Just over six months ago, UCLA shocked the women’s basketball world by absolutely smothering South Carolina in the national championship game. The Bruins’ 79-51 win not only tied the third-largest margin of victory in the NCAA Tournament final but gave the program its first national title.
The 2026-27 season starts next month, and while UCLA is still expected to be among the nation’s best, its chances to repeat are unlikely after losing its entire starting five to the WNBA Draft.
Despite getting thrashed in last year’s title game, South Carolina begins the new year as the heavy favorite. The Gamecocks have reached the national championship game in each of the last three seasons but haven’t won it all since 2024. This year, Joyce Edwards returns as a junior, and fellow forward Chloe Kitts is back after missing last season with an ACL injury.
The only team expected to give the Gamecocks trouble? UConn.
That loss spoiled UConn’s otherwise perfect season and still stings for the Huskies. Strong is the reigning National Player of the Year and, according to Geno Auriemma, is even better now as a junior. Blanca Quiñonez is healthy and is also expected to make huge strides as UConn’s No. 2 option.
On the West Coast, superstar JuJu Watkins is back after missing last season with an ACL injury. USC reached the Elite Eight in Watkins’ sophomore and freshman seasons. Last year, without her, the Trojans fell in the second round. Her return elevates them back into title contention as she’ll join star sophomore guard Jazzy Davidson, who led USC in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks last year.
The 2026-27 season is the final collegiate run for national stars Hannah Hidalgo (Notre Dame), Madison Booker (Texas), Audi Crooks (Oklahoma State), Mikaylah Williams (LSU) and MiLaysia Fulwiley (LSU). Watkins is a senior this year, but can return for a fifth year next season if she chooses. If she does declare for the WNBA this spring, she’s expected to be the No. 1 overall pick in April’s draft.
As with all preseason polls, expect these rankings to be short-lived. Opening week has a handful of high-profile games that will tell us a lot about these teams early.
Notre Dame kicks off the year playing Villanova in Rome (what I’m calling the Pope Leo Bowl) on Sunday, Nov. 1. On Nov. 2, South Carolina plays Maryland in Paris, and Oklahoma hosts North Carolina. The Huskies travel to Ann Arbor to face Michigan on Nov. 5 in what will be an early test on the road, before hosting Iowa on Nov. 8. That same day, the Gamecocks play UNC in Charlotte in the Ally Tipoff.