One of the most anticipated showdowns of the season is on the docket this week, as UConn and USC face off in a rematch of the 2024 Elite Eight in Hartford, Conn. Both teams boast top-10 offenses and defenses, per Her Hoop Stats, which generally indicates a national title contender.

During the preseason, this game was billed as a battle between the two projected favorites for national Player of the Year: Paige Bueckers and JuJu Watkins. However, another player has usurped the two in that conversation, the same one who helped deliver the Huskies and the Trojans their lone losses of the season. Both Bueckers and Watkins were outplayed by Hannah Hidalgo in their matchups against Notre Dame, as Hidalgo has earned pole position in the NPOY race.

GO DEEPER

Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo has UConn’s number (again)

It is far too early in the season to arrive at any conclusions, but to have three players putting together such solid cases is a stark contrast to how the race has borne out over the last two seasons. With Lauren Betts and Madison Booker also leading national title hopefuls (UCLA and Texas have top-10 offenses and defenses, too), Hidalgo might not even be the favorite for much longer. The relative parity among teams atop the rankings also extends to the best players in the…