Six National Player of Year Candidates Spotlight Women’s College Basketball

The 2025-26 women's college basketball season is shaping up with several key storylines, including the recovery of top players and rising stars. USC's JuJu Watkins, the previous National Player of the Year, is expected to miss most or all of the season due to an ACL injury, while Paige Bueckers has moved on to the WNBA. TCU has transformed its program under coach Mark Campbell, who has successfully leveraged the transfer portal to build a competitive team following historic success. Oklahoma State, coming off one of its best seasons, aims to remain a top contender despite the loss of star Anna Gret Asi, with junior Stailee Heard positioned to lead the team. Iowa is actively recruiting future talent, extending offers to promising high school players like Illinois guard Liv Johnson to maintain their competitive edge. Meanwhile, BYU women's basketball is undergoing a coaching change with Lee Cummard taking over, focusing on rebuilding and unlocking the team's potential after a disappointing previous season.