There’s so much talent in women’s basketball this season that our votes for The Athletic’s preseason All-America team had to include 11 players thanks to a tie. But we’re here for it. The more talent, the merrier (and the more to write about and enjoy).
The season kicks off next week so the clock is ticking. In the meantime, familiarize yourself with the best players and biggest storylines as the season approaches.
Presenting, The Athletic’s preseason All-America teams and superlative honors:
First team
Fifth-year guard
2023-24 stats: 21.9 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 3.8 APG, 2.2 SPG, 1.4 BPG
Paige Buckets is back for what she says is her final season, and so comes the urgency to accomplish one thing she hasn’t done at UConn: win a national championship. The turnover around her, with Aaliyah Edwards and Nika Mühl departed for the WNBA, is significant, but with Bueckers back on the perimeter (instead of playing the four, as she did last season due to a slew of injuries), she’ll be more dangerous than ever.
Sophomore wing
2023-24 stats: 27.1 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 3.3 APG, 2.3 SPG, 1.6 BPG
As a freshman, Watkins was the nation’s second-leading scorer, won the Ann Meyers Drysdale shooting guard of the year award, and led the Trojans to a No. 1 seed and Elite Eight appearance. A year later,…
