The 2024-25 women's college basketball season is almost here, and there will be plenty of talent to watch across the nation. For now, this is still set to be Paige Bueckers' year, but there is a strong sophomore class led by JuJu Watkins ready to steal the show.
Meanwhile, Aneesah Morrow is next up at LSU after Angel Reese left to the WNBA, and Rori Harmon is getting ready for her comeback with Texas.
Making a list of just 10 players was not an easy task, but stats, history, potential and other intangibles played a role in the decisions made. Without further ado, here are the top 10 players heading into the 2024-25 season:
1. Paige Bueckers, UConn
Since her freshman season when she won all four major player of the year awards, Bueckers was set to become a superstar. Unfortunately, she hasn't been able to reach her full potential because of injuries, but her talent is undeniable. After missing the 2022-23 season due to a torn ACL, Bueckers returned physically stronger and a better defensive player. Last season she averaged 21.9 points per game while shooting 53% from the field and 41.6% from beyond the arc. She also averaged 5.2 rebounds while registering 150 assists, 86 steals and 53 blocks.
Bueckers was able to guide UConn to the Final Four despite the team relying on just a seven-player rotation in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. She will be hungrier than ever to finish the job this season.
2. JuJu Watkins, USC
Watkins arrived to college basketball with high expectations and absolutely smashed them. She averaged 27.1 points per game last season on her way to breaking the all-time freshman scoring record with 290 points. One of her most impressive performances was a 51-point, 11-rebound masterpiece against then-No. 4 Stanford in February.
Last season USC reached the Elite Eight for the first time since 1994, and now the Trojans will begin their Big Ten era as the favorites with Watkins as the conference's preseason player of the year.
3. Aneesah Morrow, LSU
Angel Reese was a key part of Kim Mulkey's team and was declared the double-double queen. But now that she is in the WNBA, it's time for Morrow to truly step into the spotlight -- although she was already shining pretty bright.
Morrow spent her first two years at DePaul, and last season she was on a mission to show she could build on what she did with the Blue Demons. She helped the Tigers reach the Elite Eight while averaging 16.4 points and 10 rebounds per game, as well as leading the team in steals and blocks.
4. Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame
Last year's freshman class was truly impressive, and Hidalgo was one of the most well-rounded players. She averaged 22.6 points while also leading the nation in steals with 160. Hidalgo helped the Fighting Irish reach their third consecutive Sweet 16 despite multiple injuries affecting the team.
One of the major setbacks was star point guard Olivia Miles sitting out because of a knee injury she suffered in February 2023. Hidalgo stepped up to the challenge and capped off a great first season by receiving the Dawn Staley Award, which is given to the nation's top point guard in women's college basketball.
5. Madison Booker, Texas
There was a lot of uncertainty about what would happen to Texas after star guard Rori Harmon suffered a season-ending injury in December. However, Madison Booker didn't miss a beat and helped lead the team all the way to Elite Eight.
Booker was a wing in high school, but quickly adjusted to point-guard duties and became the first player in conference history to win both the Big 12 Freshman of the Year and Player of the Year awards. She also earned the Cheryl Miller Small Forward of the Year award. One of her best performances was in a 91-87 loss against Oklahoma on Jan. 24, as she tallied 29 points and six rebounds.
6. Georgia Amoore, Kentucky
Kentucky got a lot stronger this offseason when Amoore decided to follow coach Kenny Brooks from Virginia Tech. Amoore and Elizabeth Kitley were the dynamic duo that took Virginia Tech to its first ever Final Four in 2023. Kitley suffered a season-ending injury in early March, but Amoore was still able to help the Hokies reach the second round of the NCAA Tournament before losing a close battle to Baylor.
Amoore averaged 18.8 points and 6.9 assists per game last season and was a member of the 2023-24 John R. Wooden Award All-American Team.
7. Kiki Iriafen, USC
Watkins said Iriafen doesn't get talked about enough, and she is probably right. Iriafen had a breakout season at Stanford and was named the Pac-12 Most Improved Player. The 6-foot-3 forward averaged 9.4 points, 11.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game and earned the Katrina McClain Award, which is given to the nation's best power forward.
She showed just how dangerous she can be with a 41-point performance in an 87-81 overtime win against Iowa State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
8. Audi Crooks, Iowa State
Iowa State was recently picked to finish second in the Big 12 Conference, just one first-place vote behind Kansas State, and Crooks is definitely the key reason. The unanimous All-Big 12 selection averaged 19.2 points on 57.7% shooting and 7.8 rebounds her freshman year. She has also spent the offseason working on improving her defense along with the rest of the team.
Her best game last season was in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in a 93-86 win against Maryland. Crooks scored 40 points that game, the most by a freshman in NCAA Women's Tournament history, and missed only two of her 20 shot attempts.
9. Rori Harmon, Texas
Before tearing her ACL during a practice last December, Harmon was averaging 14.1 points, 7.8 assists and 5.6 rebounds in 12 games and helped the Longhorns reach their best start since 2015-16.
Harmon had entered the season as the reigning Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and one of the most promising players in the country. Even UConn coach Geno Auriemma praised Harmon for her ability to keep Bueckers "from getting in any kind of rhythm" when they faced each other on Dec. 3.
While it's never easy to come back from an injury, she might be able to pick up where she left off. Texas coach Vic Schaefer said Harmon is "looking like a million dollars," and even during practices she has already given the team a taste of the impact she can have this upcoming season.
10. MiLaysia Fulwiley, South Carolina
No, Fulwiley was not a starter for the Gamecocks last season, and her stats might not look as impressive as other players on this list. However, she has a huge amount of potential because of her creativity and athleticism.
She was the team's second-leading scorer last season with 11.7 points per game despite averaging less than 19 minutes and only starting three times. It's important to point out she was part of a deep South Carolina rotation in which nobody averaged more than 27 minutes per game.
Dawn Staley describes Fulwiley as a generational talent and a walking highlight reel, and Fulwiley has been working hard this offseason to slow her game down and prove she can be impactful in multiple areas.
Other players to watch:
Ayoka Lee (Kansas State), Te-Hina Paopao (South Carolina), Lauren Betts (UCLA), Yvonne Ejim (Gonzaga), Saniya Rivers (NC State), Aziaha James (NC State), Raegan Beers (Oklahoma).
