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Top 10 Women College Basketball Teams 2026-2027 Predictions

With Fall just beginning, the itch for college basketball starts to kick in. The cream of the crop in the sport remains with South Carolina and UConn, while new powerhouses like Texas and LSU look to cement their names in the same breath as the sport’s top 2 programs. Juju Watkins and USC look to come back with a bang following her much-anticipated return from injury coupled with several elite young guards. The talent in the WCBB this year feels special, and every team on this list has a chance to make a legitimate run come March. So without further ado, here is my top 10 teams in women’s college basketball heading into 2026-27.

Honorable Mention

Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Conference: ACC

Notre Dame’s guard play will be what dictates this team in 2026-27. Hannah Hidalgo will most likely be the barometer for where this team ends up in 2026/27.

The reigning ACC POTY and DPOY is looking to build on what has already been a legendary college career. Notre Dame also brings in Princeton transfer Madison St. Rose, who should be a big-time contributor, while also bringing in a great recruiting class. This team sits just outside the top 10, but still has a real shot at a deep run.

UNC Tar Heels

Conference: ACC

This UNC team is one to watch in 2026/27, and the addition of Kate Harping makes the Tar Heels a must-watch. They will return a large majority of their roster, and that continuity makes me feel really confident in what this team can be this season. 

Top 10 Women’s College Basketball Rankings 2026-2027

10. Iowa Hawkeyes

Conference: Big 10

At 10, we are going down to Iowa, as I really like what the Hawkeyes are building. The frontcourt of 5 star Mckenna Woliczko and Ava Heiden should be great together. Woliczko is one of the most highly touted players in this program’s history and a unique and versatile player that will do a lot on both ends for this frontcourt.

Both of these players will be tasked with replacing Hannah Stuelke and will surely do admirably in doing that. Chazadi “Chit Chat” Wright comes to Iowa following a really productive freshman season at Georgie Tech.

There are multiple other returning Hawkeyes that will impact this team in a big way, and I am excited to see this new-look Iowa team in action.

9. Louisville Cardinals

Conference: ACC

There’s a lot to be said in college basketball when it comes to how important continuity is. Louisville does not have the type of household names when it comes to star power, but they have a lot of very good players that have a lot of experience playing with each other.

They return 6 of their top 7 scorers, and their leading scorer Tajianna Roberts has the potential to be a true star heading into her junior season. Imari Berry should also build on her 6th person of the year campaign in 2025/26 by again being one of the best guards in the ACC.

This team has also brought in a number of solid transfers, but the chemistry and depth this team has is what should make them a top 10 team in the nation.

8. Vanderbilt Commodores

Conference: SEC

I may regret not moving Vanderbilt higher on this list because I was really considering having them higher than 8. I love the amount of returning players this team has, and I think Shea Ralph is the cream of the crop when it comes to coaches in WCBB.

Mikayla Blakes is, of course, the biggest piece of the puzzle and the nation’s top scorer from last season. Aubrey Galvan was SEC freshman of the year last year and should be an elite running mate in the backcourt with Blakes.

It’s important to talk about the players that will be making their way to Nashville. Former Georgia Bulldog Mia Woolfolk will be looking to solidify this team’s front court with Southland player of the year Vernell Atamah.

This team has a really solid incoming class, and I think this team could very well be a final 4 team.

7. Duke Blue Devils

Conference: ACC

Duke lost a couple of key pieces after last season, but I think they have plenty of talent to make up for those departures.

Toby Fournier is one of the best returning players in the country and will probably hover around 20 and 10 in a lot of games she plays in. Delaney Thomas and Riley Nelson are players I could see taking big jumps as their role may expand a little bit, and bringing in Aaliyah Crump from Texas is another huge add. This team should be elite defensively, and a lot of that will start with Toby Fournier, who has cemented herself as one of the best defenders in the ACC.

I like this Duke team a lot, and although there are some unanswered questions, I love their identity, and they have real final 4 potential.

6. LSU Tigers

Conference: SEC

This is going to be a very different-looking LSU team in 2026-27, which is why I put them at 6 instead of 5. With that being said, they will still have a lot of legitimately elite players and obviously will be coached by the legendary Kim Mulkey.

The trio of guards they have in Iowa State, dime-dropping transfer Jada Williams, Mikaylah Williams, and MiLaysia Fulwiley, is a core any team should be afraid of.

There are more questions to be answered in the frontcourt following a couple of departures, but I think ZaKiyah Johnson and Grace Knox can definitely answer those questions.

There are a few nice incoming freshmen for Mulkey to use, and I really think this team should be up there with the best in both the talent-deep SEC and in national title convos.

5. Michigan Wolverines

Conference: Big 10

Michigan put together one of, if not the greatest, seasons in the program’s history last year, and they come into this season returning almost all of their important pieces.

Olivia Olson is up there with the best players in the country, and her fellow returning Junior Syla Swords is also one of the best players in the big 10. As good as they were last year, both will probably take a leap, and they will be at the epicenter of what the Wolverines want to do.

If I made this list more than 2 weeks ago, I would have put Michigan in my top 4, but after an injury to star guard Mila Holloway in practice, and her return being murky, it made me bump them down a spot. 

4. Texas Longhorns

Conference: SEC

Texas and USC were fighting over my top 3, but I ultimately have Texas at 4 because of all the players they lost from last year to the portal and the WNBA. This made me almost drop them out of my top 5 until I began to slow down and really think about a few things.

Madison Booker will be back in Austin, and the Longhorns are also bringing in a fantastic freshman class. This is a team that made a final 4 and brings back one of the best players in the country with a great coach; don’t overthink it. Sure, young players like Addison Bjorn will immediately be thrust into somewhat large roles, but I think both, but more specifically Bjorn, will be outstanding with that responsibility.

There are definite question marks, but I think this Texas team can make another final 4 run in 2026/27.

3. USC Trojans

Conference: Big 10

USC has a ridiculous amount of blue-chip talent heading into this season, and this is the team I will have my eyes on the most. Of course, for the Trojans, the big story is the return of Juju Watkins.

Arguably one of the best prospects in college right now, and someone who has the chance to change the trajectory of both a franchise and the sport as a whole when she decides to turn pro.

Jazzy Davidson is another spectacular talent who just had a great freshman season, and USC also has a number of 5-star recruits headlined by the arguably best player in the class, Saniyah Hall. I love the potential elite role player Kennedy Hall can be this season, and I have high hopes for what the combo of guards can be.

If Lindsay Gottlieb can get all this talent working together the right way, this could very easily be your national champion when it’s all said and done. Because of some of the youth and questions about how Juju will look back from injury, I have this team at 3 because of the more proven teams I have over them. But don’t be shocked if this is the best team in the country.

2. South Carolina Gamecocks

Conference: Big Ten

For the better part of a decade, 1 and 2 on these lists feel pretty constant. South Carolina and Dawn Staley are a mainstay when watching WCBB in late March and early April, and I again expect to see them playing in another final 4 this season.

Sure, South Carolina lost a couple of big-time players from last year, but if you think about it, adding freshman phenom Jerzy Robinson and the return of Chloe Kitts and Ashlyn Watkins from injury feel like somewhat of an upgrade. This team didn’t lose anyone in the portal and brought in Jordan Lee from Texas, who is one of my favorite players.

Joyce Edwards is one of the best players in the country, Tessa Johnson is one of the most consistent players around, and Maddy McDaniel has a chance to live up to her elite talent.

This team is deep and talented, and with Dawn Staley at the helm, should easily win more than 35 games.

1. UConn Huskies

Conference: Big East

Saying Geno Auriemma’s name alone feels like it puts UConn pretty high on this list. Once you factor in the amount of talent and returners this Huskies team has, it only strengthens the case for this team at 1.

Sarah Strong could be the best player in the country and a revolutionary prospect. Even with Azzi Fudd being gone, this team is bringing back almost all of their roster and is adding 5-star big Olivia Vukosa. This team didn’t bring in any transfers because of how talented they are, and I expect big seasons from KK Arnold and Blanca Quinonez.

Geno Auriemma has hinted that his time coaching this program is on its final legs, and I think if this UConn team can win it all this season, he could potentially call it quits, so that will be something to watch as well.