The Year Everything Changes in Women's College Hoops
Women’s college hoops is about to be ridiculous. We’re heading into 2025-26 with real star power at the top, portal-fueled arms races in the SEC, and a West Coast giant that finally has the size to bully everyone. South Carolina reloaded by grabbing the nation’s leading scorer, Ta’Niya Latson, who put up 25.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 4.6 assists last season and did it efficiently at 45.1% from the floor. Dawn Staley already had length with six-foot-three Joyce Edwards and a physical front line, so adding a three-level scorer who has 62 career 20-point games instantly keeps the Gamecocks in the title lane. Around the country, UCLA rolls back six-foot-seven Lauren Betts — ranked second in ESPN’s preseason player rankings — alongside Kiki Rice, Charlisse Leger-Walker, and Gianna Kneepkens for what might be the most balanced offense in the sport. Moreover, Notre Dame? Hannah Hidalgo is right back after a 23.8 points, 5 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 3.7 steals supernova of a year that made her ACC Player of the Year and everybody’s nightmare in transition.
However, the villain energy might actually be in Baton Rouge. Kim Mulkey didn’t just keep Flau’Jae Johnson and a top-ranked class — she went and grabbed MiLaysia Fulwiley out of the portal… one of the most electric guards in the country, to pair with multiple five-stars such as Grace Knox and Divine Bourrage. That’s a roster that can play downhill, switch defensively, and…here’s the big 2025 storyline — sell recruits on real NIL upside because LSU has been living in the viral space for three straight seasons. South Carolina can now counter with, “We just added the nation’s leading scorer,” so the SEC recruiting pitch becomes: come here, play on TV every week, and your social + NIL numbers spike. That’s why this season is so fascinating — the two loudest programs are also the two best-built for the new money era.
So, who’s built to last through March? Start with South Carolina: elite defense, Staley’s depth, and now a 25-a-night closer — that’s Final Four. LSU has too much shot creation to ignore, and Mulkey’s teams don’t stay out of the second weekend for long — that’s Final Four. UCLA finally has the size/guard blend to survive the Power Five gauntlet: Betts inside, multiple veteran guards, and a defense that can rebound its way to Cleveland. The fourth spot goes to Notre Dame, because Hidalgo’s two-way engine 23.8 PPG, 3.7 SPG travels, and pairing her with Olivia Miles’ 16.5 points and 5.9 assists makes the Irish the toughest scout east of Columbia. UConn will still punch, especially with Sarah Strong ranking number 1 nationally, but losing Paige Bueckers’ leadership edge creates just enough runway for the Irish and Bruins.
Bottom line: if you’re a fan, clear your Mondays and Thursdays; this season will look more like WNBA programming than college ball. We’ve got NIL-driven stay-overs, fifth-year stars delaying the W for one last run, and bluebloods who now have to out-create each other online to win recruits. South Carolina, LSU, UCLA, and Notre Dame are the safest Final Four tickets today, but the gap isn’t big — one injury or portal surprise and UConn or Texas can crash the party. Either way, women’s college basketball is entering its deepest, loudest, most talent-heavy season yet, and it starts at tipoff.
