1. South Carolina
Ten teams with the best chance to reach the Women's Final Four in Minneapolis
Only four can make it, but here's an early look from Kent Youngblood on who has the best chance, come April 1-3.
November 12, 2021 at 10:42PM
The Gamecocks are primed and ready to return to the Final Four, with three players ranking in the top 25 by ESPN: Aliyah Boston, Zia Cooke and Destanni Henderson.
2. Connecticut
A Final Four team, with the best player in the game in Paige Bueckers and the most highly touted freshman in Azzi Fudd.
3. Maryland
The Terrapins have 95% of their scoring back from last season's team, which was an NCAA tournament No. 2 seed.
4. Stanford
The defending national champions return 12 of 13 players, including Haley Jones, named the NCAA tournament Most Outstanding Player.
5. North Carolina State
Upset in last season's Sweet 16, the Wolfpack returns Elissa Cunane and Kakia Brown-Turner. Farmington's Sophie Hart is joining a top team.
6. Louisville
Cardinals coach Jeff Walz's biggest job: replacing Dana Evans and her 20.1 points per game.
7. Baylor
New coach, same expectations, led by Player of the Year candidate NaLyssa Smith.
8. Iowa
Led by Caitlin Clark, the Hawkeyes made it to the Sweet 16 last season. Clark and Monika Czinano return.
9. Oregon
Nyara Sabally and Sedona Prince return from a Sweet 16 team a season ago.
10. Kentucky
The Wildcats lost a lot of talent but return Rhyne Howard, who could be the WNBA's top draft pick next spring.
Two offensive linemen from Lakeville, Bryce Benhart and Riley Mahlman, are standouts for Big Ten rivals of Minnesota.
