The leaves are turning colors and starting to fall. You know what that means: College basketball is nearly here.
And the women’s season is filled with storylines.
JuJu Watkins, the presumed No. 1 pick in the 2027 WNBA Draft, returns after a yearlong layoff, putting USC back into the spotlight.
Her return makes the conversation for National Player of the Year more interesting. Last season’s winner, Sarah Strong, headlines a UConn squad determined to get back to the mountaintop. Vanderbilt guard Mikayla Blakes, the breakout star of last season, Texas forward Madison Booker and Notre Dame guard Hannah Hidalgo are among the candidates.
Dawn Staley’s South Carolina team is always a force to be reckoned with. But did the Big Ten finally overtake the SEC as the best basketball conference?
There’s so much to explore. But let’s start here, with The Post’s preseason Top 25:
1. South Carolina
After falling in last season’s national championship game to UCLA, expect the Gamecocks to return this season with vengeance on their mind. It doesn’t matter that they lost four seniors because Joyce Edwards, Chloe Kitts and Tessa Johnson are back. The Gamecocks also reloaded their roster with the additions of highly rated freshmen Jerzy Robinson and Oliviyah Edwards, and transfers Brooke Quarles Daniels (Michigan) and Jordan Lee (Texas).
2. UConn
Death, taxes and the Huskies having championship expectations. UConn went 38-1 last year but was bounced by South Carolina in the Final Four. Strong leads a talented roster featuring veteran guards KK Arnold, Ashlynn Shade and Kayleigh Heckel. The Huskies have an elite combination of scoring, defense and versatility, and they jam-packed their nonconference schedule full of heavyweights.
3. USC
There’s no denying that the return of Watkins changes the Trojans’ ceiling entirely. Jazzy Davidson, the reigning Freshman of the Year, is expected to take a leap, and USC also welcomes the nation’s top recruiting class, headlined by Saniyah Hall.
4. Duke
After back-to-back Elite Eight appearances, Duke is eager to get over the hump and reach a Final Four for the first time since 2006. The Blue Devils have a lot of continuity, bringing back nine players from last season, including star Toby Fournier.
5. Michigan
Expectations have never been higher for the Wolverines. Guards Syla Swords and Olivia Olson, now juniors, didn’t mince their words at Big Ten media days, saying their sights are set on winning a national championship. The Wolverines are coming off a 28-win season (tying a program high) and a third-place finish in the Big Ten with a program-high 15 conference wins.
6. Texas
Texas knocked off South Carolina to win the SEC tournament last season. The Longhorns then went to the Final Four for the second consecutive year but are trying to get to the national championship game that’s eluded the program for 40 years. Booker, a three-time All-American, leads a balanced Longhorns team with five freshmen.
7. Louisville
The Cardinals are returning four of their five top scorers from last season, including guard Tajianna Roberts, who shot 35.3 percent from deep last season.
8. Iowa
After finishing second in the Big Ten last season, Iowa has a roster that blends veteran talent (Ava Heiden, Chazadi Wright) with newcomers, including five-star high school recruit McKenna Woliczko and Georgia transfer Dani Carnegie.
9. Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt swept SEC coach (Shea Ralph), player (Mikayla Blakes) and freshman of the year (Aubrey Galvan) last season. All three are back as the Commodores look to continue their ascent into women’s basketball elite.
10. LSU
Flau’jae Johnson, now in the WNBA, was a key loss for the Tigers. They’ll rely on MiLaysia Fulwiley and Mikaylah Williams to lead the charge this season.
11. UCLA
Despite being the defending national champions, the Bruins are practically playing with a new roster after their top six scorers from last season went to the WNBA.
12. North Carolina
Freshman guard Kate Harpring turned heads in the preseason averaging 23 points and seven rebounds. She’s the only freshman named to the Naismith Player of the Year watch list.
13. Washington
Sayvia Sellers, who led the Huskies with 18 points per game, and Avery Howell, who led the Big Ten in defensive rebounds, return as Washington looks to go on a deep run come March.
14. Notre Dame
The Fighting Irish will go where Hidalgo — the 5-foot-7 dynamo who averaged 25.3 points and 5.6 steals last season — takes them.
15. Kentucky
Keep an eye on Clara Strack, who averaged 16.9 points and 10.1 rebounds last season and broke her own program record with 91 blocked shots.
16. Ole Miss
There’s a lot of talent within the Ole Miss locker room, including Tennessee transfer Talaysia Cooper. But the lack of continuity might mean some early-season growing pains.
17. TCU
This looks like a rebuilding year for Mark Campbell’s program as the Horned Frogs underwent massive roster turnover, bringing back just one starter and three total players from last season.
18. Ohio State
The Buckeyes return four starters from last season’s NCAA Tournament team, including 2026 Dawn Staley Award winner Jaloni Cambridge, who averaged 23.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game.
19. Illinois
Illinois’ roster continuity should bode well for making a third consecutive NCAA Tournament.
20. Maryland
Bri McDaniel is set to make her highly anticipated return to Maryland’s rotation after missing nearly two years for an ACL recovery.
21. Oklahoma
Aaliyah Chavez, one of the nation’s most exciting freshmen a season ago, is poised to be even better.
22. Villanova
Coming off a 25-win season, Villanova was picked to finish second in the Big East behind UConn.
23. West Virginia
West Virginia has 10 newcomers and just two returners. The name you might recognize is Gia Cooke, who led the team in scoring at 15 points per game.
24. Minnesota
Tori McKinney suffered a season-ending knee injury in practice this month. It’s a bummer, but the Gophers still look to make noise in a loaded Big Ten.
25. Arizona State
Coach Molly Miller turned a 10-win program into a 24-win NCAA Tournament team in her first season. What does she have in store in Year 2?
Kenney’s predictions
Final Four: South Carolina, UConn, USC, Duke
Champion: USC
