25 NCAA women’s college basketball players to watch for 2024-25

A four-year standout at Virginia Tech, the place she began 124-of-126 video games and was a third-team All-American choice by The Related Press, Amoore joins former Hokies coach Kenny Brooks at Kentucky. One of the college game’s best playmakers, Amoore is Virginia Tech’s all-time assists chief with 656. She will be able to additionally rating, averaging at the very least 11.8 factors a season, and a career-high 18.8 in 2023-24. Now, Amoore will not have as a lot expertise round her at Kentucky, so it will likely be fascinating to see how that every one performs out. 

Betts started her faculty profession as a bench participant at Stanford in 2022-23, and was a stable sub. Nonetheless, since transferring down the coast to UCLA, she proved why her expertise degree was excessive coming into faculty. Final season, the 6-foot-7 Betts averaged 14.9 factors, 9.3 rebounds and a couple of.0 blocks whereas solidifying herself as an imposing paint presence for the Bruins. UCLA opens the season ranked No. 5 within the AP High 25, and Betts has a supporting forged able to taking this system to new heights.

Booker was co-Huge 12 Participant of the Yr final season, when she averaged 16.5 factors on 45.7-percent capturing, whereas additionally recording 5.0 rebounds and assists per sport — as a freshman. And, Booker did that whereas taking on ball-handling duties for the injured Rori Harmon (extra on her in a bit). The Longhorns’ lineup will get a lift with Harmon again, however the 6-foot-1 Booker continues to be anticipated to have one other massive season, whereas probably spending extra time at her supreme small ahead place.

Relying which faculty basketball analyst is doing the rankings, Bueckers continues to be the very best participant within the ladies’s sport. Nonetheless, UConn has not gained a nationwide title since Bueckers arrived on campus in 2020, so the stress is mounting to get that performed earlier than she leaves campus for good. The 2021 AP Participant of the Yr and a two-time first-team All-American, Bueckers is coming off a stellar junior season during which she set profession highs for video games (39), and common factors (21.9), rebounds (5.2) and blocks (1.4) whereas additionally exhibiting off her versatility. Is this the year Bueckers returns UConn to glory?   

Following an distinctive prep profession at Bishop Garrigan Excessive College in Algona, Iowa, Crooks actually lived as much as the hype as an Iowa State freshman. In 33 video games (that includes 29 begins) final season, Crooks averaged 19.2 factors and seven.8 rebounds for the Cyclones. Her 40-point effort towards Maryland within the first spherical of the 2024 NCAA Match was a freshmen document. On the finish of the day, Crooks was named a first-team All-Huge 12 decide. We can’t wait to see what’s in store for Crooks as a sophomore.

As a freshman in 2020-21, Ejim performed in 25 video games, with no begins and averaged 3.7 factors. By the top of the 2023-24 marketing campaign, the dynamic Ejim was named West Coast Convention Participant of the Yr  for averaging 19.7 factors, 8.7 rebounds and a couple of.3 assists on a 32-win Bulldogs’ squad that reached the Candy 16. She was additionally named Becky Hammon Mid-Main Participant of the Yr, and after the season,  Ejim performed for Crew Canada on the Paris Olympics. This season, Ejim may actually be a one-woman gang because the lone starter returning for the Zags.

Fudd needs to be considered as greater than Paige Bueckers’ UConn sidekick. Certain, knee points have restricted her three-year faculty profession to 40 video games, and simply 15 within the final two seasons. Fudd returns this yr from an ACL problem, and the eyes of educated ladies’s basketball followers can be on her to see if she will make it by way of the season in 2024-25. She’s averaged 13 factors, whereas capturing 44.3 % from the sector, throughout her profession. If the Huskies are to problem for his or her first nationwide title since 2016, they probably want a wholesome Fudd in tow.

To nobody’s shock, the reigning nationwide champion Gamecocks are preseason No. 1 within the AP ballot, and so they seem to have loads of expertise to repeat. Amongst South Carolina’s stars is Fulwiley, who burst on the scene as a freshman final season, averaging 11.7 factors, practically three rebounds, greater than two assists and nearly two steals per sport. With that have underneath her belt, it needs to be enjoyable to see what’s in retailer for Fulwiley in Yr 2. 

An enormous cause for the Longhorns’ preseason No. 4 rating within the AP ballot might be attributed to Harmon’s return from an ACL damage that ended her 2023-24 marketing campaign in late December. Harmon is the very best two-way participant within the nation and arguably the nation’s high defender. Nonetheless, her all-around sport is one thing particular, too. In simply 12 video games final season, Harmon averaged 14.1 factors, 7.8 assists, 5.6 rebounds and three.1 steals — all profession highs. If she will keep wholesome this season, the sky might not be a limit to the heights Harmon and Texas can reach in 2024-25.  

A standout prep star in New Jersey, Hidalgo was one of the major breakout rookie stars of the 2023-24 campaign for the Irish. The 5-foot-6 dynamo averaged 22.6 factors, 6.2 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 4.6 steals per sport 3while serving to a banged-up Notre Dame group attain the Candy 16, successful ACC Defensive Participant of the Yr honors and being named a first-team All-American by the AP. Now, longtime Irish star Oliva Miles (extra on her in a bit) is wholesome once more, so we’ll see if Hidalgo’s manufacturing dips.

Following her breakout third season at Stanford in 2023-24, the 6-3 Iriafen moved down the California coast to USC, the place the Trojans are poised for large issues and maybe harken again to this system’s glory days of the early Eighties. Iriafen earned Katrina McClain Award honors (awarded to the nation’s finest energy ahead) by setting profession highs of 19.4 factors, 11.0 rebounds and a couple of.3 assists per sport whereas beginning all 36 video games. The 2024 Pac-12 Most Improved Participant of the Yr now has loads of elite assist to presumably assist the third-ranked Trojans to their first nationwide title since 1984.

The leap James made out of her sophomore to junior season of 2023-24 was fairly exceptional. Her scoring common elevated from 6.8 to 16.8, and he or she averaged 23.4 factors throughout the Wolfpacks’ NCAA Match run to the Last 4. Along with her scoring enchancment, James set profession highs for for rebounds (4.6) and assists (2.9) final season. With fellow backcourt standout Saniya Rivers again to hitch James, NC State may once more make a deep match run. 

In 96 video games spanning three seasons, Jensen has totaled 1,471 factors whereas capturing 44.2 % from the sector and making 224 3-point makes an attempt for the Bluejays. She averaged a career-high 17.4 factors final season, and shot a stellar 90.7 % from the free-throw line. If it weren’t for the UConn stars, Jensen would probably get extra nationwide consideration exterior of the Huge East, however she’s proven the flexibility to greater than maintain her personal.

There may be loads of expertise in Baton Rouge for the Tigers to once more make a push for the nationwide championship. Amongst LSU’s stars is Johnson, who averaged 14.9 factors and 5.5 rebounds as a sophomore in 2023-24. And, maybe most spectacular, she averaged 20.5 factors and 6.3 rebounds throughout LSU’s 4 NCAA Match contests. It is moments like that throughout the postseason which show Johnson might be the Tigers’ big-game, clutch performer in 2024-25. 

Getting into her junior season, Latson needs to be within the combine for ACC Participant of the Yr with the aforementioned Hannah Hidalgo. As a freshman, the 5-foot-8 fireball Latson averaged 21.3 factors and was named Nationwide Freshman of the Yr. Final season, Latson averaged 21.4 factors. In her two seasons, Latson has totaled 1,354 factors, 279 rebounds and 101 steals over 64 video games for the Seminoles. Is it attainable she might be even higher this time round?

Lee has begun her seventh yr of school, and with two redshirt seasons underneath her belt, she is amid her fifth run on the court for the Wildcats. When wholesome, Lee has been honored as Huge 12 Freshman of the Yr (2000), a four-time All-Huge 12 first teamer and twice on the league’s All-Defensive workforce. She’s totaled 2,194 factors (19.2 ppg), 1,118 rebounds (9.8 rpg) and 310 blocks for her stellar collegiate profession that lastly seems to be going into its swan track at Kansas State.

Leger-Walker arrived at UCLA following a stellar profession at Washington State, the place in 4 seasons, she averaged 16.6 factors, 5.6 rebounds and three.7 assists whereas beginning all 105 video games performed. Nonetheless, her Cougars profession ended after 21 video games final season attributable to a knee damage that leaves her UCLA debut up within the air. Thus, it makes Leger-Walker an intriguing switch, who if wholesome, can have a serious impression for the Bruins, who can be led by the aforementioned Lauren Betts and proficient ahead Kikki Rice. 

McMahon was Huge Ten Freshman of the Yr in 2022-23, when she averaged 15.1 factors on 51 % capturing for the Buckeyes. And, whereas that manufacturing dropped a bit final season (14.4 ppg, 46-percent capturing), she did increase her rebounding common to six.3 per contest and was nonetheless honored as a first-team All-Huge Ten choice. Now, with Jacy Sheldon and Celeste Taylor gone, this should be McMahon’s team. We’ll see if she will deal with that high-profile position.

The important thing for Miles all through her profession at Notre Dame has been about making an attempt to remain wholesome. Accidents lower brief her first season in 2020-21 and once more on the finish of 2023-24, so Miles is determined to make it through a full campaign. Miles, although, is again, hoping to workforce with the aforementioned Hannah Hidalgo and hold the Irish within the nationwide title dialog. In 67 profession video games, Miles has averaged 13.6 factors, on 46.1-percent capturing, 6.8 assists and 6.2 rebounds.

With Angel Reese gone, Morrow appears poised to tackle a distinguished management position for the Tigers this season. After starring at DePaul, Morrow delivered a robust first season at LSU in 2023-24, incomes all-SEC First-Crew honors for averaging 16.4 factors and 10.0 rebounds. Morrow’s  21 double-doubles additionally ranked among the many high 5 within the nation. Morrow, who has recorded 2,178 factors and 1,229 rebounds for her stellar collegiate profession, was named a preseason honorable point out All-American from the AP.

The Hawkeyes cannot change a participant the caliber of Caitlin Clark, however in relation to offensive manufacturing, Olsen isn’t too shabby. Final season at Villanova, Olsen ranked third within the nation averaging 23.3 factors. She additionally posted workforce highs of 134 assists and 65 steals. The Hawkeyes do not boast the identical expectations they did with Clark in tow the previous few seasons, however it will likely be fascinating to see how Olsen is embraced as a brand new period of Iowa basketball dawns.

Paopao actually made a robust first impression with the Gamecocks in 2023-24. After starring at Oregon, Paopao proved her price by averaging 11.0 factors and posting a Division I-best 46.8 capturing proportion from 3-point vary throughout her preliminary run at South Carolina. As well as, Paopao averaged practically 4 assists per contest. Teamed with the aforementioned MiLaysia Fulwiley and two-time nationwide champ Raven Johnson, the Gamecocks nonetheless have the very best backcourt in America. 

A two-time, first-team All-Huge Ten performer, Sellers has been one of the league’s most consistently potent performers in recent years. After averaging 13.9 factors as a sophomore in 2022-23, Sellers stepped it as much as a career-high 15.6 final season. She’s a profession 45-percent shooter and has additionally averaged 4.8 boards and 4.0 assists per contest throughout her collegiate profession. The Terps acquired a lift by way of the switch portal this season, so Sellers may not should do all of it as occurred up to now.  

A yr in the past, the 6-2 Watkins was the nation’s high recruit. By the top of the season, most girls’s hoops specialists would argue that solely Caitlin Clark was higher. Watkins, a preseason participant of the yr favourite in Yr 2, leads USC after she scored an NCAA Division I freshman-record 920 factors. That translated right into a 27.1 ppg common, to associate with the 7.3 rebounds and three.3 assists she posted per sport. As famous earlier, relying on who’s doing the speaking, the aforementioned Paige Bueckers or Watkins enter the season as the country’s best player.