Along with submitting the preseason top 25 rankings as part of the women’s college basketball Associated Press poll, the committee also needs to pick a five-player preseason All-American team.
This year, ten players are back from last season’s 15-member squad. This group includes JuJu Watkins from USC, who unfortunately will sit out this season while recovering from a knee injury sustained during last year’s NCAA Tournament. Even without Watkins, there are still nine exceptional players available for the preseason team, not to mention other talented individuals who received honorable mentions previously, like Regan Beers from Oklahoma, Joyce Edwards from South Carolina, and Coty McMahon, who transferred from Ohio State to Ole Miss.
Creating this preseason team is always a challenge. It’s about balancing what players have done historically and the potential they have moving forward.
Last season, both Watkins and Paige Backers made the 2024 preseason team unanimously, along with Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo, Kiki Iriafen from USC, and Madison Booker from Texas. By the end of that season, four players from this group were named to the All-American First Team, and Iliafen landed a spot on the AP Third Team.
After weighing my options, here are my picks:
Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame — Junior, guard
Hidalgo, a two-time AP First-Team All-American and two-time ACC Defensive Player of the Year, will have a lot on her plate for the Fighting Irish this season. As the sole returning starter from last year’s Sweet 16 squad, she’s definitely capable of steering Notre Dame forward under coach Neale Ivey. Last season, Hidalgo was fifth in the nation for scoring and fourth in steals. Some might even argue that she’s the top two-way guard out there.
Olivia Miles, TCU — Senior, guard
Miles, who played alongside Hidalgo at Notre Dame, surprised many by opting out of the WNBA Draft last spring, where she would have been a top-five pick, and transferring to Fort Worth, Texas. A two-time AP All-American Second Team honoree, she’s recognized for her passing, offensive creativity, and sharp playmaking ability. Plus, she significantly boosted her three-point shooting last year, making over 40% of her attempts — an improvement of nearly 18% from her prior season. She’s set to lead a TCU team expected to challenge for Big 12 titles once more.
Mikayla Blakes, Vanderbilt — Sophomore, guard
Blakes, the recipient of the USBWA’s Tamika Catchings Award for the best freshman, truly made a name for herself last season with some remarkable scoring feats. She set a record as the only player in either men’s or women’s Division I basketball to hit the 50-point mark in a game twice, scoring 55 points at Auburn and 53 points at Florida. Her performance against Auburn not only set an SEC single-game record but also broke the NCAA record for a freshman, previously held by Elena Delle Donne. Following a stellar first year, she excelled for Team USA over the summer, earning a gold medal and the title of AmeriCup MVP.
Sarah Strong, UW — Sophomore, Forward
While Blakes took home the USBWA award, Strong earned the title of Freshman of the Year from the WBCA, demonstrating why she was the number one recruit. Her multifaceted skills were pivotal in helping the Huskies clinch the national championship last season, and she also made it onto the Final Four All-Tournament team. She was the only player nationwide to average at least 16 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and two steals per game last year. According to her stats, she also led in win shares and defensive ratings. With some key players moving to the WNBA, Strong is set to take on a more significant role for UConn as they aim to defend their title.
Lauren Betts, UCLA — Senior, center
There was a point last season when Betts seemed like a frontrunner for the National Player of the Year award. While Watkins clinched that title with a strong finish to the season, Betts gathered plenty of accolades, including the Lisa Leslie Award for the top center and the Big Ten Tournament Player of the Year. Additionally, she received the WBCA and Naismith Committee Defensive Player of the Year awards and was selected for the All-American First Team. Leading UCLA to its first Final Four in the modern era, she averaged 20.2 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks per game, shooting 64.8% overall. Her impact is a significant reason why UCLA is seen as a top contender this season.
Other players considered include: Madison Booker from Texas, Tanya Latson from South Carolina, Flojay Johnson from LSU, Audi Crooks (Iowa), Toby Fournier (Duke), Regan Beals from Oklahoma, Joyce Edwards from South Carolina, Aji Fuad (University of California), Laura Ziegler (Louisville), and Maggie Dougan (Richmond).
