Midway through the 2025-26 women's college basketball season, UConn remains the clear favorite for the NCAA title and the national player of the year award. Despite losing key player Paige Bueckers, the Huskies, led by sophomore Sarah Strong and guard Azzi Fudd, have maintained their dominant form. Their undefeated streak and strong performances make them a formidable contender for their seventh perfect season.

UConn's top challengers include Texas, South Carolina, and UCLA, who each have one loss and are poised to make another deep run to the Final Four. The Longhorns, under coach Vic Schaefer, have the defensive prowess and size to potentially trouble UConn. UCLA, led by coach Cori Close, features a lineup of experienced seniors, including All-American Lauren Betts, making them a strong defensive team.

The race for national player of the year is heating up, with Vanderbilt's Mikayla Blakes and Texas' Madison Booker emerging as contenders. Blakes, leading the Commodores to a 17-0 start, is the country's second-leading scorer. Booker, despite a recent loss to LSU, has shown resilience and is essential to Texas's success. If either can maintain their performance against top teams, they could challenge Strong's lead.

In the freshman of the year race, USC's Jazzy Davidson and Oklahoma's Aaliyah Chavez are frontrunners. Davidson, the Trojans' leading scorer and rebounder, has been pivotal in their season. Chavez, meanwhile, has been a standout point guard, leading the Sooners in scoring and assists. With other top recruits sidelined by injuries, Davidson and Chavez are set to define this year's freshman class.