Caitlin Clark has undeniably changed women’s basketball (WBB). From her revolutionary basketball performance at the University of Iowa to becoming the number one pick for the Indiana Fever in this year’s WNBA draft, her charisma and talent have changed not only the game but the enterprise of basketball as a whole. With college hoops viewership reaching new records (The 2024 NCAA Women’s Final Four averaged almost 14 million viewers according to ESPN,)  it’s hard to deny that the sport is finally attracting the attention and recognition it deserves. However, as much as Clark’s talent takes the spotlight, it’s important to look for teams and players beyond Iowa to appreciate the current and incoming talent for the 2024-2025 NCAA Division I season. Here are some teams and key players to watch this season: 

Texas Christian University (TCU)

• Players to Watch: Sedona Prince and Hailey Van Lith

TCU hit the jackpot by bringing two high-profile transfers together: Sedona Prince and Hailey Van Lith. Prince, who began her collegiate basketball career at the University of Oregon in 2019 before transferring to TCU in 2023, has sustained multiple injuries over her six seasons, exemplifying resilience. Her skills and height advantage at 6 ‘7 make her one of the players with the most rebounds per game in her division (11.4 according to the NCAA’s official website).

Like Prince, Van Lith is another transfer with an incredible background. The guard arrives at TCU after remarkable seasons at the University of Louisville and Louisiana State University, where she consistently played an important role in securing her team’s position as the best (Van Lith is yet to play a championship where her team does not make at least an Elite Eight appearance.) A 3×3 basketball Olympian, Van Lith combines determination, vision, and raw talent. Both players have represented Team USA before playing in college, making them a duo you don’t want to miss this season.

University of Connecticut (UConn)

• Players to Watch: Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd

Before the world became obsessed with Caitlin Clark, UConn’s Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd dominated college hoops. Bueckers was the No.1 recruit for the class of 2020 (Caitlin Clark was No.2) and committed to WBB powerhouse UConn under the coaching of Geno Auriemma. The red-shirt senior is the record holder for most assists during a freshman season (168 according to the UConn Huskies’ official website) and has 1667 points despite missing the majority of the 2023-2024 season due to an ACL injury. 

Similarly, Fudd is making her comeback from a season-ending injury last season. Known for her sharp three-pointers and high game IQ, the guard is projected to play a key role in this upcoming national championship alongside Bueckers. Their combined talent has led UConn to a couple of  Final Four appearances, including a runner-up finish for the 2022 NCAA Tournament. Now that this duo is healthy again, fans are excited to see UConn reestablish itself as the powerhouse of WBB.

Ohio State University (OSU)

• Player to Watch: Cotie McMahon

Cotie McMahon, a forward in her junior year, has quickly become living proof of the type of well-rounded players OSU makes. Known for her athleticism, relentlessness, and versatility on the court, McMahon’s ability to make the shots while putting on a show has positioned her as a fan favorite. Her impressive freshman season earned her the title of Big Ten’s Freshman of the Year in 2023, just a year after OSU secured its record-breaking 17th conference tournament championship.  

With 1,054 career points and counting (according to the Ohio State Buckeyes’ official website,) McMahon has proved herself pivotal in maintaining OSU’s position as one of the top-ranked programs in college hoops. As basketball continues to reach new audiences, players like McMahon will prove to be the role models young players need.

University of Kentucky

• Player to Watch: Georgia Amoore

New Wildcat, Georgia Amoore, remains one of college WBB’s most underrated players. The Australian point guard spent the first four seasons of her collegiate career under Kenny Brooks’ coaching at Virginia Tech. Her complex understanding of the game plus her chemistry with former teammate Elizabeth Kitley, made her stand out as a fan favorite among college hoops fans. Despite receiving backlash after announcing she’d be following Brooks to the University of Kentucky, Amoore’s transfer has only solidified the fact that she is the MVP of any team she plays for. Her raw talent for the game helped her previous team win its first ACC tournament title in 2023 and make an appearance on the Final Four of the same year. Amoore is currently ranked as the second player with the most assists per game this season, proving that international players have the same talent to change the game.

These are just a few of the teams I’m excited to see this season, but there are multiple more that promise to prove that college WBB goes well beyond Caitlin Clark’s success, including The Village School’s girls varsity team. Now that Clark helped set up a platform where women in sports have visibility in the media, it is important to invest in and support the game so that female players, at all performance levels, may have the same opportunities as their male counterparts. Luckily, progress has been made and NIL deals for women athletes are off the roof (Paige Bueckers announced a collaboration with Nike where a personal edition of the infamous Nike GT Hustle 3 will be available this December 7th.) If you are looking for a new hobby, consider becoming a women’s college hoops fan. You can start small by supporting your school’s team or as big as supporting your local WNBA team (like the Dallas Wings); you will never go back.

References: 

(N.d.). Espnpressroom.com. Retrieved December 3, 2024, from https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2024/04/2024-ncaa-womens-championship-and-final-four-on-espn-platforms-is-most-watched-on-record/#:~:text=The%20offering%20is%20the%20second,record%2C%20averaging%2013.8%20million%20viewers.

Cotie McMahon – 2024-25 – women’s basketball. (n.d.). Ohio State. Retrieved December 5, 2024, from https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/cotie-mcmahon/11657

Scoring Offense, & Scoring Defense. (2024, December 4). NCAA college Women’s Basketball DI stats. Ncaa.com. https://www.ncaa.com/stats/basketball-women/d1

TCU athletics. (n.d.). TCU Athletics. Retrieved December 5, 2024, from https://gofrogs.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/hailey-van-lith/16493

University of Connecticut athletics. (n.d.). University of Connecticut Athletics. Retrieved December 5, 2024, from https://uconnhuskies.com/index.aspx