SEC women’s basketball conference play prep kit: Top 64 storylines to track on the road to Tampa
Conference play is here and there is plenty to know about arguably basketball's best conference.
The ACC/SEC Challenge is a wrap, and the early non-conference buy-game checks have been cashed. Christmas Day is just around the corner, as are those New Year’s Day fireworks that happen to pop off all week (ugh!). Much like the last season of True Detective, Winter is upon us all in NCAA Women’s Basketball country. The Kim Mulkey in us all is now allowed to come out and play with some fire that will heat gyms until March Madness winds down to the Final Four in Tampa, Florida.
South Carolina is the reigning champion and will want to corner the market by wearing the crown. However, there are teams ready to mess with those plans, many in the SEC. Angel Reese is in the WNBA, but other stars are ready to step up.
Conference play is where the biggest legacy leaps are made. Pathways to the postseason depend largely on beating those rivals you just have to visit every year, like that side of the extended family. The NCAA March Madness committee is going with 68 teams in an expanded tournament for a fourth consecutive season.
Of course, this being the big-bad SEC, none of these institutions (except for perhaps Arkansas) would be happy with a First Four In kind of season. Too many have Final Four reservations already booked. However, at least three of the seven currently ranked in the Top 25 will have to cancel Tampa trips eventually. It’s just math, so 5wins took the time to add up the four biggest storylines for every program.
Top Tier SEC Teams
LSU
1. All stories need characters like Kim Mulkey. The head coach just celebrated a 100th win at LSU in her fourth season at the school to set a Title or Bust tone. Everything is about the postseason, but one slip-up against anyone other than South Carolina will get major attention.
2. Transfers Mjracle Sheppard (Mississippi State) and Jersey Wolfenbarger (Arkansas) will get five games against unranked SEC opponents before seeing South Carolina. Neither has made a three-pointer yet and sophomore Mikaylah Williams is still getting the shot on target. Great teams will start to sag into the zone, stifling what is going well for LSU. The adjustment will also affect the rebounding rates, something LSU has thrived on for years.
3. A relatively unknown talent to the masses, Aneesah Morrow is averaging a double-double (18.2 points, 13.0 rebounds), again, and might steal Player of the Year votes away from a teammate that everyone already knows. No, Angel Reese was last season…
4. Flau’Jae Johnson. It’s Flau’Jae.
Oklahoma
5. Payton Verhulst (29 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists) needed overtime but made history in a loss to 13th-ranked Duke. Verhulst got on a page Caitlin Clark created, becoming the second Division I player over the last 25 years with a 25-point triple-double against a ranked opponent. Clark did it twice, though, so Verhulst’s teammates need to keep that in mind when the All-American heats up.
6. Raegan Beers leads the team in points, rebounds, blocks, and three-point percentage. Sooners fans can drink to that as the junior leads a Top 10 caliber club. Foul trouble and three turnovers per game will cause some hangover-level headaches though. Clean those up and an Elite Eight spot is a reasonable expectation. Jennie Baranczyk had to call up Liz Scott early against Louisville after Beers picked up two quick fouls. That lack of discipline will be something opponents attack.
7. Senior Skylar Vann is the do-it-all dynamo everyone else will look to in the huddle. The more fans hear Vann’s name called by the announcers, the better they will feel after the final buzzer. It’s not a charted stat but it’s a safe bet.
8. This is a veteran squad needing just one more rotational player to step up. If Vann or Beers are being hounded, which they will be at over 18 turnovers per game already, Lexy Keys and Zya Vann will be in the spotlight. They cannot shy away from the biggest moments. Right now their heart is in question more than the talent. If Oklahoma thinks the SEC’s best will be that forgiving, it’ll be ‘See you later Sooners’ well before the Final Four.
South Carolina
9. South Carolina was perfect last season (38-0), but Dawn Staley’s squad already has a big UCLA-sized blemish in the loss column. Te-Hina Paopao, MiLaysia Fulwiley, and Raven Johnson have only one way to forget about that unfortunate blip – go get another ring.
10. Chloe Kitts leads the team in buckets and boards, but Staley has given 13 players court time so far. The rotations are still sorting themselves out more than the coaching staff is tinkering with chemistry. South Carolina is an average team going by points, field goal percentage, threes attempted, rebounds, and assists. That adds up to a champion ripe for an upset. Wars against LSU and Texas may leave South Carolina with a handful of losses going into the NCAA Tournament.
11. Counterpoint: The Gamecocks are so good in transition that assists and rebounds are down. Reserves are taking three-pointers in blowouts to get reps. South Carolina’s roster might lack top-end elite talent, but this team has a depth that will sink opponents once the subs start trickling in. Sania Feagin, Joyce Edwards, and Ashlyn Watkins would be the number one options on other campuses.
12. Still, UCLA loss aside, you have to beat the champs to be the champs, right? South Carolina has taken on all comers and walked away with three NCAA titles and six Final Four appearances since 2015 under Staley. They stay the champs until someone else proves otherwise. Fans will watch expecting blowouts for the most part, but there will be some dogfights down the road. Tune in for history, and stay for greatness.
Texas
13. The Longhorns got a lot of respect in the Preseason Media poll. Will they live up to those lofty expectations? Going through a new conference gauntlet will shake up some routines. Learning to adjust on the fly will be paramount to playing in April. Thankfully,...to keep things short, simple, and sweet as porch sipping tea
14. ... Justice Carlton might be the best freshman in the nation...
15. …Madison Booker might be the best player in the nation...
16. …And Rori Harmon’s new role has to allow Carlton or Booker room to operate as well. Upsetting the apple cart on usage rate is not a recipe for success. The hierarchy has to be just right to win the SEC on the first try. Watching how Texas tries to keep everyone involved instead of leaning on individual talents will be a signal of serious intent or selfish play.
Mid-Tier SEC Teams
Alabama
17. The Crimson Tide were regionally dominant in the 1990s but never walked away with a national championship. T Alabama did not even make the final bracket from 1999 through 2021. Can the Crimson Tide continue the upward trajectory or will a fringe Top 25 team hoping for an easy pathway to the second round be the ceiling?
18. Texas, which ended Alabama’s run last season, and Oklahoma are now conference rivals. Will head coach Kristy Curry stay calm under pressure now that the team has everyone’s attention? The schedule makers did Alabama no favors this summer. Texas A&M, Tennessee, Auburn, LSU, and Oklahoma are the last five games before SEC Tournament action tips off. Getting off to a good start against Florida, Missouri, Texas, Ole Miss, and South Carolina will be no picnic either.
19. Birmingham native Sarah Ashlee Barker has an opportunity to become a marketable NIL star after transferring home from Georgia. She’s posting 16.8 points per game while shooting near 50%, plus her steals, rebounds, assists, and overall defense are ready-made for building a winning culture. Getting to 20 points per game with a few ESPN Top 10 highlights per week would build her capital ‘b’ Brand.
20. Zaay Green and Essence Cody are averaging double-digit points but Aaliyah Nye could notch a few three-point records this season. Only Dyaisha Fair and Caitlin Clark were more lethal from beyond the arc last year. If that’s not a storyline to watch, what is?
Auburn
21. Auburn lost a 61-60 game against Kansas after having a 12-point lead. Closing out winnable games may be a problem all season. Taliah Scott is the only real backcourt spark that can get a bucket in isolation and Mar’Shan Bostic is the only player averaging more than two assists per game. Overall, the team is struggling with inconsistencies.
22. DeYona Gatson transferred in from Texas and has taken control of the offense. She is averaging close to a double-double but, at 6’2”, lacks the height to be a true power forward.
23. Rebounding will be a problem. No one stands taller than 6-foot-5 for the Tigers in an SEC stacked full of ferocious board cleaners. Second chance points, or a lack thereof, will determine most games.
24. Jordan Hunter and Syriah Daniels are two huge recruiting wins for Auburn in the state of Alabama. Getting them playing time will help attract local attention to what was an 8-8 team last season. Notching 10 wins in the SEC likely earns them an NCAA Tournament bid.
Florida
25. Jeriah Warren (2.1 steals per game) wrecking pick-and-rolls is a work of art. A bet on Warren getting over two steals per game might be stealing money. Not many in the SEC will want the smoke and Warren’s scrappy nature will lead to a few scuffles.
26. Laila Reynolds was only the second McDonald’s All-American level recruit to ever commit to the Gators and decided to stick around for another season instead of seeking NIL dollars down the road at Miami. Becoming a leader and making her free throws are the next steps in hearing her name at the WNBA Draft. If she does not improve a sub-40% mark, Reynolds cannot be on the court down the stretch in close games.
27. Florida has four freshmen phenoms looking to become new-to-the-scene sensations. Daviane Mindoudi Ongbakahoumb, Kylee Kitts (the sister of South Carolina’s Chole Kitts), Liv McGill, and Me'Arah O'Neal are hoping to change up the standards in The Swamp. McGill is leading the Gators in points per game and is top 25 in assists nationwide. Kitts has barely seen the court. It’s something to watch as the transfer portal becomes more important.
28. Ra Shaya Kyle coming back after 10 months on the sidelines was a big boost for Florida, who were predicted to finish ninth by the conference’s coaches. The Gators will flirt with being ranked all season and Kyle’s skillset will help spur an upset or two of the SEC’s Elite Eight.
Kentucky
29. New coach Kenny Brooks and star player Georgia Amoore moved over from Virginia Tech as a tandem. Both sought tougher competition, greener pastures when it comes to facilities, and higher compensation packages. Brooks and Amoore wanted to be rewarded for the 2023 Final Four run with Virginia Tech and given a shot at a title.
30. Clara Strack followed Brooks and Amoore but was left out of most headlines. Now Strack, averaging about 18 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, and three blocks per game, is the undeniable star of the show. The Music City Classic MVP will get some Kentucky fans to move over from the men’s game this season.
31. Dazia Lawrence averaged 18.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.7 steals per game with Charlotte. Brooks recruited Lawrence and former Charlotte assistant Ciara Gregory to provide leadership. That investment is paying dividends so far, even if the stats aren’t quite as eye-popping. Look for Lawrence to make a few big, season-altering plays over the next three months.
32. Teonni Key, averaging 12.3 points and 9.6 rebounds per game, has been a key part in a surprising 7-1 start. Wins over two ranked teams, Louisville and Illinois, were encouraging. A 19-point loss to UNC was a reminder there is work to do. Kentucky being in the Top 10 would not be a surprise given the easy schedule to start the SEC slate. Having six unranked, cellar-dwelling opponents should allow Kentucky to gain traction before facing the heavyweights.
Ole Miss
33. Madison Scott and KK Deans look like the real deal against Quad One and Quad Two competition. Ole Miss has lost all three games (USC, UConn, NC State) due to poor shooting from the outside (29.6%) and the third-worst rate from the free throw line (65%).
34. Don’t let the 5-3 record be deceiving, Ole Miss is slowly closing the gap with the title contenders under head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin. It’s now Season Seven for the coach at Ole Miss (108-86) and they are starting to give Blue Chip programs some problems. A 13-point loss to UConn was never in doubt, but it wasn’t exactly a blowout either. The Southern California and NC State defeats went down to the wire. Beating the teams they are supposed to beat and learning a few lessons against the SEC’s elite will go a long way in March.
35. Seniors Kennedy Todd-Williams, Tameiya Sadler, and Starr Jacobs have had time to learn those lessons and a new face is giving the veterans reasons to believe. They also have perhaps the easiest six-pack of games to start conference play.
36. Sira Thienou, to the SEC All-Freshman Team. Every 20 minutes it’s 10 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and two steals with practically no turnovers. Thienou attacks with energy and has 35% three-point range with the potential to scale up immediately. The best part is that South Carolina and LSU are the last regular season games for Ole Miss.
Mississippi State
37. Great start in Starkville, all things considered, including a three-point loss to Georgia Tech in the ACC/SEC Challenge series. Getting experience in the kind of game that can swing either way helps every team and Mississippi State will need it. The first three SEC games (@Kentucky, South Carolina, Oklahoma) will determine just how much WNBA Draft scouts travel to Mississippi State’s gym for the rest of the season.
38. There are scouts in the building though. Mississippi State was expected to be a middle-of-the-pack program but they currently rank first in the nation in scoring defense, allowing less than 50 points per game, and field-goal percentage defense below 30%. When it comes to looking for talent, it’s not who brings folks to the gym, it’s about who everyone is talking about when they leave. Mississippi State has that potential up-and-down depth chart.
39. Madina Okot, Destiney McPhaul, and Debreasha Powe are playing highly efficient games. Eniya Russell leads the team in scoring but is shooting just 29.4% on three-point attempts. Jerkaila Jordan, MSU’s second-leading scorer, is at 19.4% on threes. That has worked against non-Power Four teams, but will not against Alabama and the rest of the SEC. Being a bully on defense will not work without the ball actually going through the hoop.
40. Mississippi State made a deep run in the inaugural Women's Basketball Invitational Tournament. The Bulldogs are aiming for a strong post-season performance this year. Can they make it to the NCAA tournament and take another step toward becoming a respected SEC power? Or will this experiment blow up once tested against SEC variables?
Tennessee
41. The Lady Volunteers took care of Florida State (79-77) in the ACC/SEC Challenge. Tennessee, assuming they get past Iowa, should stay undefeated until a January 5 matchup against Oklahoma on ESPN. Navigating the upset alerts at Memphis and Texas A&M might convince ESPN to make that January 9 date with LSU a nationally televised affair as well.
42. Tennessee almost ruined that dream in a meltdown against Florida State though. Thankfully, sophomore Talaysia Cooper had 22 points and seven huge rebounds. Does the SEC have a Most Improved Player Award? Nominate Cooper.
43. Still, the Lady Vols let a 20-point late first-half lead over FSU dwindle after a 30-12 third quarter. They’ll need a killer instinct not yet displayed to add more hardware to the trophy case. Which brings us to…
44. Kim Caldwell is attempting to succeed as head coach after Holly Warlick and Kellie Harper could not. The Lady Vols still need a leader who can coach outside of Hall of Famer Pat Summitt’s shadow. Warlick’s number is retired in the rafters, her teams won a SEC few championships, but they also failed to bring home the big prize. Warlick lasted from 2012-2019. Harper got even less time. Is Caldwell the right person for the job? The SEC schedule shows no mercy, just like the impatient alumni.
Vanderbilt
45. Khamil Pierre is leading a defense with a Top 10 turnover margin going into the Christmas break. Pierre also just won the SEC’s December Week 1 Player of the Week award. Showstopping talent, when given space that may not be available in SEC play. The double-double machine is averaging close to 20 points and 12 rebounds. Watch the sophomore’s shot creation and lateral movement to create space. If it’s there, Vanderbilt will be in the game.
46. Mikayla Blakes, a two-time SEC Freshman of the Week winner already, is good for approximately 20 points and four assists per game. That’s going to keep her in Freshman of the Year conversations if it transfers to SEC stat lines.
47. Senior transfers Leilani Kapinus (Penn State) and Jane Nwaba (Pepperdine) have helped shore up some problems but aren’t quite scoring enough to support Pierre and Blakes. Look for Shea Ralph’s coaching staff to get them more involved over the next few non-conference warmup games.
48. The Commodores need a win over a revamped Georgia (1/2) in the SEC opener. A two-game road trip through Ole Miss (1/9) and LSU (1/13) might be an uncomfortable ride. Coming back home to host Tennessee in a 0-3 hole might be a bit too deflating for a team so dependent on Pierre and Blakes.
Bottom Tier SEC Teams
Arkansas
49. Head Coach Mike Neighbors will always be the lesser-known name around Arkansas with John Calipari in town. The problem is that half of Fayetteville wouldn’t know Neighbors if he was, well, their neighbor. Getting some kind of positive press and keeping games close in a state full of talent would go a long way to getting out of the SEC’s basement.
50. Finding a replacement for Maryam Dauda will be the first on-court priority. Dauda is off to South Carolina, which has to sting. She led the team in many categories and grew up in nearby Bentonville.
51. Can Vera Ojenuwa, Jenna Lawrence, and Izzy Higginbottom shoulder the burdens together instead of taking turns in a disjointed offense? If they can do it, Arkansas will upset a few SEC rivals. If not, they may have to turn the key over to a newcomer.
52. Kiki Smith ruled the JuCo circuit, but transferring those skills up a few levels will be a challenge. Smith is making the game easier for others already though, providing spacing as the team’s best three-point shooter.
Georgia
53. Fatima Diakhate’s emergence as a rock-solid offensive option and Kentucky transfer Nyah Leveretter have allowed Georgia’s rotations to go nine-deep recently. However, only one player logging more than 15 minutes a game is shooting better than 30% from three-point range. That’s concerning, to say the least.
54. Twins Summer Davis and Indya Davis are making threes at an elite rate but in limited action. They will join up with fellow four-star recruits Trinity Turner and Mia Woolfolk as freshmen. Georgia needs outside shooting in a big way and the foundational foursome should be playing significant minutes. Well, if they can keep making shots while learning defensive principles. There are jobs, and wins, on the line.
55. Katie Abrahamson-Henderson is going through a soft reset in Year Three. Only two of the team’s top nine scorers return to Georgia, and neither are outside threats. This squad will need a big jump in defensive effort to climb into the SEC’s middle class.
56. De'Mauri Flournoy and Asia Avinger are those sub 31% from three-point range scoring guards. The coaching staff should push the duo to become table-setters who avoid end-of-the-shot clock bailouts; anything that leads to more layups and fewer long two-pointers or contested threes.
Missouri
57. Missouri brought in transfers Laniah Randle (Southern Illinois) and Nyah Wilson (New Mexico) to quickly tilt the scales back towards contention. They were in the NCAA Tournament from 2016 to 2019.
58. Abbey Schreacke, third in the SEC for three-pointers made per game, has not missed a free throw all season but rarely gets to the line. More pressure on the rim instead of hanging out on the perimeter all game is one way for Missouri to dynamic up the offense a bit. Schreacke’s handle in traffic has to be on point though. Turnovers (16.2 per game) have been killing the Tigers.
59. For example, Grace Slaughter (14.7 pts) and Ashton Judd (9.8) keep things interesting by scoring in spurts while committing five combined turnovers per game. Sharing the ball has been an issue too. The top five scorers average a combined five assists per game.
60. Slaughter is something to see. She posted a 17-point, 10-rebound double-double in the ACC/SEC Challenge win over SMU. The next step is closing out wins with style, something Missouri has lacked for a while.
Texas A&M
61. Aicha Coulibaly is having a down year statistically and the schedule is only getting tougher. The fifth-year senior’s 1.5 drop in points, 1.3 decrease in steals, and 11% worse shooting from the free throw line is concerning.
62. Sophomores Janae Kent (LSU transfer) and Sole Williams seem to be the future. They should get the keys to the offense soon if only to start building on next season’s foundation. Texas A&M cannot afford to be complacent if the veteran-led offense goes stagnant.
63. Sticking to development details: Freshman Taliyah Parker (37.5% 3PA) deserves a shot in primetime based on shooting alone. Erica Moon (37.5% FTA) needs more time in the lab before seeing any conference court time. Parker is full of confidence but Moon’s is close to being shattered.
64. Texas A&M is the worst-scoring (65.4), most off-aim shooting (25.3% 3PA) squad in the SEC. The Lady Aggies beat Southern Miss (79-57) and Syracuse (57-45) but lost to sister school Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (62-56) and Ball State (75-62).