Since our Way-Too-Early top 25 rankings for the 2022-23 women's college basketball season, the transfer portal frenzy has stopped. That doesn't mean that it wasn't busy over the past couple months, and at that point, it was still a healthy national player of the year contender.
There have been some changes in our top 10.
Going from the team most likely to challenge South Carolina to a team that might now have to dig deep to reach a 15th consecutive Final Four is a blow to the team. Texas moved up two spots as a result of the addition of Gonzalez.
Some things remained the same. South Carolina is the favorite to win the title again. Five teams are vying for a spot in the top 10 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. This will be the most competitive conference race in the nation.
With the start of the season almost a month away, the discussion of how all the new faces can get serious. How will chemistry build for teams like Tennessee? Which transfer will have the greatest effect? Which veterans will get the most out of their extra season?
Some of those questions will be answered by the new top 25.
Next: 2
Dawn Staley must have thought this was the kind of success she would get when she landed the nation's top recruiting class. Two SEC regular-season titles, a pair of SEC tournament titles, two Final Fours and a national championship have been achieved by the core of Aliyah Boston, Laeticia Amihere, Brea Beal, and the rest. They are favored to do all of those again. Replacing Destanni Henderson at point guard is the only hole for a team that went wire-to-wire as the nation's top team. Last year's No. 2 recruit in the country should return from a knee injury in time for the 2020-21 season. Boston will get a little more help as she goes for a second straight national player of the year award with the return of Victaria Saxton.
Next: 2
The Cardinal could be chasing South Carolina all season if they win the Nov. 20 game. Two preseason All-Americans is something the USC don't have. The Cardinal could have two of the best players in the country in Haley Jones and Cameron Brink. The experience of seniors Fran Belibi, Hannah Jump and Ashten Prechtel, as well as the talent of 6-3 sophomores Kiki Iriafen and Brooke Demetre, make the Cardinal a contender. Adding Lauren Betts, the nation's top recruit, will make the interior defense of the Cardinal much more imposing.
Next: 6
The Texas clubs just keep getting better. The first Final Four for the program since 2004 seems close after trips to the Elite Eight in his first two seasons. Schaefer has a point guard that is going to be a star in the future. Suddenly, the Longhorns have the most intriguing backcourt in the country after the portal brought grad transfers Gonzales and Morris. With the addition of Taylor Jones from Oregon State, the team has several lineup options and the talent to challenge for a national title.
Next: 3
There was a chance that the entire starting lineup would be acquired by KellieHarper. Point guard Jasmine Powell (Minnesota), forwards Rickea Jackson (Mississippi State) and Jasmine Franklin (Missouri State) and center Jillian Hollingshead (Georgia) would start for many teams. The depth of the Lady Vols gives them a chance to compete in the SEC.
Next: 7
The Hawkeyes can score a lot of points. There are stretches when Clark can do it on her own. The question with recent Iowa teams comes at the defensive end, where the Hawkeyes ranked 99th in the country. This could be a Final Four team if the improvements are made. Clark led the nation in scoring and assists and Czinano was the leader in field goal percentage. They were the most prolific inside and outside duo in the country. With the addition of Molly Davis, Iowa has another scorer and shooter.
Next: 3
The Huskies seem to have more questions than answers. The Bueckers went down in August with a tornACL. Is Azzi Fudd ready to take over as the top scorer? Who will fill the leadership void with the graduation of Christyn Williams? How much can Ducharme continue to improve? Can Aaliyah and Dorka Juhasz continue to grow? Is Lou Lopez-Senechal's game going to translate to the national stage? This is a Final Four caliber team with the right answers. There are games against Texas, NC State, Duke and possibly Iowa by Thanksgiving weekend.
Next: 6
The transfer portal was used by Jeff Walz to get his Louisville to the Final Four. Why not do it again? The success last season was driven by defense. It could be offense this time. Morgan Jones and Chrislyn Carr both play for Florida State, so the Cards have two big-time wing scorers. The development of Olivia Cochran in the post and the decision of LizDixon to play one more season makes the Cards formidable inside.
Next: 10.
The Irish are looking to take the next step after being close to the Final Four last year. The transfer portal might have been able to take care of the rest of the key pieces since most of them are back in the third season. Brown is a backup to the dynamic point guard and long range shooter. Lauren Ebo brings a lot of physical strength to the two-way forwards that are the last twoACC rookies of the year. KyleeWatson is a former five star recruit.
Next: 11
He might be the best player in the history of the team. She might be a part of the best team the program has ever had after she decided to stay in Ames for her senior year. The backcourt of Emily Ryan and Lexi Donarski might be the best in the conference. Iowa State has never had an intimidating frontline like the one it has with senior Morgan Kane and 6-foot-2 two-time NAIA Player of the Year, Bill Fennelly.
The previous day was 12.
A lot of the group that elevated the program to Big Ten contender status had to leave. The team's two best players are back, but the team's heart and soul won't be easy to duplicate. The team will look to build on their trips to the Elite Eight and Sweet 16 the last two years. One of the country's best 3-point shooters, Sara Scalia, is one of the transfers that helped the team. Holmes should be freed up by the help of a transfer. The Indiana native moved east from Oregon to give her more shooting range.
Next: 9
Some of the production loss, if not the presence of program icon Elissa Cunane, will be mitigated by the addition of transfers River Baldwin of Florida State and Maryland's Mimi Collins. Wes Moore's big score in the transfer portal was the move to Raleigh by Saniyya Rivers. One of the country's top recruits could flourish with more opportunities at NC State. Even if Rivers takes more time to develop, Moore still has veterans point guard Diamond Johnson, wing Jakia Brown- Turner, post Camile Hobby and forward Jada Boyd to lean upon.
The previous day was 13
The Tar Heels haven't regained their glory days of the mid-2000s, but they are getting closer. The Tar Heels reached the Sweet 16 for the first time in three years. Last season's top three scorers are the product of the first recruiting class of Banghart. Kelly could be a contender for player of the year. Two years ago, Teoni Key was a McDonald's All American and could be a big presence inside if she's fully recovered from her knee injury.
The previous day was 11.
The complexion of the Hokies' season changed when Owosu left Maryland. KennyBrooks has a post-perimeter tandem with Elizabeth Kitley that will cause a lot of problems for the opposition. The face of Boston College over the past few seasons joined the Hokies. The program's best season in over two decades was achieved with the return of junior point guard Georgia Amoore, who was second in the Atlantic Coast Conference in points per game.
Next: 15.
The transfer portal continued to give the tigers a boost. The team that used to be unranked is now a threat. Kim Mulkey surprised many with a second place finish in the conference after using the portal. With much of that core gone, Mulkey added forward LaDazhia Williams, point guard Kateri Poole, and guard Jasmine Carson to go with the lone returning starter. The fortunes of the tigers changed when Angel Reese moved to Baton Rouge. Reese has the potential to be a first-team All-America player.
The previous day, 18.
The coach has learned to live at the high end of the transfer portal. For the second time in three years Frese lost a lot of talent and had to replace them with other schools. The Big Ten championship team meshed transfers with established Maryland teams. To do that again, they'll need to duplicate recent success. In the year 2021, he was a 19.5PPG scorer. He was the Ivy League player of the year in 2022. Alexander led the team in scoring with 15.2 points per game. Diamond Miller, who was slowed by injuries a season ago, might be the key to it all. Before the calendar turns to 2023, chemistry might have to come quickly with a schedule that includes South Carolina.
The previous day was 16.
The first year in Norman was fun to watch, and successful. The 25 wins were the most since the 2010 Final Four team and the Sooners were third in the country in scoring. The team might be even better. Taylor Robertson, who is 51 3-pointers away from the NCAA career record, decided to return for another year. Oklahoma has three high-end scorers if Ana Llanusa is fully recovered from her knee injury. Adding Joens gives the perimeter shooting a boost.
The previous day was 15.
The Buckeyes might have the deepest backcourt in the country if Madison Greene is 100 percent recovered from her knee injury. The Big Ten regular-season title was shared by Ohio State and Iowa a year ago, and the Buckeyes relied on Taylor Mikesell and Jacy Sheldon a lot. Rikki Harris and her 7.1PPG return as well. Ohio State will be able to compete for the Big Ten's top spot if Rebeka Mikulasikova and Eboni Walker return to their former form.
The previous day was 19
Coach Adia Barnes added some significant talent to her veteran core, but the success of the Cats will largely be built on the four of them. Oklahoma State's Lauren Fields and Arizona State's Jade Loville led their schools in scoring last year, while West Virginia's Esmery Martinez was a rebounder. Maya Nnaji from Minnesota and Paris Clark from Long Island are both top 25 recruits who could add two more scorers to an offense that should be better.
Next: 18.
It's almost impossible to replace three players who were chosen in the first two rounds of the draft. Aijha Blackwell, the nation's second-leading rebounder, from Missouri, and Dre'UnaEdwards, the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year at Utah, were brought in by the new coach. Fifth-year seniors Ja'Mee Asberry and Caitlin Bickle and junior guard Sarah Andrews form the returning core, giving the Bears plenty of talent and experience as they try to hold off Texas and Iowa State for a 13th consecutive Big 12 regular- season title.
The previous day was 20.
The Oregon team is built around the backcourt and has an anchor in the post. If she can stay healthy, she could become a star. Endyia Rogers has been to the All-Pac-12 twice. They are joined by grad transfer Taya Hanson, a starter in her final two seasons at Arizona State, and point guard Chance Gray.
Next: 23.
The Cornhuskers suffered a big blow late last month when senior Sam Haiby suffered a leg injury that will force her to miss the season, but coach Amy Williams has amassed enough talent to still be competitive in the Big Ten. All but one of Nebraska's top three scorers are back. They are joined by the South Dakota transfer, who could instantly be one of the Big Ten's top perimeter defenders, and the top 35 basketball recruit in the country.
Next: 24.
The Jackrabbits won the WNIT despite losing their point guard to a leg injury. Meyer, who led the team in assists and shot 53.4% from 3-point range as a freshman, is back, as is Myah Selland, who has battled some injuries the last two years. Two more double-figure scorers are returning. South Dakota State might be able to get back to the NCAA tournament with the help of a graduate transfer. Gylten was a four-year starter for the Utah and was the leader in assists in the conference.
Next: 22.
The Bluejays want to prove that their trip to the Elite Eight wasn't a one-off. In Omaha, the expectations have gone up. There is a balanced offensive attack that has five of its top six scorers back. A team that was 10th in the country in 3-point accuracy was led by Lauren Jensen.
The previous day, 24.
It is possible that the Tigers will be even better this season despite the loss of the Ivy League Player of the Year. Two of the other four starters are back. The addition of Tabetha Amanze and Madison St. Rose from New Jersey is considered to be the best recruiting class in Ivy League history. The measuring stick for the program will be the games at Texas and Connecticut.
In the past:
While starting two freshmen and two sophomores, the Utes are in a position to take another giant step forward after their best season in 13 years. The USC graduate averaged 16.3PPG in the last two seasons before transferring. If she's healthy, the 6-2 junior's inside scoring talents might be the perfect complement to a talented young backcourt. The top rookies were Kneepkens and Johnson.
Georgia Lady dogs were also considered.
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