Early Sparks in Paris Shake Up Women’s College Basketball
In the season-opener of the Oui‑Play Paris 2025 doubleheader, 16th-ranked Baylor Lady Bears stunned Duke Blue Devils women’s basketball with a 58-52 road upset in Paris, France, sending ripples through the early college basketball landscape. Taliah Scott led the way with 24 points, 12 in the fourth quarter, five rebounds, and three assists, igniting Baylor’s decisive finish. Duke, meanwhile, struggled to find an offensive rhythm, shooting just 29% from the field and committing 15 turnovers, while Baylor grabbed a dominant 20 offensive rebounds. While the game tied 43-43 after three quarters, Baylor’s late surge proved the difference; an opening deluge that immediately set a tone of urgency for both programs.
Early Implications – Trajectory Altered Before Winter Hits
This outcome does more than fill the highlight reel; it alters the trajectory of both programs heading into conference play and toward March. For Baylor, the win delivers instant credibility, strengthens their resume, and injects belief that this squad can win on a national stage away from home. The Lady Bears’ ability to execute late, dominate the glass, and flip momentum in hostile territory signals a contender mindset. For Duke, the upset exposes vulnerability: a team that finished as an Elite Eight participant in 2024 now needs to regroup quickly. Their offensive inefficiencies, especially in shooting and ball security, raise real questions about whether they can maintain a deep tournament run. The Blue Devils must sharpen early or risk letting this stumble become the season’s defining moment.
March Ambitions – Why This Matters for Final Four Aspirations
In the grand scheme of the NCAA Women’s Tournament, opening-game outcomes matter more than ever: strength of schedule, experience against top 10 teams, road resilience—all key metrics for committee seeding and bracket sizing. Baylor’s upset win now gives them elite-tier proof, strengthening their positioning for a high seed and enhancing their brand as one of the programs to watch. On the flip side, Duke now enters a new orbit of pressure; every outing will be viewed with heightened scrutiny, their margin for error thinner than expected. If Baylor rides this momentum into Big 12 play, their confidence and resume may carry them into the Final Four conversation. For Duke, rebounding from Paris means not just restoring motion and drive but proving they belong among the national elite. Either way, this early-season shock might prove to be the ripple that becomes the wave in March.
