The teams that have impressed (TCU!) and disappointed (USC) one month into the women’s hoops season.

One Month Into the Women’s Hoops Season: Surprises, Disappointments, and Bold Predictions

We’re just a month into the 2024-25 women’s college basketball season, and already, the landscape has been shaken up. One of the biggest shockwaves? A rare South Carolina loss. Yes, you read that right. The defending national champions, who had been riding a jaw-dropping 43-game winning streak, were handed a 77-62 defeat by UCLA on Nov. 24. That loss not only ended their streak but also catapulted the Bruins to the No. 1 spot in the rankings. Talk about a statement win!

South Carolina, however, didn’t wallow in defeat for long. Just four days later, they unleashed their fury on ranked Iowa State, delivering a 40-point beatdown that included an eye-popping 32-0 run. If that’s not a “don’t count us out” message, I don’t know what is.

For the Gamecocks, the loss might have been a blessing in disguise—a chance to reset and refocus. And for us? It’s the perfect time to reassess our preseason expectations versus what’s actually unfolding on the court. Did anyone see TCU coming out this strong? Are Baylor and NC State falling short of expectations? And are we rethinking our picks for the NCAA title and national player of the year?

As December kicks off, the action is heating up. The ACC/SEC Challenge is set for Wednesday and Thursday on ESPN/ESPN2, and Sunday brings a must-watch matchup between South Carolina and TCU (7 p.m., ESPN2). Let’s dive into the biggest surprises, disappointments, and bold predictions from ESPN’s Michael Voepel, Charlie Creme, and Alexa Philippou.

Biggest Surprises So Far

Charlie Creme: Let’s talk about TCU’s dynamic duo: Hailey Van Lith and Sedona Prince. Preseason chatter about top tandems focused on Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo and Olivia Miles, USC’s JuJu Watkins and Kiki Iriafen, or NC State’s Saniya Rivers and Aziaha James. But guess what? Van Lith and Prince have outshone them all. Their pick-and-roll game is so seamless, you’d think they’ve been playing together for years. Spoiler alert: It’s only been eight games. Prince leads the nation in blocks (4.3 BPG), while Van Lith ranks sixth in assists (7.1 APG). Talk about instant chemistry!

Alexa Philippou: UCLA was already a preseason top-five team, but their win over South Carolina was next-level impressive. Not only did they beat the Gamecocks, but they also dominated them, leading by 20-plus points until garbage time. Lauren Betts is a force in the paint, and the Bruins’ depth is staggering. They brought Janiah Barker, Gabriela Jaquez, and Londynn Jones off the bench against South Carolina. If UCLA keeps this up, they could finally break through to their first NCAA Final Four.

Michael Voepel: Iowa and TCU were preseason sleepers, but they’ve proven they’re the real deal. Iowa, now under head coach Jan Jensen, is 8-0 despite losing Caitlin Clark and three other key guards. They even won the Cancun Challenge without their leading scorer, Lucy Olsen. The next two weeks will be telling as they face Tennessee, Iowa State, and Michigan State.

Preseason Beliefs Now in Doubt

Alexa Philippou: I thought the national championship race was a three-horse race between South Carolina, UConn, and USC. But recent losses by USC and South Carolina, plus Notre Dame’s inconsistency, have thrown that idea out the window. UCLA’s dominance over South Carolina has added a new contender to the mix, making this season feel wide open.

Michael Voepel: My preseason picks for ACC (Notre Dame), Big Ten (USC), and Big 12 (Iowa State) champions are looking shaky. The ACC is a toss-up, TCU has emerged as the Big 12 favorite, and UCLA is now the team to beat in the Big Ten. But hey, it’s a long season—things could change again in a month.

Charlie Creme: I believed teams with a lot of new players would need time to gel. Maryland, Ohio State, TCU, and UCLA have proven me wrong. These teams are a combined 31-0, with transfers making an immediate impact. Coaches are clearly mastering the art of building chemistry quickly in the transfer portal era.

Under-the-Radar Teams and Players

• Charlie Creme: How about Tennessee? They’re unbeaten, lead the nation in scoring, and are thriving under first-year coach Kim Caldwell. The Lady Vols press, shoot threes, and run the floor like never before. Pat Summitt would be proud of their steals and offensive rebounding numbers.
• Alexa Philippou: LSU’s Flau’Jae Johnson is living up to the hype, ranking 10th in the nation in scoring (22.3 PPG) on 55% shooting. She’s been a key factor in LSU’s 9-0 start.
• Michael Voepel: Keep an eye on Kentucky. Clara Strack and Teonni Key have been dominant, leading the Wildcats to a 7-0 start. Their upcoming game against North Carolina will be a true test.

Disappointments

Charlie Creme: JuJu Watkins of USC hasn’t taken the leap many expected. Her scoring is down, her three-point shooting has regressed, and turnovers remain an issue. As a result, USC’s offense has looked stagnant at times.

Michael Voepel: Iowa State has struggled, dropping to No. 20 after a blowout loss to South Carolina and a defeat at Northern Iowa. They’ll need to regroup quickly with big games against Iowa and UConn on the horizon.

Alexa Philippou: NC State, a Final Four team last season, is off to a 4-3 start. They’ve struggled to replace their interior presence and have been outrebounded badly in key games.

Player of the Year So Far

Charlie Creme: Paige Bueckers. Her efficiency is off the charts, and she’s been the driving force behind UConn’s success. With a 62.7% field goal percentage and a 4:1 assist-to-turnover ratio, she’s the clear frontrunner.

Michael Voepel: Bueckers, no question. But don’t sleep on Sedona Prince and Lauren Betts, who are putting up monster numbers for TCU and UCLA, respectively.

Alexa Philippou: Bueckers is my pick too, but Hannah Hidalgo of Notre Dame deserves a mention despite her team’s recent struggles.

Bold Predictions

Michael Voepel: Duke will win its first ACC tournament title since 2013.

Alexa Philippou: Four teams will hold the No. 1 AP ranking by season’s end, the most since 2020-21.

Charlie Creme: Two conferences will send at least 10 teams to the NCAA tournament, thanks to strong Novembers from teams like Cal, Georgia Tech, Kansas, and Penn State.

Title Favorites

Charlie Creme: UConn is my pick. With Paige Bueckers healthy and a deep roster, the Huskies look unstoppable.

Alexa Philippou: I’m switching from South Carolina to UConn. The Gamecocks’ offensive struggles are concerning, while UConn’s trio of Bueckers, Azzi Fudd, and Sarah Strong looks lethal.

Michael Voepel: I’m sticking with South Carolina. The early loss to UCLA might be the wake-up call they needed to refocus and repeat as champions.