Watkins vs. Betts and 30 different convention participant of the 12 months battle predictions

Charlie Creme, ESPN.comOct 22, 2024, 11:50 AM ET
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The switch portal has shuffled rosters throughout ladies’s school basketball. Gamers change groups two or generally 3 times in a profession. Coaches are continuously re-recruiting their very own gamers and hitting the street for brand new ones. So the place are the nation’s greatest gamers as we put together to tip off the 2024-25 season?

Fourteen convention participant of the 12 months winners from a 12 months in the past are again with groups they received the award with in 2024. Many graduated, and a few of these moved onto the WNBA, however solely three transferred within the offseason to a different college — Temira Poindexter (Tulsa to Kansas State), Sarah Te-Biasu (VCU to Maryland) and Caitlin Weimar (Boston College to NC State).

Among the participant of the 12 months races appear like foregone conclusions. There do not seem like true challengers to UConn’s Paige Bueckers within the Large East or Gonzaga’s Yvonne Ejim within the WCC. However different races, comparable to within the ACC and SEC, will likely be price watching each step of the best way.

This rundown will assist get issues began. Let’s check out the highest candidates for participant of the 12 months in each convention and their prime competitors.

America East Convention

Kayla Cooper, 6-0, G, Albany Nice Danes

Maine’s Adrianna Smith would have been the front-runner, however she is going to miss the season with a knee harm suffered in a latest observe. For her half, Cooper has been certainly one of America East’s greatest gamers for the previous two seasons and was second within the convention in scoring at 15.2 factors per recreation a 12 months in the past.

Prime competitors: Anna Olson, 6-1, F, Vermont Catamounts: 11.7 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 1.0 BPG

American Athletic Convention

Romi Levy, 6-3, F, South Florida Bulls

In her first 12 months at South Florida after leaving Auburn, Levy was thrust into an enormous position with the Bulls when Sammie Puisis went down with an harm one recreation into the season. A job participant for the Tigers for 2 years, Levy stepped right into a starring position and led South Florida in scoring (14.7 PPG) and 3-point taking pictures (34.6%).

Prime competitors: Tommisha Lampkin, 6-2, F, North Texas Imply Inexperienced: 15.7 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 61.4% FG

ACC

Hannah Hidalgo, 5-6, G, Notre Dame Preventing Irish

Already a extremely regarded recruit, Hidalgo exceeded already lofty expectations as a freshman. With Olivia Miles out with an harm, appreciable accountability was positioned on Hidalgo — and he or she delivered. Hidalgo led the Irish to a No. 2 seed within the NCAA event and a spot within the Candy 16. She completed second within the ACC in scoring at 22.6 PPG and led the nation in steals with 4.6 per recreation.

Prime competitors: Ta’Niya Latson, 5-8, G, Florida State Seminoles: 21.4 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 4.1 APG, 43.8% FG

ASUN Convention

Emani Jefferson, 5-6, G, Florida Gulf Coast Eagles

The trophy case for Jefferson grew to become fairly full final spring. Not solely did she lead the Eagles to their seventh straight ASUN regular-season title however she was additionally named the convention participant of the 12 months, defensive participant of the 12 months and newcomer of the 12 months. After transferring from Memphis, she took her recreation to a different stage, averaging 16.6 factors, 5.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists and a couple of.0 steals.

Prime competitors: Edyn Battle, 6-1, F, Jacksonville Dolphins: 20.3 PPG, 2.5 APG, 33.3% 3FG

Atlantic 10 Convention

Addie Budnik, 6-2, F, Richmond Spiders

Already with loads of {hardware} after profitable final 12 months’s defensive participant of the 12 months and the A-10 event MVP, Budnik will get the sting in what must be a aggressive and wide-open participant of the 12 months race. She was third on the Spiders with 11.9 factors per recreation and led the convention in blocks at 2.5 per contest.

Prime competitors: Talya Brugler, 6-1, F, Saint Joseph’s Hawks: 15.6 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 54.1% FG

Large East Convention

Paige Bueckers, 5-11, G, UConn Huskies

Three Closing 4 appearances and the 2021 nationwide participant of the 12 months award showcase simply how good Bueckers has been at UConn. However final 12 months stands out, with Bueckers usually taking part in energy ahead on the injury-depleted Huskies and rating within the prime 10 within the Large East in scoring (22.2 PPG), assists (3.9 APG), steals (2.3 SPG), blocked photographs (1.4 BPG), discipline purpose proportion (53.4%), free throw proportion (83.4%) and 3-point proportion (41.8%).

Prime competitors: Lauren Jensen, 5-10, G, Creighton Bluejays: 17.4 PPG, 3.1 APG, 3.7 RPG, 90.7% FT

Large Sky Convention

Sophie Glancey, 6-2, F, Northern Arizona Lumberjacks

Scoring the second-most factors in a season in program historical past, Glancey led Northern Arizona to its most wins (21) since 2006. She additionally led the Large Sky in discipline purpose proportion (53.4%) and blocked photographs (1.3 BPG).

Prime competitors: Dani Bartch, 6-2, Montana Woman Griz: 8.0 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 1.1 BPG, 45.5% FG

Large South Convention

Ashley Hawkins, 5-5, G, Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs:

In her first 12 months at Gardner-Webb, Hawkins led the group in scoring (15.7 PPG), assists (5.6 APG), discipline purpose proportion (42.2%) and free throw proportion (77.9%) and was voted Large South newcomer of the 12 months. She’s additionally the league’s prime returner in factors and assists.

Prime competitors: Adriana Shipp-Davis, 5-11, F, Radford Highlanders: 9.6 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 35.3% FG at Longwood

Large 12 Convention

Ayoka Lee, 6-6, C, Kansas State Wildcats

Kansas State has been picked because the preseason favourite within the Large 12 for the primary time. The largest motive? Lee determined to stay round for a fifth season. Already a four-time first-team all-conference choice, Lee is the primary participant in Wildcats historical past with two seasons with greater than 500 factors, 200 rebounds and 75 blocks. Final season she averaged 19.7 factors and was sixth within the nation with 61.9% taking pictures from the sphere.

Prime competitors: Audi Crooks, 6-3, C, Iowa State Cyclones: 19.2 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 57.7 FG%

Large Ten Convention

JuJu Watkins, 6-2, G, USC Trojans

The record of accolades is already lengthy, and Watkins has performed just one season. She set the NCAA’s scoring report for a freshman; she had extra 30-point video games than every other Trojan ever; and her 42 factors in opposition to Colorado was a single-game USC report. Her 27.1 factors per recreation ranked second within the nation to Caitlin Clark, and he or she additionally led the Trojans in assists (3.3 APG) and steals (2.3 SPG). Cameron Brink beat out Watkins for Pac-12 Participant of the Yr in 2023-24, however the sophomore will seemingly be the favourite within the Large Ten for the subsequent three years.

Prime competitors: Lauren Betts, 6-7, C, UCLA Bruins: 13.7 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 2.0 BPG, 61.0% FG

Large West Convention

Deja Lee, 5-9, G, UC Irvine Anteaters

Final 12 months’s convention participant of the 12 months and the MVP of the Large West event, Lee led the Anteaters to their first title in 29 years. Her school-record 82 steals led a protection that ranked 14th within the nation in factors allowed (55.7 PPG). She led the group with 13.9 factors per recreation and averaged 3.5 rebounds and a couple of.1 assists.

Prime competitors: Lily Wahinekapu, 5-7, G, Hawaii Rainbow Wahine: 11.6 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 2.2 APG, 34.8% 3FG

Coastal Athletic Affiliation

Taryn Barbot, 5-10, G, Charleston Cougars

Because the CAA’s rookie of the 12 months, Barbot helped the Cougars go from 9 wins to twenty and the second spherical of the WNIT, this system’s first postseason look since 2014. Her scoring (14.6 PPG), discipline purpose proportion (36.1%) and steals (2.1 SPG) had been all in prime 10 within the convention.

Prime competitors: Jordyn Dorsey, 5-9, G, NC A&T Aggies: 12.9 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 3.4 APG

Convention USA

Anastasiia Boldyreva, 6-6, G, Center Tennessee Blue Raiders

Rating fifth within the nation with 2.9 blocks per recreation, she was the CUSA defensive participant of the 12 months in 2023-24. Boldyreva additionally scored 14.5 factors and eight.5 rebounds per recreation whereas making 61.0% of her discipline purpose makes an attempt. Boldyreva almost doubled her level manufacturing from her sophomore to junior seasons and has made 29 of 62 3-pointers in her profession.

Prime competitors: Mya Kone, 6-0, G, Florida Worldwide Panthers: 11.4 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 1.2 BPG

Horizon League

Colbi Maples, 5-8, G, Cleveland State Vikings

Cleveland State is the preseason favourite to win the Horizon for the primary time, and the Vikings may need the three greatest gamers within the league. Maples, who was participant of the 12 months final season, leads the best way once more. She averaged 16.6 factors and 4.0 assists and took over after preseason favourite and 2023 winner Future Leo went down with a knee harm within the sixth recreation. Mickayla Perdue was the Horizon’s newcomer of the 12 months after scoring 17.3 factors, good for second within the league.

Prime competitors: Future Leo, 5-10, G, Cleveland State Vikings: 20.7 PPG, 52.1% FG in six video games in 2023-24; 17.9 PPG, 2.0 APG, 38.6 3PT% in 2022-23

Ivy League

Madison St. Rose, 5-10, G, Princeton Tigers

One of many highest-rated recruits in Princeton historical past, Rose spent two years contributing to a pair of Ivy League championship groups however deferred to Kaitlyn Chen. With Chen now at UConn, the Tigers — going for a seventh consecutive Ivy League title — at the moment are St. Rose’s group. Her scoring averaged jumped six factors to 14.8 final season, and he or she made 34.0% of her 3-point makes an attempt.

Prime competitors: Harmoni Turner, 5-10, G, Harvard Crimson: 19.3 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 4.3 APG

Metro Atlantic Athletic Convention

Ny’Ceara Pryor, 5-3, G, Sacred Coronary heart Pioneers

Two years into her profession, Pryor already has two participant of the 12 months awards. These got here within the NEC. With Sacred Coronary heart’s transfer to the MAAC, she is going to attempt to pile up the numbers there like she did a 12 months in the past. Pryor set the Pioneers’ scoring report and led the NEC in factors (18.7 PPG), assists (4.5 APG), steals (3.2 SPG, fourth within the nation) and discipline purpose proportion (46.4%).

Prime competitors: Janelle Brown, 15-6, F, Fairfield Stags: 14.1 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 3.6 APG, 2.4 SPG, 45.1& 3FG

Mid-American Convention

Chellia Watson, 5-8, G, Buffalo Bulls

Taking part in for her third college in three seasons (additionally Cincinnati and USC Upstate), Watson led the MAC in scoring (23.2 PPG) by almost 5 factors per recreation. That quantity was additionally good for fourth within the nation behind solely Caitlin Clark, JuJu Watkins and Lucy Olsen (then of Villanova). Given the inexperienced mild like Dyaisha Honest used to get at Buffalo, Watson additionally helped the Bulls to a seven-win turnaround final season.

Prime competitors: Ally Becki, 5-8, G, Ball State Cardinals: 13.3 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 4.7 APG, 35.1& 3FG

Mid-Jap Athletic Convention

Diamond Johnson, 5-5, G, Norfolk State Spartans

Johnson averaged extra factors (20.3 PPG) than anybody else within the MEAC a season in the past, however her tally of 23 video games wasn’t sufficient to qualify her for the scoring title. That honor went to teammate Kierra Wheeler, who additionally received participant of the 12 months. With a full season, anticipate Johnson — who additionally would have led the convention in steals (3.9 SPG) — to overhaul her teammate for the award.

Prime competitors: Kierra Wheeler, 6-1, F, Norfolk State Spartans: 17.6 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 50.0% FG

Missouri Valley Convention

Katie Dinnebier, 5-8, G, Drake Bulldogs

Till Dinnebier’s dominant season a 12 months in the past, the Bulldogs hadn’t received the MVC regular-season championship since 2019. Dinnebier, the reigning MVC Participant of the Yr, completed 2023-24 third within the convention in scoring (18.1 PPG) and first in assists (6.9 APG), whereas taking pictures 85.7% from the free throw line and 41.6% from the 3-point line.

Prime competitors: Katelyn Younger, 6-1, F, Murray State Racers: 19.5 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 51.2% FG

Mountain West Convention

Emma Ronsiek, 6-2, F, Colorado State Rams

After 4 profitable years at Creighton, Ronsiek is ending her profession within the Mountain West, attempting to assist the Rams finish UNLV’s three-year run atop the convention. Ronsiek by no means averaged under 11.6 factors per recreation as a Bluejay and was twice an All-Large East first-team choice. She reached a career-high 16.8 PPG final season and shot 33.1% from 3-point vary.

Prime competitors: Allyson Fertig, 6-4, C, Wyoming Cowgirls: 14.2 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 1.7 BPG, 60.4% FG

Northeast Convention

Teneisia Brown, 6-2, F, Fairleigh Dickinson Knights

The one returning first-team All-NEC participant, Brown was second within the convention in discipline purpose proportion (49.2%) and rebounding (9.4 RPG) in league video games.

Prime competitors: Belle Lanpher, 5-5, G, Central Connecticut State Blue Devils: 12.5 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 2.7 APG

Ohio Valley Convention

Macy McGlone, 6-3, F, Jap Illinois Panthers

Since her arrival from Milwaukee two years in the past, McGlone has dominated for the Panthers, main them to consecutive second-place OVC finishes, their greatest back-to-back seasons since 2013 and 2014. McGlone is the reigning participant and defensive participant of the 12 months one season after profitable newcomer of the 12 months. She averaged 17.8 factors, 11.7 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per recreation in 2023-24 and ranked second within the nation with 26 double-doubles.

Prime competitors: Anaya Brown, 6-1, F, UT Martin Skyhawks: 15.1 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 1.6 SPG

Patriot League

Lex Therien, 6-1, F, Loyola Maryland Greyhounds

One of the best defensive rebounder within the convention, Therien averaged 10.2 complete boards per recreation, which ranked second. She was the Patriot’s most correct shooter (57.4 FG%) and averaged 15.5 factors per recreation because the Greyhounds went from 4 league wins in 2022-23 to 10 final season.

Prime competitors: Ashley Sofilkanich, 6-3, F, Bucknell Bison: 12.5 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 1.9 BPG

SEC

Madison Booker, 6-1, G, Texas Longhorns

Give Booker the slightest of edges in what may very well be essentially the most wide-open race within the nation. She was the primary freshman to win Large 12 Participant of the Yr — and did it whereas transferring from small ahead to level guard two months into the season after Rori Harmon went down with a knee harm. Booker set the Texas freshman report for assists, averaging 5.0 per recreation to go together with her 16.5 factors per recreation.

Prime competitors: Aneesah Morrow, 6-1, F, LSU Tigers: 16.4 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 2.5 SPG, 46.4% FG

Southern Convention

Rachael Rose, 5-7, G, Wofford Terriers

Searching for her third consecutive SoCon Participant of the Yr, Rose will go down as probably the most prolific gamers in Wofford historical past. In simply two seasons as a Terrier, she already ranks fourth on the profession scoring record. Final 12 months her 22.7 factors per recreation was good for seventh within the nation, and he or she led the league in assists (5.6 APG) and steals (2.2 SPG).

Prime competitors: Jayde Gamble, 5-6, G, UNC Greensboro Spartans: 14.5 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 2.5 APG, 43.7% FG

Southland Convention

Akasha Davis, 6-2, F, Lamar Cardinals

One other reigning participant of the 12 months, Davis has been a double-digit scorer since arriving at Lamar in 2021. She led the Southland in scoring (15.1 PPG) and rebounding (10.7 RPG), and her 20 double-doubles ranked seventh within the nation.

Prime competitors: Samora Watson, 5-6, G, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders: 17.1 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 2.3 APG in 2023-24 at Central Connecticut State

Summit League

Brooklyn Meyer, 6-2, F, South Dakota State Jackrabbits

Myah Selland, a two-time Summit Participant of the Yr at South Dakota State, handed over this system’s management position to Meyer, who has run with it. Meyer took the league’s prime honor a 12 months in the past together with defensive participant of the 12 months as a sophomore. Meyer made 64.8% of her photographs in league play final season and averaged 18 factors per recreation in opposition to Summit League opponents.

Prime competitors: Grace Larkins, 5-9, G, South Dakota Coyotes: 16.6 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 4.8 APG, 46.4% FG

Solar Belt Convention

Peyton McDaniel, 5-6, G, James Madison Dukes

The Dukes’ chief with 15.4 factors and seven.2 rebounds, McDaniel additionally led the Solar Belt in making 46.4% of her 3-pointers in convention video games. She helped the Dukes win the title of their first 12 months within the Solar Belt.

Prime competitors: Aislynn Hayes, 5-8, G, Marshall Thundering Herd: 14.0 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 1.2 SPG

Southwestern Athletic Convention

Future Brown, 6-1, G, Alcorn State Woman Braves

Rating within the prime 10 within the convention a 12 months in the past in factors (12.6 PPG), rebounds (7.4 RPG), blocks (1.9 BPG) and discipline purpose proportion (50.2%), Brown has been one of many SWAC’s most constant gamers for the previous two seasons.

Prime competitors: Coriah Beck, 5-1, G, Alabama A&M Bulldogs: 12.9 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 2.4 APG in 2023-24 at Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Western Athletic Convention

Trinity San Antonio, 5-10, G, Grand Canyon Lopes

After spending the offseason taking part in for the Puerto Rico nationwide group on the Paris Olympics, San Antonio hopes to steer the Lopes to their first look within the NCAA event as a Division I program. She led Grand Canyon in scoring at 11.5 factors per recreation final season and averaged 2.3 steals per contest.

Prime competitors: Avery Brittingham, 6-1, F, UT Arlington Mavericks: 13.1 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 3.9 APG, 44.9% FG

West Coast Convention

Yvonne Ejim, 6-1, F, Gonzaga Bulldogs

Already set to go down as probably the greatest gamers of all time at Gonzaga, Ejim elected to return to play her bonus season. If she will be able to duplicate final 12 months’s efficiency of 670 factors, she is going to end her profession as Gonzaga’s profession scoring chief. Final season she led the Zags to a 32-4 report and a Candy 16 look, whereas profitable WCC participant and defensive participant of the 12 months, in addition to the Becky Hammon nationwide mid-major participant of the 12 months.

Prime competitors: Eleonora Villa, 5-8, G, Washington State Cougars: 12.9 PPG, 2.3 APG, 43.6% FG