Seven months after UCLA won its first NCAA championship, the 2026-27 women's college basketball season is almost here, and familiar powers have returned to the top of the rankings. South Carolina opened at No. 1 in the Associated Press preseason Top 25 poll for the fifth time in the past seven years. UConn's Sarah Strong, the reigning national player of the year, and USC's Ju Ju Watkins appear to be the early favorites for the same award this season.
ESPN's Michael Voepel, Kendra Andrews, Charlie Creme and Alexa Philippou all pick South Carolina as their preseason No. 1. The Gamecocks lost four seniors, three of them drafted into the WNBA, but they remain loaded in the post with Joyce Edwards, Chloe Kitts, Alicia Tournebize and Ashlyn Watkins. Guard Tessa Johnson returns for her final season, and transfers Jordan Lee and Brooke Quarles Daniels add depth. Dawn Staley has many options to work with, though the panel expects some time for the new players to fit in.
For player of the year, Creme and Philippou both choose Strong. Without Azzi Fudd, who has left for the WNBA, Strong is positioned to become UConn's undisputed leader and go-to scorer. Voepel, however, points to Watkins, who has not played since March 24, 2025, after a devastating injury. Her return is one of the most anticipated storylines of the season, and based on her first two seasons, Voepel believes she is a serious contender.
The panel will also weigh which teams will challenge South Carolina in the SEC and beyond, which conference races to watch, which programs will bounce back from last season, and which coaches to follow. The season tips off Sunday, with the march toward the Women's Final Four in Columbus, Ohio, beginning soon after.
Source: ESPN General · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing