It feels like the party in Tampa ended only a few weeks ago with UConn not just winning another Women’s NCAA National Basketball Championship, but stamping the Huskies logo back on the sport with an 82–59 take-apart of Dawn Staley’s South Carolina Gamecocks. Geno Auriemma’s crew racked up his and the Huskies’ twelfth title, a game that turned into a bit of a clinic in the third quarter when Azzi Fudd found her rhythm and freshman Sarah Strong played beyond her rookie season. Paige Bueckers, the heartbeat of the last era, took her final bow with a hug that said everything about legacy and handoffs.
That was April. Now, new legacies are about to be born. Teams have already kicked off practice sessions for the 2025–2026 season and are prepping for season openers that begin the week of November 3.
The Favorites, The Chase, The Vibes en route to the 2026 Final Four in Phoenix
The 2025-26 AP Rankings are out and it looks like many of the usual suspects are once again rising to the top. Here’s a quick look at the top 5 and a good place to consider a futures bet once they are offered.
AP No. 1 – UConn Huskies: With Bueckers going Round 1, Pick 1 in the WNBA Draft and heading to Dallas, the Huskies pivot to the Fudd-and-Strong era, ready to lean into their growing leadership roles on and off the court. The Huskies carry the champion’s burden and a schedule that will make them earn their way to the top once again. They are built to repeat if everyone stays healthy and the youngsters gel quickly. The season kicks off October 13 with an exhibition game against Boston College and officially begins November 4 versus Louisville.
AP No. 2 – South Carolina Gamecocks: They may have been humbled in the final, but they return with a No. 2 ranking and a coach that drives her teams to defend like their scholarship depends on it. They may have lost three starters and SEC Sixth Woman of the Year, MiLaysia Fulwiley, but they picked up two highly skilled senior transfers, including Unrivaled Class of 2025 star Ta’Niya Latson, the leading active scorer in the league who comes over from Florida State. Latson joins former high school teammate and South Carolina veteran Raven Johnson, along with returning seniors Chloe Kitts and Maryam Douda. Staley is one of the best coaches in the game and knows how to get her team to the Final Four, so this should be another exciting season in Columbia. The season kicks off with exhibition games at home October 24 and in Atlanta vs North Carolina on Thursday, October 30.
AP No. 3 – UCLA Bruins: The Bruins broke through to their first NCAA-era Final Four and bring back the frontcourt force of Lauren Betts with Kiki Rice running the show. Cori Close has built a lineup that feels like the real deal, a one-seed the minute they step off the bus with height, poise, and a little of that So Cal swagger. Betts is joined this year by her younger sister, Sienna, a highly touted freshman from Centennial, CO. Their season kicks off November 13 when the University of North Carolina comes west.
AP No. 4 – Texas: With a Final Four finish only months ago, they have proven to be big-stage comfortable, defense first, and dangerous. Madison Booker has the calm of a closer and Rori Harmon’s return creates the backcourt that gives the SEC heartburn. Add to the mix freshman Aaliyah Crump, ESPN-ranked No. 5 recruit, who showed up ready to contribute during the summer warmup at the Globl Jam, and the Longhorns may not stay at No. 4 long. Their early schedule looks more like a warmup, and they will have to stay healthy because the second half of the season will challenge a Final Four repeat. They open in the Orange-White scrimmage October 19 with the official season starting on November 3 versus Incarnate Word.
AP No. 5 – USC: Unfortunately, the breaking news from the AP Top 5 is that USC’s All-American JuJu Watkins will be sitting this season out while healing from ACL surgery. Newly signed by the Unrivaled crew (see below), Watkins led the Trojans with 23.9 points and 3.4 assists per game and will leave a giant gap in the roster. Their season opens November 4 versus New Mexico State.
The Future is Female: NIL and Women’s Hoops Today
For someone who played women’s college hoops “a while ago,” it is both mind-blowing and oh-so-satisfying to see the energy and excitement surrounding women’s basketball. In the new world where almost anyone can create their 15+ minutes of fame sitting in front of a ring light, it is also reassuring to see the game and skills elevate along with the hype. It is exciting to see the women getting part of the action while watching how NIL is maturing and changing college sports overall.
Several current NCAA headline players, including Watkins at USC, Fudd at UConn, Lauren Betts at UCLA, Hannah Hidalgo at Notre Dame, Flau’jae Johnson at LSU, and Olivia Miles at TCU, were announced in July as part of Unrivaled’s 2025 college NIL class, a 3v3 league co-founded by WNBA players and U.S. Olympians Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier. The pair launched Unrivaled with the intention of giving women a piece of the NIL action while at the same time elevating the sport. With corporate sponsors like Ally, Sephora, Under Armour, and more, a $35M capital raise, and a social media footprint that is only accelerating, it appears women’s basketball is finally catching up.
Beyond Unrivaled, individual brand deals continue to offer opportunity. Fudd’s long-running Curry Brand/SC30 relationship ties her to a national platform. Mikaylah Williams arrived at LSU with a Jordan Brand NIL in 2024. Johnson’s two million Instagram followers and a portfolio that spans national advertisers taking advantage of her dual profile as hoop star and artist are all changing the face of the sport. The practical effect is simple: NIL is helping top programs retain leaders through injuries and transitions, keep cores together for another run, and compete for portal targets who bring both playmaking and audience. But be sure of it: there is still a lot of chaos and day trading going on with the high-profile players.
If Pat Summitt has a front row seat from above, I have to wonder what she thinks about all of it. My guess is that she is cheering on every success these young female athletes are earning.
And the Stakes…
Are rising. Stay tuned for updates, odds, and deeper dives into women’s conference rankings.
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