A little more than five months have passed since UCLA thumped South Carolina, 79-51, in the women’s NCAA Tournament final for the first title in Bruins history. The rosters for both of those programs have since undergone significant transformation, although the Gamecocks retained plenty of firepower and reloaded in the transfer portal.
UCLA has a much steeper climb in its quest to repeat after the Bruins’ top six scorers were selected in the WNBA Draft. The most significant departures included Lauren Betts, Kiki Rice and Gabriela Jaquez, who led all scorers with 21 points in the national championship game.
UConn and Texas were the other two participants in the Final Four, and each is primed to make another run. The Huskies have back the reigning National Player of the Year in Sarah Strong. The Longhorns feature Madison Booker and are seeking a third straight berth in the Final Four.
Who is the early favorite to win the national championship? That’s among the 10 Burning Questions Hoops HQ is here to answer.
1. Is South Carolina the team to beat?
All indications point to a resounding yes. Coach Dawn Staley has assembled another championship-caliber roster, highlighted by 6-foot-3 junior forward Joyce Edwards. The Gamecocks also anticipate a full season from 6-foot-7 center Alciia Tournebize. Chloe Kitts and Ashlyn Watkins are back from knee injuries. Freshmen Jerzy Robinson and Oliviyah Edwards are five-star prospects.
2. How will UCLA fare with most of its national championship roster gone?
That depends largely on contributions from 6-foot-4 sophomore center Sienna Betts, 5-foot-10 junior guard Elina Aarnisalo and 6-foot-3 senior forward Timea Gardiner. Sienna is the younger sister of Lauren and will be the Bruins’ go-to player inside. Aarnisalo transferred back to UCLA after one season with North Carolina. Gardiner missed last season because of a medical redshirt.
3. Can UConn win a 13th national championship?
The Huskies are legitimate title contenders if Strong is at full strength. Several months ago, the 6-foot-2 junior forward said she had been playing through Achilles discomfort since the previous summer. Still, Strong helped UConn remain undefeated last season until a loss to South Carolina in the Final Four.
4. Is Texas on track for a third consecutive Final Four appearance?
Booker can carry the Longhorns deep into the NCAA Tournament. The 6-foot-1 senior forward is a three-time first-team All-American and ranks fifth in school history in scoring (1,969 points). Texas might need to lean on Booker even more given the loss of starting point guard Rori Harmon to the WNBA and the transfer of second-leading scorer Jordan Lee to South Carolina.
5. Has USC’s JuJu Watkins recovered completely from a serious knee injury?
Based on her comments, and those of her coach and teammates earlier this summer, Watkins is all the way back. The 2025 National Player of the Year tore her ACL in the second round of the NCAA Tournament that season and missed all of 2025-26 while rehabbing. Her comeback puts the Trojans squarely in the Final Four conversation.
6. Is Duke ready to contend for the Final Four?
The Blue Devils are on the rise after reaching the Elite Eight, where they lost to UCLA, 49-42. Coach Kara Lawson acquired 6-foot-1 sophomore forward Aaliyah Crump, a five-star prospect formerly at Texas, via the transfer portal. Duke also gets 6-foot redshirt freshman guard Emilee Skinner back from a lower body injury that limited the McDonald’s All-American to three games.
7. Is Michigan ready to contend?
The Wolverines had their sights set on the first Final Four berth in program history, but the loss of point guard Mila Holloway puts those aspirations in jeopardy. The junior hurt her lower leg in a recent practice and is out indefinitely. Holloway is among a trio of juniors, along with Olivia Olson and Syla Swords, who sparked Michigan to the regional finals last season.
8. Who upgraded the most via the transfer portal?
Oklahoma State hit it out of the park when coach Jacie Hoyt landed 6-foot-3 senior center Audi Crooks and 5-foot-9 junior guard Liv McGill. Crooks played three seasons at Iowa State and was a second-team All-American in 2025-26. McGill played her first two seasons at Florida, where she was first-team All-SEC. The duo combined to average close to 44 points per game last season.
9. Which freshmen will have the most impact?
USC’s Saniyah Hall was the No. 1 overall prospect according to ESPN and Rivals and No. 2 per 247 Sports. The McDonald’s All-American was selected MVP of the FIBA U19 World Cup in 2025 after leading the United States to the gold medal. North Carolina’s Kate Harpring is another five-star freshman expected to contribute immediately. The point guard was the top-rated prospect in the country by 247 Sports.
10. What changes are coming to the NCAA Tournament?
The field is set to expand from 68 to 76 teams this season, and the top 16 seeds will be included in the bracket without consideration for conference affiliation. Previously, the top four seeds from the same conference were placed in different regions to avoid meeting until the Final Four. The seeding modification means schools from power conferences are likely to play head-to-head in the early rounds.
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