10 Women's College Basketball Players We're Watching in 2026–27
South Carolina opens ranked No. 1. UConn is loaded. And the stars are already in place. Here's who we'll be watching closely this season.
Women's college basketball is entering another season loaded with stars, future professionals and players whose names may be much bigger by March than they are today.
South Carolina opens the season ranked No. 1 in the AP poll, followed by UConn, USC, Duke and Michigan. But championships are ultimately decided by players, and there are several we'll be watching closely at We Ballin Too.
The conversation starts with Sarah Strong. The UConn star enters the season as the reigning National Player of the Year and the centerpiece of another championship-caliber Huskies roster. UConn is ranked No. 2 nationally, and Strong has already looked dominant in preseason action.
Then there is JuJu Watkins. After missing the entire 2025–26 season because of injury, Watkins returns to USC as the Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year. How quickly she returns to form will be one of the biggest stories in all of college basketball.
At South Carolina, Joyce Edwards has an opportunity to become the face of another loaded Dawn Staley team. Edwards received preseason SEC Player of the Year consideration and will be expected to anchor the nation's preseason No. 1 team.
Mikayla Blakes at Vanderbilt can flat-out score. After averaging 27.1 points per game last season — and more than 30 per game in SEC play — she was selected as the USA TODAY Sports Network's preseason SEC Player of the Year.
Notre Dame's Hannah Hidalgo remains one of the most complete guards in basketball. She averaged 25.3 points and led the nation with 5.6 steals per game last season, earning another ACC Preseason Player of the Year honor.
In the Big 12, Audi Crooks brings elite production to Oklahoma State after averaging 25.8 points last season. She enters the year as the conference's preseason Player of the Year.
Michigan gives us two players worth watching closely: Olivia Olson and Syla Swords. Both were named Preseason All-Big Ten, and their continued development is a major reason Michigan enters the season ranked No. 5 nationally.
Duke's Toby Fournier is another player whose combination of size, athleticism and versatility makes her difficult to contain. She earned Preseason All-ACC recognition for a Duke team picked to win the conference.
And don't overlook Ohio State's Jaloni Cambridge. The junior was a unanimous media selection to the Preseason All-Big Ten team and has the opportunity to take another major step this season.
Some of these names are already stars. Others may be about to become them. Either way, We Ballin Too will be watching.