Can South Carolina run it again –

The 2023-24 ladies’s faculty basketball season ended with perfection because the South Carolina Gamecocks went 38-0 and received this system’s third NCAA championship.

Can the Gamecocks run it again? That is one of many greatest questions that can form the 2024-25 season.

Which participant will fill the sport’s brightest highlight now that Caitlin Clark, the two-time nationwide participant of the yr, is gone? What ought to we count on from final season’s thrilling freshman class, led by USC‘s JuJu Watkins? How will the breakup of the Pac-12 affect the game?

With the season tipping off Nov. 4, we have a look at 10 of the largest questions heading into the 2024-2025 season.

Can the Gamecocks win back-to-back titles?

Sure, they’ll. However they may look slightly totally different doing it, at the very least early on, because the Gamecocks’ guards may be forward of their publish play.

Heart Kamilla Cardoso, the No. 3 decide within the 2024 draft by the Chicago Sky, led South Carolina final season in factors, rebounds, blocks and area purpose share. However the subsequent two scoring leaders, guards MiLaysia Fulwiley (11.7 factors per recreation) and Te-Hina Paopao (11.0 PPG), return.

South Carolina nonetheless has loads of expertise within the publish, together with freshman Joyce Edwards. However ahead Ashlyn Watkins (9.2 PPG, 7.4 rebounds per recreation) has been suspended since an Aug. 31 arrest on costs of first-degree assault and battery and kidnapping. Her courtroom look set for Oct. 25 was rescheduled.

One other undefeated season looks like rather a lot to ask. However the Gamecocks — who return 87% of their minutes performed and 84% of their factors scored from a season in the past — are nonetheless first within the nationwide championship dialogue. — Voepel

Can UConn return to the mountaintop?

UConn is the gold commonplace of faculty basketball with 11 nationwide titles, however the Huskies have not been the final staff standing since 2016, Breanna Stewart’s senior yr. The Huskies reached the Ultimate 4 in all however one season in that span, and performed within the 2022 nationwide title recreation.

Might this be the yr they lastly win that twelfth championship? Former nationwide participant of the yr Paige Bueckers is hungry to make it occur in her closing season in Storrs earlier than heading to the WNBA. She’ll have rather a lot on her shoulders main a comparatively younger and inexperienced, albeit proficient, staff following the departures of Aaliyah Edwards and Nika Muhl. This system might want to have higher luck with well being than it has skilled the previous few years to get again to the mountaintop. — Philippou

Can the L.A. faculties get to the Ultimate 4?

USC and UCLA have been two of essentially the most thrilling groups to look at final season. Watkins introduced the Trojans again to prominence for the primary time in many years, whereas Lauren Betts, Kiki Rice and Charisma Osborne led a deep Bruins squad.

Each groups needs to be even higher this yr. USC introduced in transfers Kiki Iriafen (Stanford) and Talia von Oelhoffen (Oregon State), plus a stacked freshman class, to assist Watkins. In Westwood, coach Cori Shut snagged intriguing transfers in Janiah Barker (Texas A&M), Timea Gardiner (Oregon State) and Charlisse Leger-Walker (Washington State).

The battle for the Large Ten will preview each groups’ push to get to the Ultimate 4 — USC for the primary time since 1986 and UCLA for the primary time within the NCAA period. — Philippou

Who will win participant of the yr?

The favorites going into the season are sophomore Watkins (27.1 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 3.3 assists per recreation) and senior Bueckers (21.9 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 3.8 APG), who was the consensus participant of the yr her freshman season in 2020-21.

Different candidates would possibly emerge in the course of the season, relying on how their groups carry out. Whereas South Carolina is the favourite at No. 1, the Gamecocks’ depth of expertise is such that they do not have an apparent participant of the yr candidate. — Voepel

Which freshmen or transfers will make the largest splash?

Final yr’s freshman class made waves all season lengthy. So did a number of transfers. So which newcomers — incoming freshmen or transfers to new applications — will show to be difference-makers in 2024-25?

So far as the freshmen go, UConn is the one program with two top-10 recruits, headlined by No. 1 prospect Sarah Strong. Jaloni Cambridge was an enormous get for Ohio State, particularly contemplating this system’s commencement losses. Joyce Edwards, who determined to remain dwelling and go to South Carolina, has already acquired rave evaluations from coach Daybreak Staley.

Except for the aforementioned transfers into the L.A. faculties, Raegan Beers (Oregon State to Oklahoma), Georgia Amoore (Virginia Tech to Kentucky) and Lucy Olsen (Villanova to Iowa) are among the many key gamers to look at. — Philippou

How will gamers again from accidents fare?

Three big-name guards missed all (Notre Dame‘s Olivia Miles), most (UConn’s Azzi Fudd) or a big half (Texas‘ Rori Harmon) of final season attributable to knee accidents. All are anticipated again, though Fudd in all probability will not play till December. They’re dynamic gamers who could make an enormous distinction of their groups’ nationwide championship potential.

Different gamers to look at after harm: UConn heart Jana El Alfy (Achilles) is anticipated to make her long-awaited faculty debut. LSU ahead Sa’Myah Smith (knee, performed seven video games final season) might be an enormous assist in making up for the lack of Angel Reese to the WNBA. Guard KK Deans (knee, performed six video games) ought to give Ole Miss‘ perimeter scoring a lift. — Voepel

How deep can a Hidalgo-Miles backcourt take the Irish?

With Miles out, Irish followers have been robbed of a yr of a Hannah Hidalgo-Miles backcourt. However we’ll get to lastly see that dynamic duo, and coach Niele Ivey already has mentioned the pairing goes to be “electrical.”

With Miles and Hidalgo main the cost, optimism is excessive in South Bend that that is the yr the Irish — the ACC preseason favorites — can advance previous the Candy 16 for the primary time in Ivey’s tenure.

These two will not need to do it alone, because the Irish additionally return Sonia Citron and Maddy Westbeld and have a powerful group of newcomers: transfers Liza Karlen (Marquette) and Liatu King (Pitt) plus freshman Kate Koval. — Philippou

What ought to we count on of Stanford in a brand new period?

Of all of the teaching adjustments, none is greater than Stanford not having legendary Tara VanDerveer on the sideline for the primary time since she took over in 1985. Kate Paye takes over, and we’ll see how totally different the Cardinal would possibly look below VanDerveer’s former participant and longtime assistant.

There’s additionally an enormous change in personnel, with Cameron Brink shifting on to the WNBA, Iriafen transferring and Hannah Leap finishing her eligibility. They have been the Cardinal’s high three scorers from a 30-6 season.

Stanford is tough to venture proper now as a result of a lot is new, however the Cardinal taking part in within the ACC will likely be as unusual as something. — Voepel

What is going to Iowa, Kentucky and Tennessee seem like below new management?

The scenario at Iowa is most just like Stanford, with Lisa Bluder stepping down after 24 years and her assistant throughout that point, Jan Jensen, taking on. The Hawkeyes misplaced not only a generational star in Clark, however gamers similar to beginning guards Kate Martin and Gabbie Marshall as nicely. That mentioned, ahead Hannah Stuelke is primed for an enormous junior season, and Jensen ought to get one of the best out of this group.

Kentucky continues to be searching for its first Ultimate 4 on the ladies’s facet. Coach Kenny Brooks made that breakthrough at Virginia Tech, so possibly he can do it with the Wildcats. It seemingly will not occur this season, however give Brooks time to ascertain his system.

At Tennessee, Kim Caldwell will attempt to switch her up-tempo offensive and defensive model to the SEC after success final yr at Marshall. Caldwell would not have a lot Division I expertise, so she must be taught on the fly in a hypercompetitive league. — Voepel

How will realignment affect faculty basketball?

The previous yr’s realignment whirlwind, and the disintegration of the Pac-12, will undoubtedly take some getting used to, notably with Stanford and Cal now within the ACC, and USC, UCLA, Washington and Oregon within the Large Ten.

However which applications will take advantage of noise of their new leagues? The L.A. faculties are on the high of the listing, with each slotted as the highest two groups within the Large Ten preseason ballot. Within the SEC, Texas was projected to complete behind South Carolina, and Oklahoma was picked to come back in fourth. Might the Longhorns — a top-five preseason staff nationally — problem the Gamecocks?

Not one of the ACC newcomers appear prone to emerge as convention contenders. Within the Large 12, Kansas State and Iowa State determine to be the favorites with the Longhorns and Sooners gone. — Philippou