Get ready for some tough predictions! We're about to dive into the world of women's college basketball and uncover the teams facing an uphill battle to return to the NCAA Tournament. But here's where it gets controversial... not all past champions are guaranteed a spot this time around!
The Road to Redemption: 6 Teams Fighting an Uphill Battle
In the world of college basketball, some teams seem like a sure bet for the tournament. UConn, South Carolina, and UCLA are among those powerhouses. However, the path to March Madness is not always smooth, and some teams that made it last year might struggle to repeat their success.
Let's explore six teams that could face an arduous journey back to the tournament:
Florida State Seminoles: Last year, Florida State's success hinged on Ta'Niya Latson, the leading scorer in college basketball, and Makayla Timpson, an underrated big. However, both are gone now. Timpson graduated to the WNBA, and Latson transferred to South Carolina. The Seminoles have brought in Texas Tech transfer Jasmine Shavers to fill the void, but replacing Latson's impact will be a tall order.
Kansas State Wildcats: The Ayoka Lee era has come to an end, and with it, a dominant presence in the paint. Lee's absence isn't the only concern; Serena Sundell, arguably the team's best player last year, has also graduated. The leading returning scorer, Taryn Sides, averaged just 9.2 points per game last season. The Wildcats' hopes rest on a strong freshman class, including highly-rated recruit Jordan Speiser, but the transition period could be challenging.
Utah Utes: Utah managed to survive the departure of Alissa Pili and head coach Lynne Roberts last year, thanks to the stellar performance of Gianna Kneepkens. However, Kneepkens has also left, transferring to UCLA. Utah now relies on Virginia Tech transfer Lani White, an excellent 3-point shooter, to step up and become a primary scoring option.
Cal Golden Bears: Cal had a great season last year, winning 25 games, their most since 2013. However, the path to repeating that success looks rocky. Marta Suárez, who averaged 12.9 points and 7.6 rebounds per game, has transferred to TCU. Additionally, three of their top five scorers from last year are gone, which is concerning given the team's top-heavy scoring distribution.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish: Notre Dame has undergone significant changes, with Olivia Miles transferring to TCU and Sonia Citron, Liatu King, and Maddy Westbeld all joining the WNBA. Hannah Hidalgo remains an elite scorer, but the team around her is uncertain. The Irish have added some intriguing players, but there are many questions to be answered.
USC Trojans: With star guard JuJu Watkins out for the entire season, USC faces a significant challenge. Watkins' absence isn't the only concern; Kiki Iriafen is in the WNBA, and Avery Howell and Kayleigh Heckel have also departed. The Trojans' hopes rest on Georgia Tech transfer Kara Dunn and freshman Jazzy Davidson, the top-ranked recruit in her class, to step up and fill the void.
These teams are facing an uphill battle, and their paths to redemption are filled with obstacles. Will they prove the doubters wrong and make it back to the tournament? Only time will tell.
What do you think? Are these predictions spot-on, or do you see these teams defying the odds? Let's discuss in the comments!
