South Carolina tops preseason women's hoops poll
UCLA and UConn remain major threats as the 2026-27 season begins.
By Miguel Navarro ·
The 2026-27 women's college basketball season begins Sunday.
South Carolina opened as the No. 1 team in the Associated Press preseason poll. This marks the fifth time in the past seven years that the Gamecocks have started the season at the top. The team lost four seniors, including three WNBA draft picks, but retains a deep roster.
Joyce Edwards, Chloe Kitts, Alicia Tournebize, and Ashlyn Watkins anchor the post. Freshman Oliviyah Edwards joins them, while guard Tessa Johnson returns for her final year. Transfers Jordan Lee from Texas and Brooke Quarles Daniels from Michigan add depth. Coach Dawn Staley also has new players Jerzy Robinson and Lee to integrate.
UConn's Sarah Strong remains a leading contender for national player of the year. She won the award last season while JuJu Watkins missed time due to injury. Watkins, the 2025 consensus player of the year, returns for USC after a torn left ACL. Her absence caused USC to finish 18-14 last year. With Watkins back, the Trojans aim for their first national title since 1984.
The Big Ten features defending champion UCLA, which lost six players to the WNBA. USC, Michigan, and Iowa are also ranked in the conference. In the SEC, Texas, LSU, and Vanderbilt provide strong competition. The Big 12 looks to Oklahoma State, which added transfers Audi Crooks and Liv McGill. TCU's Mark Campbell continues to rely on a frequent roster turnover, with nine of 12 players being new.
Coaches face pressure to deliver results. Tennessee's Kim Caldwell is in her third season after a losing streak ended last spring. USC's Lindsay Gottlieb seeks a Final Four berth with her star back on the court. Stanford's Kate Paye is in her third year after missing the NCAA tournament in the last two seasons. These dynamics set the stage for the tournament run to Columbus, Ohio.
The first games will test these rosters immediately. South Carolina faces early scrutiny as the top seed. USC's return to full health will be a key storyline. The competition in the Big Ten and SEC will determine which teams emerge as serious challengers to the Gamecocks.
Source: ESPN
