Way too early NCAA women's basketball title contenders for 2024
Which teams are among early favorites to be in the mix to cut down the nets in Cleveland?
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!
We’re just two weeks into the college basketball offseason. With the transfer portal as active as ever, it’s still far to early to conclude on who the top teams will be entering the 2023-24 NCAA season. However, while we wait for the biggest transfers to find their new homes (and see if any other dominoes fall - NC State’s Diamond Johnson just entered the portal yesterday), we can still speculate about which teams will likely be a part of the 2024 title race.
Here’s a look at the “way too early” list of teams that could cut down the nets in Cleveland next year (in alphabetical order):
Indiana
The loss of Grace Berger for the Hoosiers is an obstacle next season, but one that Indiana is already prepared to weather after playing eight games with Berger sidelined with an injury in the 2022-23 season. The Hoosiers lost just one game in that stretch, largely due to the dominance of Mackenzie Holmes. The Wooden Award finalist returns after leading Indiana in scoring and rebounding, alongside three other starters for the Hoosiers.
Among the most promising of the returners in Yarden Garzon, who led Indiana in three point shooting in her freshman season. The development of Garzon’s game in the offseason will be a critical piece of replacing Berger’s production if the Hoosiers are to be among the favorites to win a national title in 2024.
LSU Tigers
The role of Alexis Morris and LaDazhia Williams, both of whom were selected in last week’s WNBA draft, in the Tigers’ national title run this past season can’t be understated. However, LSU will return Final Four Most Outstanding Player Angel Reese, who ranked in the top five nationally for both points and rebounds per game, to build around next season. Additionally, Flau’jae Johnson showed a lot of promise in her freshman season and should figure to be an even bigger piece of what the Tigers do in her second year. LSU has two top-ten recruits in its incoming class as well.
The Tigers are also reported to be hosting Louisville All-American guard Hailey Van Lith on an official visit. The addition of Van Lith in the backcourt with Reese in the frontcourt would make repeating in 2024 more likely for LSU.
Notre Dame
Late season injuries to Dara Mabrey and Olivia Miles dampened a great year for the Irish in just their third season under Niele Ivey, but Notre Dame still reached the Sweet 16 in this year’s tournament. Assuming Miles is healthy for the start of next season, the Irish expect to return four of five starters from this year’s squad. The loss of Mabrey’s perimeter shooting is a tough blow, but one Notre Dame already began to adjust to with success down the stretch of the 2023 season.
Miles led 2022-23 Notre Dame in both assists (6.9 per game, 6th nationally) and rebounding (7.3), but it was her fellow sophomore Sonia Citron that led the team in scoring (14.7 points per game) behind her 40 percent shooting from deep. That duo will continue to be one of the country’s best backcourts.
Ohio State
The emergence of freshman Cote McMahon late in the season is a huge part of what places Ohio State on this way too early list. Many of the struggles the Buckeyes faced during Big Ten play pointed to the lack of a strong presence in the lane - something McMahon proved to be an answer for in the post season. One can only expect her to get even better in the offseason, adding the complement in the frontcourt that the Buckeyes need.
Jacy Sheldon’s decision to return for a fifth year is also huge for the Buckeyes’ backcourt and the effectiveness of the press defense. The impact of a healthy Sheldon on the floor was also evident in Ohio State’s Big Ten and NCAA tournament runs. Madison Greene retuning healthy should also help round out the backcourt. The Buckeyes are also reportedly a potential landing spot for Duke transfer Celeste Taylor.
UCLA
UCLA’s potential next season skyrocketed when Charisma Osborne announced her decision to forgo this year’s WNBA draft and use her final year of eligibility for one more go around with the Bruins. UCLA is now set to return four of five starters from this year’s Sweet-16 team, with Osborne and Camryn Brown returning for their fifth years, alongside Emily Bessoir and Kiki Rice.
The Bruins’ top ranked recruiting class showed a lot of promise in their first season. While No. 2 recruit Rice’s freshman season was the highlight of UCLA’s additions, Londynn Jones and Gabriela Jacquez also impressed. The Bruins are also reported to be in the mix for Lauren Betts, the top ranked recruit in the 2022 class, which would really elevate their frontcourt.
Update: Lauren Betts has officially announced her commitment to UCLA.
UConn
Despite the hype surrounding the duo when Azzi Fudd committed to UConn, we have yet to see Fudd and Paige Bueckers spend much time on the court together. Should the Huskies be able to stay healthier than they have the past two seasons, a backcourt of those two alongside Nika Muhl, who ranked second nationally for assists per game this past season, figures to be the best in the country.
While losing Dorka Juhasz will leave some questions in the frontcourt, UConn returns Aaliyah Edwards, who’s coming off an All-American season in her junior year. With a strong incoming freshman class, plus another year under the belt of the players already on the bench, the Huskies are likely to be among the title favorites once again this season.
Virginia Tech
Adding depth, especially in the wake of Kayana Traylor and Taylor Soule’s departures for the WNBA draft will be critical for Virginia Tech staying among next year’s contenders, after playing just a six player rotation most of this season. That said, the Hokies return three of the most critical pieces from this year’s Final Four run. ACC player of the year Elizabeth Kitley’s decision to stay for her fifth and final year of eligibility anchors Virginia Tech’s frontcourt.
In the backcourt, Georgia Amoore was playing at an All-American level throughout the Hokies’ 2023 post season run. If she can replicate that production next season, alongside sharp shooter Cayla King who also announced her return for a fifth season, in the backcourt, Virginia Tech could be in the mix once again in 2024.
No South Carolina?!? Why not?