It’s that time of year again! With the 2024 Women’s NCAA Tournament about to tip-off, you’ve surely heard all about South Carolina’s undefeated season or Caitlin Clark’s record-breaking scoring, but the tournament is about far more than just one team or one player. There are countless storylines to follow every March, and while a comprehensive list would reach encyclopedic proportions, there are a handful of players you’ll definitely want to keep your eye on, and a few teams that may exceed—or fall short of—expectations.
Superstar: JuJu Watkins (USC Trojans)
Forget “she’s got next”—Watkins has right now. USC’s prized freshman took the NCAA by storm almost immediately, quickly ascending to stardom in non-conference play and solidifying herself as one of the country’s best players just a handful of games into USC’s Pac-12 schedule. Watkins finished her freshman campaign averaging 27 points per game (second among all Division I players) to go along with 7.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.4 steals. She’s already been named Freshman of the Year by The Athletic and ESPN, while the latter named her as an All-American and runner-up for Player of the Year—virtually unheard of for a freshman.
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