When more double-digit seeds won games in the NCAA tournament than ever before and parity became a buzz word again, we still saw a chalky Final Four, with three 1-seeds, plus Connecticut.
In the last two years, South Carolina, Connecticut and Stanford all made it to the final weekend of the season. It is difficult to pick against them being in Dallas next year. The star power they will have returning are: Aliyah Boston, Haley Jones and Cameron Brink of the Cardinal. They will be on every preseason All-American team.
The teams that will best challenge them are the fun part. The transfer portal has a lot to say about that. With over 900 players currently looking to change programs, this way-too-early top 25 list will need some revisions when rosters are set.
Next year will be like this for now. The road to Dallas needs to start soon.
The national Player of the Year in Boston back would be a good foundation for most teams, but her classmates are also set to return. The cast of the national championship is the same as that of the Gamecocks.
Dawn Staley will have her at point guard to replace Destanni Henderson if Raven Johnson comes back from a torn knee. Kamilla Cardoso is still a defensive force and Sania Feagin should improve on her first season in Columbia. South Carolina has a lot of talent.
The graduations of program mainstays Christyn Williams and Olivia Nelson-Ododa should not be a problem for the backcourt of Azzi Fudd and Paige Bueckers. The multiple lineups Geno Auriemma was forced to use this season due to injury should be more of an option than a necessity in 2022-23.
The early part of the season was rough for the Cardinal. Without Lexie and Lacie Hull and Anna Wilson, there could be uneasiness next season. Tara Van derveer should be able to figure it out again, like she did this year when she turned to Jones and Brink.
How much playing time for Iriafen and Demetre will affect the rotation and whether or not the Cardinal can get to a third straight Final Four. Lauren Betts is the No. 1 recruit in the country.
The Longhorns seem to have their core figured out after the performances of freshman forward Aaliyah Moore and freshman point guard Rori Harmon. The last time Texas made the Final Four, neither player had even learned to walk, but after consecutive Elite Eight appearances and one of the country's best defensive coaches, the Longhorns could be ready to take the next step.
Even though they never lived up to expectations, they still ended up in the Sweet 16. Maryland has a collection of offensive pieces that are unparalleled. Getting back to the top of the Big Ten is likely if Frese can add more size through the transfer portal.
The loss to Creighton in the second round of the NCAA tournament was devastating. Had it been Czinano's last game, it would have been more devastating. The decision by the nation's field goal percentage leader to use her extra year of eligibility to once again pair with Clark, the nation's leader in scoring and assists, is enough to make the Hawkeyes a threat for bigger things than just a Big Ten title.
The same could be said about the return of Joens. Iowa State has a great backcourt of Emily Ryan and Lexi Donarski. Texas is a Big 12 favorite with her once again.
Thanks to the transfer portal, she has the ability to remake the Lady Vols. Rickea Jackson, who was leading the SEC in scoring at Mississippi State this season, left the program in January. Point guard Jasmine Powell had already decided to go to Tennessee. They are part of a potent lineup.
The transfer portal has already hit the Irish depth hard with the departures of Anaya Peoples and Sam Brunelle, but the possibility of all five returning makes Notre Dame a top 10 team. The best freshman tandem in the country might be the one from last year, as well as the one from this year. Maya Dodson has petitioned the NCAA to allow her to return as a super senior, and she has already decided to do so.
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The Sooners were not expected to win many games this year. They will be next season. Taylor Robertson, the Big 12's all-time leading 3-point shooter, and leading scorer Madi Williams have decided to return. The coach will have eight top players in her rotation again. In the first 10 games of the season, guard Ana Llanusa was averaging over 17 points per game before a knee injury ended her season.
After getting the job as Tar Heels coach, the first full recruiting class will be juniors next year, and may finally be ready to break out. Deja Kelly and Kennedy Todd-Williams have looked like stars at times.
The Tar Heels haven't won a conference title since 2008, but if Banghart can replace the leadership that Carlie Littlefield provided, North Carolina could be close.
Adia Barnes will hit the transfer portal hard. The Wildcats might be better than they were this season if she has any success. Barnes has already added a top 10 recruiting class, featuring a Minnesotan named Maya Nnaji.
The Big Ten has never seen a championship season like this before, with Ohio State and Iowa tying for the regular season title. Four of the top five scorers from that team should return, and much of the rest will be in the backcourt. Taylor Mikesell's decision to take her extra season to rejoin All-American candidate Jacy Sheldon and a full recovery by Madison Greene give Ohio State a trio that is hard.
Jeff Walz relied on transfers to get to the Final Four. He may have to do it again with Emily, Kianna, and Chelsie expected to be gone. He has a couple of people to build around. If Verhulst makes a big jump, the Cards should still be in the race.
You should feel good if you have the reigning Player of the Year and an honorable mention all-conference honoree on your team. At least he should. Georgia Amoore was second in the league in assists and Elizabeth Kitley will be on a number of preseason first-team All-American lists next year. More people are going to shoot around Kitley with the expected return of Cayla King and Kayana Traylor.
It will be strange for a while in Raleigh after the death of Elissa Cunane. Wes Moore has created something bigger at NC State, and the team will still include Jakia Brown-Turner, Jada Boyd and Diamond Johnson. Cunane should be replaced by 6-1 senior-to-be Camille Hobby, giving the Wolfpack some experience in the middle. A top-four finish in the Atlantic Coast Conference and hosting NCAA tournament games is notambitious.
The chemistry of Nicole Cardano-Hillary and Ali Patberg will disappear, so it is easy to forget that the Hoosiers have two of their best players back. Having two honorable mention All-Americans is a good way to keep the program among the best in the Big Ten.
Another big season of change is already upon the Ducks, with Kylee and her friends entering the transfer portal. Te-Hina Paopao is out of the recruiting class of 2020. She may have been the best of the group, and a fully healthy season from her, backcourt mate Endyia Rogers and post Sedona Prince should be enough for Oregon to make a run at a top-three spot in the Pac-12. Another top class is on the way.
After the most successful season in 13 years, coach Lynne Roberts has plenty of youth on which to build. The best of the bunch are the two Freshman of the Year, Gianna Kneepkens and the leading scorer in her first year, Jenna Johnson. The best 3-point shooter in Utah was a sophomore. Roberts has the foundation to produce the best stretch in the program's history if 5-5 Peyton McFarland can recover from a late-season knee injury.
The Cornhuskers had the best player early in the season. By the end of the season, that distinction had been taken over by a freshman. Senior Sam Haiby was the glue. All three will return, giving coach Amy Williams a chance to have the best team in her seven seasons.
After making the NCAA tournament in 2012 and 2013, the Jayhawks didn't return until this year. It should be back-to-back trips next season. Brandon Schneider, the Big 12's Coach of the Year, has brought back the top four scorers from a team that finished fifth in the conference.
After two years of being decimated by injuries, coach Cori Close is hoping for a sturdy enough roster to get back near the top of the Pac-12. Much of the hope will be placed on the guards, led by the No. 2 prospect in the nation, 5-11 point guard Kiki Rice from Washington, D.C.
Even with the loss of Ivy League Player of the Year, the string of four consecutive regular season titles should grow. With a pair of top-50 recruits on the way, coach Berube might have an even better team over the next few years. Tabetha Amanze and Madison St. Rose are two of the local New Jersey prep stars.
The Bluejays' run to the Elite Eight was mostly overlooked, but how young the team was was. Four sophomores -- Emma Ronsiek, Morgan Maly, Lauren Jensen and Molly Mogensen -- were the core. Five of the Bluejays top six scorers should be back to try to challenge the Big East champion.
Replacing a legend in Kim Mulkey was the biggest challenge of the year. Replacing that talent will be a chore next season. Queen Egbo, NaLyssa Smith and Jordan Lewis accounted for nearly half of the point production. If the Bears are to win a 13th straight Big 12 championship, they will need new stars.
Arkansas, Kansas State, and South Dakota State are also considered.
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