2024 NCAA women's basketball contenders by conference
Breaking down the national championship contenders - and teams to keep an eye on - from each of the six major conferences
Welcome to View from the Top, a NCAA women’s basketball newsletter focused on the title contenders and championship picture.
View from the Top covers the top teams in the country with an eye towards March all season long. I’ll be sharing my thoughts on the top teams in the country, who the true title contenders are and more throughout the season. Thanks for following along!
Hello again! It’s been a little while, but the best time of the year - college basketball season that is - is almost upon us. In under two weeks, this season’s action will be underway. There’s been plenty of off-season movement over the past few months that will shape the championship picture for 2024.
That picture will still largely boil down to teams from the six major conferences. I’ve taken a look, conference by conference, at which team is most likely to be a national title contender this season and which other teams you should keep an eye on as the season starts:
ACC
National Title Contender: Virginia Tech
When Elizabeth Kitley announced she would return for a fifth year, the Hokies immediately jumped into the 2024 title conversation after reaching a program first Final Four in 2023. Georgia Amoore, who was arguably the biggest star of the postseason for Virginia Tech, is also a part of the 2024 roster. The Hokies have some holes to figure out following the departure of Taylor Soule and Kayana Traylor, but have the pieces to make another deep run in March if the pieces come together.
Keep an eye on: Notre Dame, Florida State, Louisville
The Irish might have been the favorite in the ACC if not for the uncertainty around Olivia Miles’ health. The latest reports out of South Bend give no real indication of when, or even if, Miles will return to the floor this season. Sonia Citron and Maddy Westbeld, alongside freshman Hannah Hidalgo still give Notre Dame plenty to work with, but the Irish need Miles to be true title contenders.
The evolution of national freshman of the year Ta'Niya Latson in her sophomore season makes Florida State an intriguing team this season. The Seminoles’ relatively young roster impressed last year and could make noise in 2023-24. For Lousiville, the departure of Hailey Van Lith for LSU hurts the Cardinals’ backcourt. However, Jeff Walz has reloaded with multiple impact transfers, including Cal’s Jayda Curry. Once the new pieces mesh into Louisville’s system, they could be dangerous.
Big East
National Title Contender: UConn
After being ravaged by injuries last year, staying healthy in Storrs is key for the Huskies’ 2024 success. That said the trio of Paige Bueckers, Azzi Fudd and Nika Muhl (who broke the UConn single season assist record last year in Bueckers’ absence) might be the most dangerous backcourt in the country. Aaliyah Edwards will anchor the Huskies’ frontcourt after a strong junior season. UConn looks poised to return to the Final Four in 2024 after missing their first since 2007 last season.
Keep an eye on: Creighton
It seems unlikely anyone else in the Big East would challenge the nations top teams, but Creighton has the pieces to possibly do so. The Blue Jays return the core of Lauren Jensen, Emma Ronsiek, Morgan Maly and Molly Mogensen which infamously upset Iowa in the 2022 tournament. Creighton never quite figured out how to replace Tatum Rembao at point guard last season. If they navigate the point better this year, they could make some noise nationally.
Big Ten
National Title Contender: Ohio State
Jacy Sheldon’s decision to return for a fifth year instantly inserted the Buckeyes into the 2024 national title conversation. Ohio State returns everyone else that started a game last season, other than prolific shooter Taylor Mikesell. Additionally, the emergence of freshman Cotie McMahon down the stretch of 2023 leaves high hopes for this squad in 2024, as does the addition of reigning ACC Defensive Player of the Year Celeste Taylor (Duke). The Buckeyes should have their sights set on playing in the Final Four (which is coincidentally just two hours up the road from campus this year).
Keep an eye on: Indiana, Iowa, Maryland
Mackenzie Holmes’ return bodes well for another big season in Bloomington, perhaps with more postseason success than the No. 1 seeded Hoosiers achieved in 2023. The prospect of seeing what Yarden Garzon does in her sophomore year should also brew excitement around this Indiana squad, but the Hoosiers will also need to find a way to replace Grace Berger’s presence on the court.
Iowa still has Caitlin Clark, which makes them impossible to leave out of the conversation. Monika Czinano is going to be difficult to replace in the post, however, and her and Clark’s connection on the floor may be unreplicable. Iowa’s success this season will hang on Gabbie Marshall and Kate Martin’s ability to replicate their postseason production and Hannah Stuelke’s growth in her sophomore season.
As for the Terps, they have their work cut out for them replacing Diamond Miller and Abby Meyers. It may take a while for things to fall into place, but Maryland is worth keeping an eye on.
Big 12
National Title Contender: Texas
The Longhorns are flying a little under the radar after failing to reach the expectations many had for this team last season and exiting in the second round of the NCAA tournament. However, Rori Harmon is back at the helm for her junior year and Texas returns most of last year’s squad. The defense can once again be expected to be elite in Austin, but the offense will need to catchup if the Longhorns are going to compete for a title in 2024. A healthy Aaliyah Moore in the frontcourt and a year of experience playing together for Harmon and Shaylee Gonzales should help that.
Keep an eye on: Baylor, Kansas State
Much of the attention around the Bears last preseason centered around transfers Aijha Blackwell (Missouri) and Dre’Una Edwards (Kentucky). Blackwell played in just eight games, battling an injury most of the season, and Edwards never suited up after being required to sit a year due to transfer rules. Both should be key pieces for Baylor this season. Alongside senior Sarah Andrews, and sophomores Darianna Littlepage-Buggs and Bella Fontleroy (both of whom showed lots of promise as freshman), the Bears could make noise in the Big 12.
Ayoka Lee returns for Kansas State after missing the entire 2022-23 season with an injury. Lee averaged a 20-point double-double in her junior year (2021-22). Oklahoma transfer Gabby Gregory and the Wildcats’ sophomore class led the team to a 19-17 finish in 2023, and all return this year. Adding Lee back in the mix could help this team contend in the Big 12 this season.
Pac-12
National Title Contender: UCLA
The national opinion on UCLA is varied. The Bruins were ranked third in ESPN’s preseason top-25, but picked only second in the conference on Pac-12 media day (albeit behind a strong Utah team). With the return of star guard Charisma Osborne for her fifth year and the addition of Stanford transfer and No. 1 recruit Lauren Betts, UCLA certainly has the pieces to compete for a title this season. Additionally, last year’s top rated freshman class (now bolstered by Betts) will have a year of experience under their belts. If improved sophomore seasons can be expected for Kiki Rice, Gabriela Jacquez and others, something special could be brewing in Westwood.
Keep an eye on: Utah, Stanford, Colorado
The Pac-12 title race may be one of the most interesting in the country this year, making it a real shame that it’s the last year of the league as we know it. Utah returns virtually every many contributor from the 2023 team, including reigning Pac-12 Player of the Year Alissa Pili, which earned a No. 3 seed in last year’s tournament before falling to eventual champion LSU in the Sweet 16. The Utes earned the conference’s preseason poll’s nod as the favorites, but improvement on the defensive end will be key for a deep postseason run this year.
Stanford lost plenty from last year’s team, but Cameron Brink is still one of the best players in the country. The Cardinal also return sharp shooter Hannah Jump and point guard Talana Lepolo who impressed in her freshman year. Colorado also returns key pieces from last year’s team, most notably Quay Miller and Jaylyn Sherrod, which challenged Iowa in the Sweet 16.
SEC
National Title Contender: LSU
The reigning champions enter this season even better than they were to close out the last. The Tigers remain Angel Reese’s team in 2023-24, but have also acquired two of the most sought after transfers in the offseason. The addition of Louisville’s Haley Van Lith in the backcourt, and bolstering of the frontcourt with DePaul’s Aneesah Morrow make LSU preseason favorites for the upcoming year. Expectations are also high for Flau’jae Johnson’s sophomore season and the Tiger’s two top-10 recruits.
Keep an eye on: South Carolina, Tennessee, Ole Miss
South Carolina sent their entire starting lineup to the 2023 WNBA draft, leaving the Gamecocks in a rebuilding year for this season. Take ‘rebuilding’ with a grain of salt, because Kamilla Cardoso remains to anchor the frontcourt and Raven Johnson showed plenty of promise in her sophomore year. The addition of Oregon transfer Te-Hina Paopao gives South Carolina the talent to be a top-10 team this season.
Tennessee has to find a way to replace Jordan Horston, but has many options to do so. Tamari Key is expected to play this season after missing the last with medical complications, and the Vols have reloaded with impact transfers in Wake Forest’s Jewel Spear and Belmont’s Destinee Wells. Rickea Jackson, who led the team in scoring last season, also returns. Tennessee won’t have the preseason pressure of a top-five ranking this season like they did last year, but could be dangerous in the SEC and national race.
Ole Miss’ defense led them to a second round upset of Stanford in the 2023 NCAA tournament. The return of Madison Scott and the addition of North Carolina’s Kennedy Todd-Williams make Coach Yo’s squad one to watch.