Five basketball storylines to know
Women's College Basketball season is upon us. Fan favorites and "villains" alike have moved on, relocated, or refocused ahead of the '24-25 season. Whether it be exciting new players or the next step for the stars, the excitement is palpable from coast to coast. Here are five storylines that 5wins is watching ahead of this season.
Battle for LA
Last year was good for Los Angeles. UCLA finished sixth, while the University of Southern California finished 10th in NET rankings.
NET Rankings use a quadrant system based on opponent and game location to determine the quality or value of wins and losses.
USC made it to the Elite Eight, while UCLA exited in the Sweet 16. Now, both teams are as poised as ever to be at the top of the mountain come the season's end.
UCLA
UCLA brought in three major transfers. They built their guard depth by bringing in Charlisee Leger-Walker from former Pac-12 rivals Washington State. Leger-Walker earned All-Pac-12 honors in all four seasons in Pullman and earned conference Freshman of the Year in 2021. Fellow Pac-12 alum Timea Gardiner from Oregon State combines rare shooting talent with an imposing 6'3" frame to make an effective starter with star upside. Janiah Barker from Texas A&M furthers the Bruins' size advantage. Barker was a part of the SEC All-Freshman team and was selected to the SEC Academic Honor Roll. The 6'4" forward led the Aggies in three-point shooting and averaged a double-double over her last 11 games of last season. UCLA has the fourth-ranked recruiting class in the country, headlined by UCLA guard KiKi Rice's former High School teammate and #18 recruit in the ESPNW100, Kendall Dudley.
USC
USC has the number one transfer recruiting class. Top-ranked portal entrant KiKi Iraifen traded Palo Alto for Downtown LA upon Stanford head coach Tara Vanderveer's retirement. USC also added Oregon State Guard Talia Von Oelhoffen, a versatile combo guard who will take the playmaking load off of star JuJu Watkins. Head Coach Lindsay Gottlieb didn't stop there. The Trojans brought in the number one recruiting class in the country, getting six top 100 players to sign for '24-'25. Kennedy Smith, Avery Howell, and Kayleigh Heckel were all in the top 20 of the ESPNW 100.
UCLA and USC will face off on Feb.13 and Mar. 1.
Conference Realignment
Women's basketball thrived in the Pac-12. "The Conference of Champions" sent over half of its members to the NCAA tournament in its final season. Washington State and Oregon State will join the West Coast Conference, while Washington, Oregon, UCLA, and USC join the Big Ten. Stanford and California Berkley will join the ACC, and Arizona, Utah, and Arizona State join the Big 12. Will UCLA and USC live up to their promise? Can Stanford sustain after losing such a titan in Tara Vanderveer? Can ASU and Arizona handle the Big 12? And, of course, how will travel impact play?
Paige Bueckers vs. Hailey Van Lith
Before Caitlin Clark, JuJu Watkins, and Hannah Hidalgo became stars, Paige Bueckers and Hailey Van Lith were THE names in women's basketball. Bueckers and Van Lith have taken very different paths to reach their fifth-year season. Bueckers has stayed at UConn, rehabbing two knee injuries under the tutelage of the legendary Geno Auriemma. Bueckers is treating her fifth year as unfinished business, reuniting with Azzi Fudd to win her first national championship. Van Lith transferred twice in three years, from Louisville to LSU and now to TCU. With the Horned Frogs, Van Lith is likely looking for the perfect balance of having a supporting cast and having the freedom to shine and lead.
Transfers concentrating or democratizing talent?
The use of the transfer portal raises questions about its results. Most agree that players should have the right to choose where they study and play, especially as coaches are allowed to do the same. But is it beneficial for college basketball to mirror a professional league with professional, super teams?
Both LA teams bring in top players to go with star-caliber talent already on the roster. Notre Dame and Hannah Hidalgo will gain Liza Karlen and Liatu King and All-Big East and All-ACC forwards, respectively. All Pac-12 forward Raegan Beers joins two Mconald's All-Americans and a ready-made supporting cast in Oklahoma.
Hailey Van Lith's experience last season may prove to athletes that the superteam's grass isn't always greener. If the greater opportunity and load available at TCU turns out positively for Van Lith, maybe players are willing to forgo a super team, in favor of the right supporting cast.
South Carolina on top
While other teams make splashy transfer portal moves, Dawn Staley's well-oiled machine continues in South Carolina. The Gamecocks return almost their entire rotation from last season, save for WNBA rookie Kamilla Cardoso and Arizona transfer Sahnya Jah. Staley also brings in three 5-star recruits. Joyce Edwards is the USA Today, MaxPreps, and Gatorade Player of the Year and won MVP at the McDonald's All-American Game, Nike Hoop Summit, and the Jordan Brand Classic.
Staley also added Madisen McDaniel, a top 15 ranked guard who easily generates paint touches. Adhel Tac rounds out the class, a 6'5" post who will develop over time. This team has youth, versatility, maturity, continuity, and arguably the best coach in the sport. As disappointing as it would be for other fans, Staley and South Carolina may be at the top of the mountain again when it's all said and done. Are all these transfers, recruits, and super teams for naught?