Women’s College Basketball Title Favorites and Underrated Teams

The usual favorites are emerging again for this year’s national title in women’s college basketball. With just a few days to go before the season kicks off, the reigning champion UConn leads the pack with odds of +240, closely followed by South Carolina at +280. UCLA and Texas, last season’s Final Four participants, have the next best odds at +480 and +850, respectively.

These odds make sense because UConn boasts a strong roster featuring returning players like Sarah Strong and Azzie Fudd. South Carolina adds the nation’s top scorer to an already impressive lineup under coach Dawn Staley. Similarly, UCLA retains key players Lauren Betts and Kiki Rice, while Texas benefits from the talent of Madison Booker and Lori Harmon. However, if you’re looking for better value, scanning down the odds for underappreciated teams could be worthwhile.

Here are three teams that FanDuel identifies as having appealing chances of clinching the national championship:

Firstly, after winning the championship in 2023, Kim Mulkey’s Tigers have reached the Elite Eight in back-to-back seasons. With Fraujai Johnson and Mikayla Williams returning, the team is enhancing its roster through strong high school recruiting and the transfer portal. Notably, LSU welcomed elite guard Milaysia Fulwilly from South Carolina, center Kate Koval from Notre Dame, and versatile forward Amiya Joyner from East Carolina. They also secured three players from ESPN’s top 25 recruits, making them arguably the most talented team in the nation on paper.

Next, the Blue Devils had a standout season last year under coach Carla Lawson, capturing the ACC Tournament and advancing to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2013. Duke was close to making the Final Four, losing by just four points to South Carolina. They return four starters, although ACC Rookie of the Year Toby Fournier, who had an impressive performance against the Gamecocks, is not among them. However, the Blue Devils have added two former McDonald’s All-Americans, Riley Nelson and Arianna Roberson, along with Emily Skinner, noted as the nation’s fourth-best recruit. Duke’s talent positions them as the ACC favorite and potential national champions.

Lastly, Mark Campbell’s Horned Frogs made history last season, winning the Big 12 and reaching the Elite Eight for the first time. Despite losing their top three scorers, the team gained a significant boost by bringing in All-American point guard Olivia Miles from Notre Dame via the transfer portal. Moreover, they added sharpshooter Marta Suarez from California and 6-foot-7 center Clara Silva from Kentucky. With returning players like Donovin Hunter and Taylor Bigbee, plus the inclusion of Taliyah Parker, Maddie Sher, Veronica Sheffey, and the towering Kennedy Basham, TCU appears to have a strongly competitive roster.