Several standout college basketball players have been named to the 2024-2025 John R. Wooden Award Preseason Watch List, which includes 50 athletes considered early candidates for the prestigious honors. Notable selections include Lucy Olsen and Hannah Stuelke from the University of Iowa, Yvonne Ejim from Gonzaga, and UConn's Paige Bueckers, Alex Karaban, and Liam McNeeley. Olsen was a scoring leader at Villanova, while Stuelke earned recognition for her efficiency. Ejim, the reigning West Coast Conference Player of the Year, showed impressive performance in her season opener. Bueckers, a former Wooden Award winner, aims for a national title in her final season, while Karaban is the lone returning starter from UConn's championship teams. The list reflects a mix of upperclassmen and emerging talents, with players still eligible for later considerations regardless of their initial nominations.