Reigning champions South Carolina are back as the early favorites after staying No. 1 in the AP poll all of last season. But thanks to a boost in the offseason lineup, there are some programs that seem poised to take on the challenge.
read more sports illustratedHere are the top 25 preseason players for the 2022–23 season, which starts on November 7th.
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1. South Carolina
Aaliyah Boston, last season’s National Player of the Year, is back for the senior season.
2. Stanford
The Cardinal’s backcourt gets a new look with the departures of sisters Lexie, Lacey Hull and Anna Wilson. But senior guard Haley Jones leads a talented roster.
3. Texas
Having reached the Elite Eight last year, the Longhorns have not advanced to the Final Four since 2003, but the addition of back-to-back WCC Player of the Year Shaley Gonzalez from BYU means they can take the next step. I guess.
4. Iowa
Caitlin Clarke, last year’s top scorer in the country (27.0 points per game), will return for the junior season with a talented post player in her fifth year, Monica Chinano (21.2 points per game), but the Hawkeyes’ key will be making a defensive stop. will receive.
5.UConn
Paige Bookers will miss the entire season after an ACL rupture in the offseason, but coach Geno Auriemma is behind two freshmen who were top-five recruits, forwards Ice Brady and Ayanna Patterson, on a 15th straight run. Aim for the final four.
6. Notre Dame
Fighting Irish should be back after heartbreaking Sweet 16 loss
Strong behind Olivia Myles (who last year became the first freshman to record a triple-double in the history of the men’s or women’s tournament), Sonia Citron and Dara Mabry.
7. Louisville
The Cardinals lost three starters from last year’s team, but coach Jeff Waltz still has excellent junior guard Haley Van Ris and two more in Morgan Jones (Florida State) and Chris Linker (Syracuse). Added an extraordinary transfer guard for . recruitment class.
8. Iowa
Continuity could be key as senior wing Ashley Joeens gives the Cyclones a strong All-American contender. Additionally, junior guards Emily Ryan and Lexi Donalski could prove to be the best backcourts in the Big 12.
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9. Tennessee
Rae Burrell is currently on the WNBA’s Sparks roster, but the Lady Vols are still loaded thanks to a move by freshman wing Justine Pissott, key veteran returner and coach Kellie Harper.
10.NC condition
Wes Moore’s program will appear in the Elite Eight for the first time since 1998. The Wolfpack will have his three veterans back in junior guard Diamond Johnson, senior wing Jaquia Brown Turner and senior center Camille Hobie to keep this team in contention for his ACC.
11. Virginia Tech
The Hokies are looking to bounce back from a tournament-opening loss, with a senior-led team led by two-time All-American guard Ashley Owusu from Maryland and graduate student forward Taylor Soul, who averaged 16.0 points at Boston College last year. added to Center Elizabeth Kitley is the current ACC Player of the Year.
12. North Carolina
The Tar Heels gave the eventual champions Gamecocks everything they could handle in last year’s Sweet 16, returning four starters, including junior guard Deja Kelly.
13. Indiana
The Hoosiers had another great season last year (24-9), following their best season in the show’s history in 2020-21. Indiana is currently in contention for the Big Ten title behind graduate guard Grace Berger and senior forward Mackenzie Holmes.
14. Oklahoma
In Jennie Baranczyk’s second season as coach, the Sooners return all key players from last year’s 25-9 team. Sniper guard Aubrey Joeens, sister of Iowa State star Ashley, joins what should be a strong offense.
15. Ohio
The Buckeyes have two key scorers in senior guard Jaycee Sheldon and Taylor Mikesell, but they’ll need to produce from the paint if they want to build up a finish as Big Ten co-champions.
16.LSU
Hall of Fame coach Kim Mulkey led the Tigers to 26 wins in his first season in the program. This year’s reorganized roster includes Alexis Morris and transfer Angel Reese from Maryland.
17. Maryland
The Terrapins lost five players to the transfer portal, but poached five to replace them, including graduate forward Brynei Alexander, who was an All-SEC at Vanderbilt last year.
18. Arizona
Coach Adya Burns remains one of the sport’s preeminent recruiters and tacticians. The Wildcats lost in the second round of his NCAA Tournament last year, but a roster of up-and-coming talent should be ready to seize their next chance.
19. Baylor
Losing two first-round picks in the WNBA Draft, the Bears won’t dominate the Big 12 the way they did last season. But coach Nicky Collin enters his second year with five repeaters, plus high-profile transfers and a top-notch recruiting class led by guard Vera Fauntleroy.
20. Clayton
After a thrilling run to the first Elite Eight, the Blue Jays recalled eight players, including Lauren Jensen, who shot 43.7% from three last year. Coach Jim Flannery will miss Tatum Lembao, but there are high expectations for the program.
21. Princeton
The high prices that upset Kentucky in last year’s tournament didn’t prevent the Tigers from losing Ivy League Player of the Year Abby Myers to Maryland. But they will bring back his two leading scorers next, guards Julia Cunningham and Caitlin Chen.
22. Georgia
Katie Abrahamson-Henderson arrived as coach from UCF and her team won a school-record 26 games last year. She brought her three players and acquired her fifth-year wing, Audrey Warren (Texas), from her transfer portal.
23. UCLA
After reaching the WNIT semifinals last March, the Bruins enter this season in perhaps the nation’s best freshman class, highlighted by Premier Basketball’s second-round recruit, guard Kiki Rice.
24. Belmont
The Bruins have been racking up first-round upsets in the NCAA Tournament for years, and they’re ready to take the next step. Two key players, junior guards Destiny Wells and Tutti Jones, are back on the offense who love to shoot three-pointers his ball.
25. Villanova
After winning Big East Player of the Year last season, senior forward Maddie Siegrist is looking to help Villanova make back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances for the first time in nearly 20 years. But non-conference games with Belmont, Princeton, and Iowa State will test the abilities of those around her.
Editor’s note: In previous editions of this Top 25, Oregon was ranked 20th. This was edited out before Sedona Prince was dropped from the season, leaving the Ducks out of the rankings..
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