USC's return reshapes college basketball hierarchy as South Carolina holds top spot
The 2026-27 season opens Sunday with a contested player of the year race and a crowded field of national title contenders.
By Layla Petrov ·
The landscape of women's college basketball shifts on Sunday as the 2026-27 season begins. For fans and analysts, the primary change involves the return of JuJu Watkins to the USC roster after a year-long absence. Her presence alters the projected hierarchy of the sport, challenging the status quo established by the reigning champions and the current preseason poll.
UCLA secured its first NCAA championship seven months ago, ending a long drought for the Bruins. Sarah Strong of UConn followed that success by claiming national player of the year honors. However, the Associated Press preseason Top 25 poll released for this season places South Carolina at No. 1. This marks the fifth time in the past seven years that the Gamecocks have opened the season as the top-ranked team.
The road to this point has been defined by roster turnover and injury recoveries. South Carolina lost four seniors in the offseason, three of whom entered the WNBA draft. The team retains key post players including Joyce Edwards, Chloe Kitts, Alicia Tournebize, Ashlyn Watkins, and freshman Oliviyah Edwards. Guard Tessa Johnson returns for her final year, joined by transfers Jordan Lee from Texas and Brooke Quarles Daniels from Michigan.
At USC, the narrative centers on Watkins. She last played in March 2025, sustaining a torn left ACL in the second round of the NCAA tournament. During her freshman year, she averaged 27.1 points per game, leading the Pac-12. As a sophomore, she earned consensus national player of the year, averaging 23.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.4 assists. USC finished that season with a 31-4 record before losing in the Elite Eight. Without Watkins last season, the Trojans went 18-14 and finished .500 in conference play.
Analysts identify a tight race for the individual honor. Charlie Creme notes that four players, Watkins, Strong, Hannah Hidalgo, and Mikayla Blakes, possess the ability to win the award. Strong is the reigning winner, but her role at UConn is more defined now that Azzi Fudd has departed for the WNBA. Alexa Philippou believes Strong is poised to become the undisputed top option for the Huskies.
The SEC presents a deep field of contenders. South Carolina, Texas, LSU, and Vanderbilt lead the list of teams to watch. Kentucky, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, and Tennessee add further depth. Vanderbilt's Mikayla Blakes was named SEC preseason player of the year, but Joyce Edwards and Madison Booker of Texas also have strong claims. The conference features multiple players with All-America potential, including LSU's Mikaylah Williams and MiLaysia Fulwiley.
The Big Ten offers a different dynamic with defending champion UCLA facing an understated roster after losing six players to the WNBA. USC remains a top threat in the conference, while Michigan seeks a Final Four breakthrough. Iowa, ranked No. 10, hosts both USC and UCLA in February, with Watkins scheduled to play on Feb. 11 and UCLA on Feb. 14. The ACC provides a competitive environment with Duke, Louisville, and North Carolina showing improvement, while Notre Dame's Hannah Hidalgo remains a focal point.
Several coaches face heightened scrutiny or opportunity this year. Tennessee's Kim Caldwell enters her third season after her team lost its final eight games last spring. She has restructured the roster to fit her up-tempo system. At USC, Lindsay Gottlieb aims for a Final Four appearance with a roster that includes Watkins, Jazzy Davidson, and Kennedy Smith. TCU's Mark Campbell is preparing a new roster, with nine of 12 players being new, as he seeks consecutive Big 12 titles.
The season concludes with the Final Four in Columbus, Ohio. Games tip off Sunday, starting the five-month march toward the national championship. Teams like Oklahoma State, which added top transfers Audi Crooks and Liv McGill, are positioned to challenge for the Big 12 title. Stanford, under Kate Paye, looks to stabilize after missing the NCAA tournament in two consecutive seasons following Tara VanDerveer's retirement. The outcome of these early matchups will determine which programs emerge as the true favorites for the title.
