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There will probably be tons of upsets all through the 2023-24 school basketball season, after all, however we’re betting the final groups standing subsequent April will probably be some acquainted names. Don’t @ us.
Right here’s our official 2023-24 Ladies’s Faculty Basketball season preview.
1. LSU: No person can predict what Tigers coach Kim Mulkey will probably be carrying whereas prowling the sidelines, however everyone is aware of All-American Angel Reese is an unstoppable drive. Louisville switch Hailey Van Lith is a standout, and the backcourt is top-shelf.
2. Connecticut: Paige Bueckers is again and wholesome and can be a part of Azzi Fudd within the nation’s high backcourt. Help machine Nika Mühl is one other high guard, whereas ahead Aaliyah Edwards is a big-time expertise up entrance. If she will get assist in the paint, UConn may cling one other banner.
3. Iowa: When you don’t learn about Caitlin Clark, you could have been watching hockey all final winter. The high-scoring guard is among the nation’s finest, however she wants assist. Guards Kate Martin and Gabbie Marshall are high candidates, however Clark is the massive present.
4. UCLA: Guards Charisma Osborne and Kiki Rice are the massive names, however the Bruins welcome again eight gamers from final 12 months’s rotation and add 6-7 heart Lauren Betts from Stanford. Ahead Emily Bessoir is able to bust out.
5. South Carolina: Daybreak Staley’s Gamecocks at the moment are Remaining 4 fixtures, and there’s no purpose to assume they received’t get there this 12 months. Oregon switch Te-Hina Paopao is a big-time guard, and Kamilla Cardoso will probably be unstoppable inside.
6. Utah: No person knew concerning the Utes earlier than final 12 months, however they know now. A Candy 16 look and the return of all 5 starters, led by star ahead Alissa Pili, means Utah will entice far more consideration this time.
7. Ohio State: The Buckeyes might have a while for the offense to develop, however OSU will play some nasty D from day one. Including a backcourt ballhawk like Celeste Taylor from Duke will make Ohio State even harder to deal with.
8. Texas: Some would possibly assume this can be a bit excessive for the ’Horns, but when ahead Aaliyah Moore’s knee is healed, it may not be excessive sufficient. Rori Harmon is a two-way dynamo at guard, and Shaylee Gonzales is one other harmful backcourt weapon.
9. Indiana: Sure, Grace Berger is gone, however have you ever met Mackenzie Holmes? If not, get acquainted along with her. She’s an enormous menace inside, and will opponents double her, there are a bunch of shooters exterior to loosen up the D.
10. Virginia Tech: The Hokies are loaded with expertise, and if everyone will get alongside like final 12 months, look out. Middle Elizabeth Kitley will workforce with standout guards Georgia Amoore and Cayla King in a tricky, inside-out combo, whereas Minnesota switch Alanna Micheaux will assist loads inside.
11. Tennessee: It’s exhausting to imagine the Vols haven’t received the SEC in 10 years, however this crew will mount an enormous problem. Ahead Rickea Jackson is a standout, whereas 6-6 pivot Tamari Key can lock down the center. Belmont level guard switch Destinee Wells can dish and rating.
12. Notre Dame: It’s all concerning the backcourt in South Bend, and the highest guard is Olivia Miles—offered her knee is healed. Sharpshooter Sonia Citron is a superb weapon, whereas freshman Hannah Hidalgo may very well be particular immediately.
13. Baylor: These Bears will pile up the factors, because of a roster loaded with bucket-getters. Guard Sarah Andrews leads the best way, however Darianna Littlepage-Buggs, Aijha Blackwell, Jada Walker and Dre’Una Edwards can all fill it up.
14. Mississippi: Not everyone on the Insurgent roster began at Ole Miss, however followers are certain completely satisfied they got here to campus. Marquesha Davis, Madison Scott, and Snudda Collins are the core of a tricky defensive unit fortified by gifted transfers.
15. Louisville: Sure, the Playing cards misplaced Hailey Van Lith to the portal, however they added slick level guard Jayda Curry to a workforce with high-scoring guards Sydney Taylor and Kiki Jefferson. U of L will miss Van Lith, however this 12 months’s aggregation could be particular.
16. North Carolina: The Tar Heels are deep, skilled and harmful. Count on newcomers Lexi Donarski and Maria Gakdeng to contribute immediately, whereas Deja Kelly and Alyssa Ustby are again after incomes first-team All-ACC honors a 12 months in the past.
17. Florida State: Ta’Niya Latson’s damage late final 12 months harm the Seminoles vastly. However she’s again, together with high-scoring Makayla Timpson and Sara Bejedi, an inside-out tandem. Look out for switch guard Alexis Tucker.
18. Maryland: You by no means have to fret concerning the Terps making sufficient exterior pictures. They will launch. The arrival of switch Jakia Brown-Turner will make Maryland much more harmful. Shyanne Sellers is a superb distributor, however depth may very well be an issue.
19. Colorado: Everyone’s speaking about Coach Prime and the CU soccer workforce, however the Buffs must be powerful on the hardwood, too, thanks to 6 high returnees, most notably guard Jaylyn Sherrod and ahead Quay Miller.
20. Stanford: The Cardinal misplaced a ton of gamers from final 12 months’s squad, and Tara VanDerveer’s rotation will probably be skinny, however ahead Cameron Brink is a star, and Talana Lepolo has lots of potential on the level.
21. USC: The large information will probably be made by the newcomers. Former Ivy League snipers McKenzie Forbes and Kayla Padilla have expertise, however the massive identify is freshman JuJu Watkins, who is nearly unstoppable off the dribble.
22. Creighton: Defending the Bluejays is hardly a straightforward job as a result of they transfer the ball so properly and find yourself with a bunch of open three-pointers. 4 key gamers—Lauren Jensen, Morgan Maly, Emma Ronsiek and Molly Mogensen—are again to fireplace away.
23. Washington State: The Coogs are hoping to get their first-ever NCAA tourney win this 12 months, and a deep returning solid, led by Charlisse Leger-Walker, may properly make it occur. Wazzu is knocking. It’s time to get by means of the door.
24. Nebraska: Cornhusker followers desire to neglect the top of final season, however the returning duo of Jaz Shelley and Alexis Markowski ought to make ’23-24 memorable. Montana State switch Darian White is first-rate.
25. Kansas State: Gabby Gregory determined yet another 12 months in Manhattan was a good suggestion, and which means massive issues for the Wildcats. If 6-6 heart Ayoka Lee is wholesome, Okay-State will probably be a serious Huge 12 issue.
Images by way of Getty Photos. LSU portrait by Marcus Stevens.
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