Transfer from UCLA; 7.4 ppg, 6.0 rpg)
F: Zee Speerman (Sr; 11.7 ppg, 6.0 rpg)
The Volunteers have put themselves in a great position to be competitive in the talented SEC, not only for this year but for several years to come. As far as this year goes, they bring back their best player in Talaysia Cooper, while also bringing in some key transfers, including Nya Robertson from SMU, who was an All-ACC guard last season. Jersey Wolfenbarger from LSU is another solid transfer who will provide a great presence down low. They have five recruits from the Class of 2025 that rank in the top 60 in ESPN's NEXT 100 rankings, so they will be a dangerous team this year and for many years to come.
6. Texas Longhorns
Projected Starters:
G: Rori Harmon (Sr; 9.3 ppg, 5.9 apg)
G: Aaliyah Crump (Fr; #5 recruit in ESPN Next 100 2025)
F: Madison Booker (Jr; 16.3 ppg, 6.1 rpg)
F: Breya Cunningham (Jr - Transfer from Arizona; 11.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg)
C: Kyla Oldacre (Sr - 8.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg)
Coming back from a final four appearance can be difficult for some teams, but the Longhorns are in a position where they very well could do it again. They return a First-Team All-American in Madison Booker and their team's leader in assists in Rori Harmon. Many have looked at that duo alone and have called them one of the better duos in the country. Add some solid transfers and recruits coming into the portal along with some key bench players from last season's final four run, and this could be a Longhorn team that will challenge some of the better teams this season.
Up next and coming soon. The top 5 heading into the 2025-26 season!