Saturday marked 100 days until the 2027 women's college basketball season tips off, with the NCAA tournament expanding to 76 teams and the Final Four set for Columbus, Ohio. Defending champion UCLA lost its top six scorers to the WNBA, while runner-up UConn lost No. 1 pick Azzi Fudd.

South Carolina enters as the favorite behind Joyce Edwards (19.2 PPG), Alicia Tournebize, and returning forwards Chloe Kitts and Ashlyn Watkins. USC's Ju Ju Watkins returns from an ACL tear after a 23.9 PPG national player of the year season. Sarah Strong shoulders more load for UConn amid Achilles concerns.

Texas, led by Madison Booker, seeks a title after back-to-back Final Fours. Hannah Hidalgo (25.5 PPG in tournament) powers Notre Dame toward a first Final Four since 2019. Emilee Skinner returns from injury for Duke, while Michigan eyes a breakthrough. Oklahoma State adds transfers Audi Crooks and Liv McGill (49.5 combined PPG).

Format changes include top-16 seeding without conference affiliation — enabling earlier power-conference matchups — and an expanded field that could yield more Cinderella runs.