College Season, EuroBasket Qualifiers Spotlight Rising Women's Talent

Providence College was picked to finish fourth in the Big East, and coach Kim English and two players spoke at Big East Media Day in New York City. Several elite college players — led by Azzi Fudd — have deferred draft entry to bolster their 2026 WNBA prospects, increasing scout interest in the 2025-26 season. In Division II, Miller (a 22.7 ppg NSIC scoring leader) and Grand Valley State’s defensive standout Nicole Kamin headline preseason watch lists as the D-II season tips off on Halloween weekend. FIBA’s review of the EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers highlighted shock results, including Poland upsetting the titleholders, Emma Meesseman’s MVP-caliber performances, and Switzerland’s unlikely recovery to qualify. Youth development continues at the FIBA U17 South American Women’s Championship in Asunción, where Argentina’s Canello and Brazil’s Cavalcanti aim to help their teams earn U18 AmeriCup berths, with Brazil entering as defending champion. Overall, rising domestic and international talent has heightened fan, media and scout attention ahead of the upcoming season.