Betts is one of the most exciting players in college basketball, becoming the first UCLA player with 600-plus points, 300-plus rebounds and 100-plus blocks in a season. Her multiple 30-point and 10-rebound performances in the NCAA tournament has only been achieved by greats Elena Delle Donne and Brittney Griner in the last 25 years.<\/p>\n
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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – MARCH 09: Lauren Betts #51of the UCLA Bruins celebrates during the 72-67 win over the USC Trojans in the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament – Championship game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on March 09, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
South Carolina<\/p>\n
No matter what happens each year, Dawn Staley\u2019s Gamecocks cannot be counted out of the Final Four. Even after losing the national championship to UConn and seeing dynamic guard Milaysia Fulwiley join rival LSU, South Carolina still found ways to win.<\/p>\n
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To address Fulwiley\u2019s departure, the Gamecocks added Florida State<\/a>‘s and the NCAA\u2019s top scorer Ta\u2019Niya Latson. Latson carried FSU into the second round of the tournament and averaged 29.0 points in the tournament. In the season, Latson\u2019s 25.2 points per game led the country.<\/p>\n The Gamecocks also found a rim protector in Mississippi State center Madina Okot, who stands at 6-foot-6. Okot showed growth in her first year of college basketball and could turn into the defensive disruptor that the Gamecocks needed.<\/p>\n South Carolina will also return forward Joyce Edwards, forward Chloe Kitts and guard Tessa Johnson, three of last season\u2019s top five scorers.<\/p>\n Ta\u2019Niya Latson 00, George Mason takes on Florida State in the NCAA Womens Basketball Tournament in Baton Rouge, LA. Feb 25, 2025<\/p>\n UConn<\/p>\n The argument for South Carolina\u2019s place in the Final Four is the same for UConn. <\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n The Huskies lost guards Paige Bueckers and Kaitlyn Chen from the national championship team as both were drafted to the WNBA, but several key players remain. <\/p>\n Forward Sarah Strong will return after becoming the team\u2019s second leading scorer with 16.4 points in her true freshman campaign. Strong\u2019s first season proved that she\u2019ll likely take over the reins as UConn\u2019s next star after Bueckers left.<\/p>\n Feb 16, 2025; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; UConn Huskies forward Sarah Strong (21) looks to shoot over South Carolina Gamecocks guard Maddy McDaniel (1) and forward Joyce Edwards (8) in the second half at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images<\/p>\n But the Huskies still have guard Azzi Fudd returning for her fifth and final season. Fudd made her long-anticipated return to the tournament last year after working back from an ACL injury from 2023. Fudd averaged 13.6 points per game last year and will\u00a0help the Huskies aim for a repeat championship in her swan song. <\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n The Huskies will also return guard Ashlynn Shade, guard KK Arnold and center Jana El Alfy, all of whom appeared in 40 games last season.<\/p>\n LSU<\/p>\n The Tigers lost six players to the portal, but still have a shot to go far with the players that coach Kim Mulkey and her staff picked up.<\/p>\n Along with Fulwiley, the Tigers made a splash with center Kate Koval, who was one of many Notre Dame\u00a0players to leave South Bend following the season. Koval has the place to earn big minutes for LSU and can grow even more. <\/p>\n Fulwiley adds dynamic guard play to the Tigers, along with helping returning guards Flau\u2019jae Johnson, Mikaylah Williams and Kailyn Gilbert.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Oklahoma<\/p>\n The Sooners made a splash during the last tournament, and not just because of the team\u2019s first Sweet 16 appearance since 2013. <\/p>\n During the tournament, the top-ranked women\u2019s basketball recruit in the country, Aaliyah Chavez picked Oklahoma as her destination<\/a> over Texas, Texas Tech, LSU, South Carolina and UCLA.<\/p>\n The 5-foot-9 point guard and Gatorade Player of the Year bolsters a team on the rise that includes the veteran core of center Raegan Beers, forward Sahara Williams and guard Payton Verhulst. Oklahoma also didn\u2019t lose many players in the portal.<\/p>\n Playing in the SEC against South Carolina, LSU and Texas isn\u2019t going to be easy, but it definitely prepare the Sooners for another potential tournament run.<\/p>\n![\"Ta\u2019Niya](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/7300265b3edca81d7274369a68b953a8.jpeg\"\/)
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