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The 2024-25 women's college basketball season ended its nonconference play and teams are looking forward to conference clashes for it could help them in their NCAA Tournament quests.
Various programs have already made their moves, winning as many games as possible to impress the selection committee, which will determine the seedings in the knockout phase.
Here are eight teams that looked destined to reach the Elite Eight of the NCAA Women's Tournament.
Top 8 NCAA women's basketball teams that look destined to reach Elite Eight
#8. Tennessee Lady Volunteers
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Tennessee (13-0, 1-0 in SEC) has been impressive offensively, topping the nation with an average of 98.2 points per game. Five players are averaging double figures, with Talaysia Cooper leading the offense at 17.9 ppg.
Ruby Whittlehorn, Jewel Spear, Samara Spencer and Zoe Spearman have averages of at least 11.6 ppg to support Cooper and give coach Kim Caldwell the additional firepower she needs in offense. The true test begins in the middle of SEC play where they will meet South Carolina, LSU and Texas.
Nonetheless, the Lady Volunteers' offense is elite and they'll have no problems making it deep into March Madness if they continue to perform like they did in nonconference play.
#7. TCU Horned Frogs
TCU (14-1, 2-0 in Big 12) is on pace to make the Elite Eight, with a solid one-two punch composed of Hailey Van Lith and Sedona Prince. Van Lith is having a rebirth since transferring from LSU, leading the team's offense with 18.6 ppg and 6.1 apg.
Prince, on the other hand, has put up great numbers on points (17.0), rebounds (9.1) and blocks (3.7) and she hopes to continue it in the long run to help TCU put up a deep run into the NCAA Tournament. With Madison Conner serving as the third offensive option, the Horned Frogs are one of the top teams to beat in the Big 12.
#6. UConn Huskies
UConn (12-2, 3-0 in Big East) began the season 8-0 with notable wins over North Carolina, Ole Miss and Louisville. However, Paige Bueckers, Azzi Fudd and the gang stumbled to formidable contenders Notre Dame and USC to fall to No. 7 in the AP poll.
Wins against Georgetown, Providence and Marquette in conference play have kept the Geno Auriemma-coached squad at the top of the Big East. The Huskies are expected to secure the higher seeding in the NCAA Tournament and a possible Elite Eight spot.
#5. LSU Tigers
LSU (16-0, 1-0 in SEC) strung up 16 straight wins by their excellent offensive game, ranking No. 3 in the nation at 92.9 ppg. With the trio of Flau'Jae Johnson, Aneesah Morrow and Mikaylah Williams leading the charge, the Lady Tigers have pulled off big wins over Washington, NC State and Stanford to keep their winning streak intact going into SEC play.
Their performances in the first few weeks of the season have placed them as early favorites to make the Elite Eight and LSU has consistently figured in the Top 7 of the AP rankings.
#4. South Carolina Gamecocks
The defending champion South Carolina Gamecocks (13-1, 1-0 in SEC) have moved on from their first loss since the 2022-23 season, winning eight straight games. Wins against AP Top 25 teams Iowa State, Duke and TCU have placed them back in the No. 2 spot behind UCLA.
They can make another deep run into the NCAA Tournament with their battle-tested lineup. However, the lack of a dominant center a la Kamilla Cardoso would keep the Dawn Staley-coached squad away from a possible back-to-back.
#3. USC Trojans
USC (13-1, 3-0 in Big Ten) is one of the favorites to win this year's national title due to key additions Kiki Iriafen and Talia Von Oelhoffen. The duo was picked up in the transfer portal to help top scorer JuJu Watkins in the team's quest to surpass its Elite Eight finish this season.
Watkins and Iriafen have become an impressive one-two punch for USC this season. The Trojans emerged as one of the top teams in the revamped Big Ten Conference and are expected to go deep into the NCAA Tournament barring any injuries or unfortunate mishaps.
#2. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Notre Dame (11-2, 2-0 in ACC) is poised to make the Elite Eight due to their unstoppable guard combo of Hannah Hidalgo, Olivia Miles and Sonia Citron. The trio has averaged 57.4 ppg and has the major chunk of the team's offensive output this season.
Together with Liatu King and Kate Koval, the Fighting Irish have beaten the likes of UConn, USC, Texas to climb to No. 3 in the AP poll. Their outstanding offensive firepower could run them past formidable opponents in the NCAA Tournament.
#1. UCLA Bruins
UCLA (14-0, 3-0 in Big Ten) has run the gauntlet and beat top-ranked squads South Carolina, Louisville and Michigan along the way. Leading this impressive attack is center Lauren Betts, who has been unstoppable in the paint, averaging 19.3 ppg, 9.8 rpg and 2.2 bpg.
UCLA's passing has been elite this season, with an average of 21.1 apg. This ranks No. 1 in the Big Ten and No. 4 in the nation.
Kiki Rice and Gabriela Jaquez have also tallied double-figure averages for UCLA. Five other Bruins players have contributed at least 7.6 ppg and provided help in offense (83.6 ppg).
Their defense is also solid with the Bruins allowing 52.3 points ppg. Their scoring margin of 31.3 points is inside the Top 10 list.
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