The race for the 2027 women’s college basketball national championship is loaded with talented teams, but only a handful stand above the rest. Between returning All-Americans, impact transfers and elite recruiting classes, these programs have all the ingredients to make a championship run.
South Carolina
The Gamecocks begin with Joyce Edwards, who enters the season as one of the favorites for National Player of the Year after emerging as one of college basketball’s dominant forwards. Dawn Staley also returns Tessa Johnson, Chloe Kitts and Ashlyn Watkins, both coming back from injury. They are also bringing in Texas transfer Jordan Lee.
UConn
As long as Sarah Strong is wearing a UConn uniform, the Huskies belong in the title conversation. Strong has already established herself as one of the nation’s best players, and she’ll be surrounded by an experienced backcourt featuring KK Arnold, Ashlynn Shade, Kayleigh Heckel and rising sophomore Blanca Quinonez. Few teams can match UConn’s talent or championship pedigree.
Texas
Everything starts with Madison Booker, one of the country’s premier scorers and another National Player of the Year candidate. Since Texas lost Rori Harmon to the draft and Lee and Aaliyah Crump to the transfer portal, they will look to Bryanna Preston and incoming freshman Aaliah Spaight to replace that production. Vic Schaefer has assembled another roster capable of reaching the Final Four.
LSU
The Tigers remain one of the SEC’s most talented teams thanks to Mikaylah Williams, who enters the season as one of the nation’s elite guards. Kim Mulkey also has former top recruits ZaKiyah Johnson, Grace Knox and Bella Hines, while MiLaysia Fulwiley gives LSU another dynamic playmaker if she returns as expected. Talent has never been the problem with LSU. Consistency will determine its ceiling.
USC
A healthy JuJu Watkins immediately puts USC back in the championship conversation. She’ll be joined by Jazzy Davidson, the nation’s top recruit from the previous class, incoming No. 1 recruit Saniyah Hall, Kennedy Smith and highly regarded international forwards Sitaya Fagan and Sara Okeke. If those pieces come together, USC may have the nation’s highest ceiling.
