Parity has been the theme of the NCAA women’s basketball season. For the first time in recent memory, There isn't a unanimous top-ranked team. Or have a clear choice to claim the national championship.
There is, however, a clear group of top contenders that separated themselves from the pack. The list features storied programs, recent powerhouses and teams seeking their first Final Four appearance, which sets up an exciting quest for a champion in this year’s tournament .
1. UCLA
Only one competitor boasts merely two defeats heading into March Madness: UCLA. With an impressive record of 30 wins against just 2 losses, the Bruins didn’t experience defeat until halfway through February. The sole teams to triumph over them were their conference rivals from USC, who managed this feat twice during the regular season. However, UCLA avenged these setbacks by winning the Big Ten championship match.
Lauren Betts, standing at an impressive 6 feet 7 inches, is not only a leading contender for national player of the year but also a dominant presence in the paint for the Bruins. Her exceptional play has been pivotal to UCLA's achievements this season. With averages of 19.6 points and 9.7 rebounds per game, she presents a significant challenge for top-tier teams across the nation. Supported by a skilled lineup of guards led by point guard Kiki Rice, Betts played a crucial role as UCLA maintained their position near the summit of league standings throughout much of the campaign.
Before the advent of NCAA women’s basketball, the Bruins had already achieved significant postseason success by winning the AIAW championship in 1978. This year, they surpassed previous milestones with their inaugural 30-victory campaign. Now, aiming higher than ever before, they hope to secure their first-ever appearance at the Final Four and claim an NCAA championship.
2. South Carolina
In recent years, South Carolina has consistently been among the top contenders for the national championship. At this point last year, the Gamecocks had yet to lose a game and maintained their unbeaten record all the way through April. they lifted their third national championship trophy South Carolina (30-3) isn't the clear frontrunner this time around, but the Gamecocks still have a chance to claim the title once more.
South Carolina doesn’t rely on a lone standout player; instead, they thrive due to their team depth. The squad features eight players logging over 19 minutes each game. Notably, both top scorers—freshman Joyce Edwards and dynamic sophomore guard Milaysia Fulwiley—are reserves. No individual scores more than 14 points per game, yet seven contributors tally at least six points, matching the highest number of double-digit scoring teammates nationally among those appearing in at least 25 contests. This balanced effort contributes significantly to South Carolina’s league-leading average of 41.5 bench points per game.
The Gamecocks also rank first in Her Hoop Stats’ defensive rating (which adjusts points allowed per 100 possessions for strength of schedule) for the fourth season in a row. While this year’s squad doesn’t feature the dominance in the lane of recent South Carolina teams, it makes up for that with versatility in its frontcourt and its guards’ ability to lock down opponents one-on-one.
3. USC
The biggest star in women’s college basketball hails from Los Angeles. JuJu Watkins already has led USC to 28 wins and the Big Ten regular season title this year.
Watkins is at her best when the lights are brightest, as evidenced by her standout performances in all three games against UCLA this season, in which she averaged more than 30 points. While her scoring is her most heralded trait, Watkins’s ability to affect the game on both ends is crucial to the Trojans’ success.
What separates this year’s Trojans (28-3) from last year’s squad is the elite talent surrounding Watkins. Most notably, the addition of Stanford transfer Kiki Iriafen gives USC an undeniable presence in the post, and guard Talia von Oelhoffen from Oregon State replaces the experience in the backcourt the Trojans lost from last year’s Elite Eight squad. Add in the top recruiting class in the nation, and there is less pressure on Watkins to do it all, even though she is capable of carrying USC to a title if she needs to.
4. Connecticut
Following a series of injuries that depleted their lineup over recent years, Connecticut (31-3) heads into this postseason with key players fit and more bench strength than they've had in a long while. Although this depth will be advantageous, it’s the trio of standout athletes who position the team as serious championship contenders.
During March Madness, Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd will make their debut as co-starts in the backcourt for the first time since UConn’s journey to the national championship game in 2022. With Bueckers' knack for scoring efficiently and her capacity to generate opportunities offensively paired with Fudd’s exceptional long-range shooting, they spearhead one of the nation’s top offenses. This duo propels Connecticut’s potent attack. 1.03 points per play is the highest score nationwide. .
Sarah Strong might just be the key factor for Connecticut. Even though she’s a freshman, Strong doesn’t get intimidated by crucial moments in major games and provides consistent performance on both offense and defense, which could make all the difference as the Huskies aim for their first championship since 2016.
5. Texas
If the saying "defense wins championships" holds up, then Texas (31-3) might have an excellent chance at hoisting the trophy come April. Their achievements stem largely from their strong defense; they've only conceded 70 or more points on four occasions—and just twice after the calendar flipped to January this year.
The sheer scale of Texas makes them stand out—every key player in their main lineup stands taller than 6 feet, save for the point guard Rori Harmon who is 5-6. This height advantage poses significant challenges for other teams when trying to compete against them. It also enables the Longhorns to hinder their adversaries' efforts to thrive inside the paint or secure rebounds effectively. Despite being shorter compared to her teammates, Harmon contributes significantly to their defense through her agility and knack for unsettling rival guards as well as interfering with pass routes.
Texas can still rank as one of the country's best teams thanks to their size advantage, even though they have ranked lowest in terms of three-point shots taken nationwide, with less than 15% of their points scored from long range. On average, the Longhorns make slightly more than three three-pointers each game. Although this limited outside shooting might pose challenges during March Madness, Texas has demonstrated all year that their strength inside the paint positions them as a serious contender for the national championship.
6. Notre Dame
Among all the talent on this list of title contenders, the best backcourt may be in South Bend, Indiana. Hannah Hidalgo, who is among the favorites for national player of the year honors, continued to light up the ACC as a sophomore after her impressive freshman season. She is now joined by Olivia Miles, one of the best point guards in the country, who missed all of last season with a knee injury. And the unsung hero of the group, Sonia Citron, gives Notre Dame a three-headed guard attack. The trio has accounted for more than 60 percent of the Fighting Irish’s points.
Notre Dame (26-5) has secured more wins against the top competitors than any other team; they defeated USC, Texas, and Connecticut during the regular season. Nevertheless, the Irish have faced challenges lately, losing three out of their last five matches, which prevented them from winning the sole ACC regular-season title and securing an ACC tournament championship. Prior to this recent downturn, Notre Dame hadn’t tasted defeat since November. Given nearly two weeks off between the conclusion of the ACC tournament and the beginning of the NCAA tournament, there’s ample opportunity for the Irish to regroup and gear up for what could culminate in capturing the biggest prize at season’s end.
Megan Gauer serves as a bracketologist and contributes as a writer for herhoopstats.com .
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