The 50 best players in women's college basketball right now

Though a handful of players are expected to dominate the race for the national player of the year in women's college basketball this season -- including past winners JuJu Watkins of USC and Sarah Strong of UConn -- the overall talent pool across the country is deep. The season is underway and our first ranking of the top 50 players in the nation debuts, with No. 1 South Carolina leading the way with five players. UConn, LSU and Maryland each put three players on the list. With so few games having been played, ESPN's initial ranking tilts more toward what we've already seen from these players in their college careers, including some who sat out last season because of injuries. Even though transfers are such a huge part of college sports now, our top 10 players have been with only one team, and we should see all of them in the WNBA in the next few years. Freshmen were not eligible but will no doubt play their way onto future rankings throughout the 2026-27 season. The list could have some big changes in our next update. Until then, here is our ESPN top 50 for the start of the season. 50. Breya Cunningham, F, Texas Longhorns So much of what Texas does will be built around All-American Madison Booker, but Cunningham might be the Longhorns' second-most important player. With the departure of Kyla Oldacre, the center spot is all Cunningham's, and she should exceed her numbers from a season ago (7.7 PPG, 7.0 RPG) with additional minutes. Cunningham's size, footwork and lower-body strength make her difficult to move out of the post, where she will do most of her damage. -- Charlie Creme 49. S'Mya Nichols, G, Kansas Jayhawks A 6-foot perimeter player who excels at getting to the rim, Nichols led Division I in made free throws (243) and free throw attempts (287) last season. A three-year starter for Kansas, Nichols has averaged 17.1 points and 4.0 assists in her career. She shot 42.9% from 3-point range last season (39-of-91) as Kansas made the WBIT semifinals. -- Michael Voepel 48. Skylar Forbes, F, West Virginia Mountaineers Forbes arrives in Morgantown after three seasons with Marquette, where last season she ranked fourth in the Big East in scoring at 15.5 points and led the conference in blocks (1.8) for a second straight season. A seamless transition for Forbes would greatly help the Mountaineers compete in the Big 12, where they were ranked No. 4 in the preseason poll. -- Alexa Philippou 47. Sahara Williams, F, Oklahoma Sooners Admittedly a "tweener" as a 5-foot-11 forward, Williams makes up in strength and high-energy effort what she might lack in height. She has started every game the past three seasons for the Sooners, averaging 11.2 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists in her career. Look for her to be a stronger scoring threat, including from 3-point range, this season. -- Voepel 46. Tilda Trygger, F, Washington Huskies The Huskies have been on the rise the past two seasons and Trygger might be the last missing element to make them a top-15 team this season. Trygger brings a distinctive skill set from NC State. At 6-foot-6, she can alter shots inside; on offense she can play in both the high and low post with her ability to shoot. She took 62 3-pointers a season ago, making 33.8%. -- Creme 45. Addi Mack, G, Maryland Terrapins Mack had a solid debut season last season with the Terps, earning All-Big Ten freshman honors, but no one expected her to have the sort of outburst she had to open the season against South Carolina, when she poured in 35 points with six assists to spur a Terps comeback attempt. It was the fourth-most points any player has scored against an AP No. 1 opponent over the past 25 seasons. If Mack really has taken a big jump this offseason, that will bode extremely well for Maryland. -- Philippou 44. Madison St. Rose, G, Notre Dame Fighting Irish A former Ivy League rookie of the year and two-time all-conference selection, St. Rose was a force at Princeton last season, averaging 15.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists as she came back from an ACL tear that cut short her junior season. Now at Notre Dame, she'll have a chance to form a potent backcourt duo with Hannah Hidalgo. St. Rose's career with the Irish started on a positive note, as she chipped in 17 points, two rebounds and two steals in Notre Dame's big win over Villanova in Rome. -- Philippou 43. Zamareya Jones, F, Louisville Cardinals After moving into the starting lineup as a sophomore at NC State, Jones was able to put her quickness on full display. She was also one of the ACC's most productive 3-point shooters, averaging 2.2 makes on 36.6% shooting. Now Jones leaves a partnership with Zoe Brooks and the Wolfpack to team with Taj Roberts and Imani Berry at Louisville. Her scoring might dip a bit with the deeper Cardinals, but don't be surprised if Jones' assist numbers rise. -- Creme 42. Katie Fiso, G, Oregon Ducks The heartbeat of the Ducks, Fiso made a huge jump in confidence and production from her freshman to sophomore season, emerging as one of the Big Ten's best point guards. She led Oregon with 15.5 points per game and ranked 10th in the country with 6.2 assists. As the games became more important last season, Fiso got better, averaging 18.8 points in five Big Ten and NCAA tournament games. -- Creme 41. Tajianna Roberts, G, Louisville Cardinals On a balanced Cardinals' team last season, Roberts was Jeff Walz's best player. She led the team in scoring (11.5 PPG), assists (3.4 APG) and minutes (29.3 MPG).Though she's an improved 3-point shooter, Roberts is at her best creating offense from defense and forcing defenses to guard her penetration. She went from the ACC all-freshman team two years ago to first-team All-ACC last season. -- Creme 40. Kiyomi McMiller, G, Florida Gators No one doubts McMiller's ability, the question was her fit with a team. It didn't work out well her freshman season at Rutgers. Things were better last season at Penn State: McMiller started 26 of 29 games, averaging 21.6 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists. Now at Florida, with new coach Tammi Reiss, she has the chance to prove herself in the SEC. -- Voepel 39. KK Arnold, G, UConn Huskies Arnold has a real opportunity to put it all together in her senior year in Storrs. She had a standout Big East tournament last season but then was mostly a nonfactor in the NCAA tournament. Her defensive energy is reliable -- she was second on the team in steals last season behind Strong -- but UConn needs her to be a more consistent offensive threat. -- Philippou 38. Jada Williams, G, LSU Tigers Williams spent her first two seasons at Arizona, then had her best stats last season at Iowa State. She averaged 15.3 points and a Big 12-leading 7.7 assists, which was third in Division I. Then like most of the Cyclones, she transferred. Williams now will use her point guard skills and 3-point shooting at LSU, along with being a defensive staple. -- Voepel 37. Blanca Quinonez, F, UConn Huskies Quinonez -- the 2026 Big East Freshman and Sixth Player of the Year -- was UConn's second-best player in the NCAA tournament last season, averaging 15.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.0 steals. She spent the offseason recovering from shoulder surgery and did not appear in any of the Huskies' preseason exhibitions, but they'll need that March version of her as a sophomore if they want to cut down the nets in Columbus. -- Philippou 36. Nunu Agara, F, Maryland Terrapins Agara's transfer from Stanford to Maryland was one of the biggest moves of the portal. She brings experience and maturity to a young Terrapins team that needed a reliable interior scorer and rebounder. Agara led the Cardinal in both categories in 2025-26 (15.3 PPG, 8.7 RPG). She also graduated from Stanford in three years before moving east for her final season. -- Creme 35. Taliah Scott, G, Baylor Bears After playing only 23 games her first two college seasons (Arkansas and Auburn), Scott settled in well at Baylor last season. She started 32 of 33 games and led the Bears with 19.7 points per game, second in the Big 12 behind Audi Crooks. Scott led the league in free throw percentage (89.5%) and was sixth in 3-pointers (80), as Baylor finished third in the Big 12. -- Voepel 34. Britt Prince, G, Nebraska Cornhuskers As a native of Omaha, Prince was the most important recruiting win for Amy Williams. Entering her third season with the Cornhuskers, Prince has lived up to the billing. She was first-team All-Big Ten as a sophomore and is one of the conferences' top point guards. Because she is so efficient, Prince's game is reminiscent to that of Paige Bueckers. Last season, Prince led Nebraska in scoring (17.9 PPG), assists (4.4 APG) and steals (1.5 SPG) while grabbing 4.4 rebounds per game and shooting 53.3% from the field. -- Creme 33. Berry Wallace, F, Illinois Fighting Illini It's no coincidence that Illinois' first back-to-back 20-win seasons this century have come in the two years Wallace has been with the program. She capped her second season by making first-team All-Big Ten after leading the Illini in scoring with 18.4 points per game. Wallace doubled her scoring average from her first season, and topped the conference in minutes (35.7). Versatility is her biggest asset. She's big enough to play in the post and skilled enough to play on the wing. -- Creme 32. Jasmine Bascoe, G, Villanova Wildcats From the day she first took the court for the Wildcats, Bascoe has been at the top of the scouting report for every Villanova opponent. Yet she has still excelled, scoring in double figures in all but six games over the past two seasons. Still developing as a deep shooter, Bascoe gets to the rim in a variety of ways and produces in the midrange. Overshadowed by the stars at UConn, Bascoe has twice been named All-Big East first team and led Villanova to a second-place conference finish last season. -- Creme 31. Agot Makeer, G, South Carolina Gamecocks As a freshman last season, Makeer had her most consistent, impactful stretch during the NCAA tournament, when she hit double figures in each of South Carolina's six games and stood out with her length (6-foot-1) and two-way play. She dazzled once more in the Gamecocks' game in Paris on Monday, finishing with 20 points -- including 4-for-4 shooting on 3-pointers -- as well as three assists, two steals and two blocks. If Makeer continues on this trajectory, the Gamecocks will be even more of a formidable foe. -- Philippou 30. Jordan Lee, G, South Carolina Gamecocks Lee went to the Final Four as a freshman and sophomore at Texas, so she is well-prepared for the Gamecocks' lofty postseason expectations. She averaged 13.2 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists last season. South Carolina will look to Lee for her calm demeanor and experience on offense, and her lockdown tenacity on defense. -- Voepel 29. Aubrey Galvan, G, Vanderbilt Commodores It didn't take long to see that Galvan was an ideal point guard to pair with Mikayla Blakes. The backcourt duo led Vanderbilt to its winningest season since 2007. Her quickness and energy added another element to the Commodores' attack. No freshman in the country averaged more assists (5.7) than Galvan, who was named SEC freshman of the year. -- Creme 28. Syla Swords, G, Michigan Wolverines After Michigan was crushed in the Elite Eight by Texas, all eyes are on how Swords and the rest of this standout junior class look to solidify the Wolverines as a true Final Four (and maybe even national championship) contender. A two-time All-Big Ten selection, Swords is coming off a strong summer with Canada Basketball, where she was named MVP of the FIBA Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament. -- Philippou 27. Chloe Kitts, F, South Carolina Gamecocks Gamecocks fans, rejoice: Kitts -- MVP of the 2025 SEC tournament and Birmingham 2 regional of the 2025 NCAA tournament -- is back on the court after sitting out the 2025-26 season because of a torn ACL. She played 19 minutes of South Carolina's opener against Maryland on Monday, finishing with eight points, seven rebounds, five assists and one block. It's always difficult to rank players as they're coming back from missing significant time because of injury, so don't be shocked if Kitts -- as well as teammate Ashlyn Watkins -- see a lot of movement in these rankings throughout the season. -- Philippou 26. Liv McGill, G, Oklahoma State Cowgirls Like Crooks, McGill transferred to try to help the Cowgirls reach new heights in the Big 12. She spent her first two years at Florida, averaging 22.5 points, 6.1 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 2.6 steals last season. As a dynamic scorer, McGill will look to play off the strengths of Crooks inside while also improving her 28% shooting from beyond the arc. -- Voepel 25. Ava Heiden, C, Iowa Hawkeys Heiden really came into her own as a sophomore last season, earning first-team All-Big Ten honors while averaging 18.0 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.3 blocks. Her 64.1% shooting from the field was fourth in Division I. A mobile center at 6-foot-4, Heiden should be the offensive focal point for the Hawkeyes, who tied for second in the Big Ten last season. -- Voepel 24. Addy Brown, F, UCLA Bruins Brown arrived to UCLA as one of the biggest gets in the transfer portal and gives the defending champs some needed size. As a junior with Iowa State, the 6-2 forward averaged 11.9 points, 8.8 rebounds and 5.3 assists. She gives the Bruins incredible versatility as a scorer and passer, while also adding a veteran presence that could be lacking in Westwood after the Bruins had six WNBA draft picks from April's title team. -- Kendra Andrews 23. Khamil Pierre, F, NC State Wolfpack Active and agile Pierre can impact the game in many ways. But she delivers the most on the glass, averaging nearly 9.0 rebounds during her first three seasons. Pierre finished third in the country with 22 double-doubles a season ago. Her post game has continued to develop, but Pierre has always thrived in transition, where she is nearly impossible to defend on the break. -- Creme 22. Dani Carnegie, G, Iowa Hawkeyes Carnegie, on her third school and conference, is reunited with Chazadi "Chit-Chat" Wright. They were freshmen at Georgia Tech in 2024-2025, then Wright went to Iowa last season while Carnegie went to Georgia, which she led in scoring (17.8 PPG). Carnegie made 84 3-pointers last season and Wright made 70. Now they're in the same backcourt again. -- Voepel 21. Talaysia Cooper, G, Ole Miss Rebels One of the more consistent Tennessee players over the past two seasons (16.6 PPG in 2024-25 and 16.0 PPG in 2025-26), Cooper should be the go-to offensive player for the Rebels. She will have to adjust from the Lady Vols' frantic tempo to Ole Miss' more half-court approach, but her 3-point shooting improved (34.3%) last season and Cooper has always been a player who thrives in transition and as a finisher at the rim. -- Creme 20. Clara Strack, C, Kentucky Wildcats After playing behind Liz Kitley during her freshman season at Virginia Tech, Strack blossomed with the move to Kentucky along with coach Kenny Brooks. Her offense, augmented by an improved shooting range, has steadily grown, but Strack's defense sets her apart. After being named SEC defensive player of the year in 2025, she led the conference in total blocks and was second in the country with 91. She also led the Wildcats in steals (1.2). -- Creme 19. Sayvia Sellers, G, Washington Huskies Sellers produced a triple-double of 25 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in Washington's season-opening victory Monday. She's the first UW player to have a triple-double since 2016. The 5-7 guard is coming off of a season in which she averaged 18.0 points, 3.9 assists and 2.9 rebounds on her way to leading Washington to the second round of the NCAA tournament. -- Andrews 18. Zoe Brooks, G, NC State Wolfpack As a senior, Brooks -- a two-time All-ACC first-team selection -- has the opportunity to lead this team both in her play and her leadership. Wes Moore needs that from her for the Wolfpack to make some noise in the ACC and nationally. Through two games this season, Brooks is averaging a team-best 19.5 points, which would be a career high, though much stiffer competition awaits in Kentucky. -- Philippou 17. Kymora Johnson, G, Virginia Cavaliers Johnson had a breakout junior season, leading the Cavaliers to the NCAA tournament for the first time in eight years. Johnson proved to be a two-way threat, averaging 19.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 2.1 steals. She also recorded a career-high 41-point game in December. As Virginia looks to maintain its momentum, Johnson will play a big role. -- Andrews 16. Jazzy Davidson, G, USC Trojans Jazzy Davidson enters her sophomore year after a decorated debut season. Starting all 32 games, she became the only Division I player to lead her team in all five major statistical categories, averaging 17.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 2.0 steals and 2.0 blocks. With JuJu Watkins alongside her and part of a big three with Watkins and Saniyah Hall, Davidson has an opportunity for incredible growth this season. -- Andrews 15. Tessa Johnson, G, South Carolina Gamecocks She won a title with the Gamecocks as a freshman in 2024 and continued to come off the bench as a sophomore. Then she started last season as a junior, averaging career highs in scoring (12.8), rebounding (3.4) and assists (2.5). Her 44.8 shooting percentage from beyond the arc (90 of 201) was the best in the SEC. -- Voepel 14. MiLaysia Fulwiley, G, LSU Tigers Fulwiley, one of the nation's best sparks off the bench the past three seasons (including two at South Carolina), now has an opportunity in a starting role. Her 14.6 points per game (in 22.7 MPG) led LSU last season. Coach Kim Mulkey has challenged her to become a better defender and playmaker, which could take LSU to another level. -- Andrews 13. Oluchi Okananwa, G, Maryland Terrapins Okananwa had a career-best season in her first year at Maryland, where she averaged 17.8 points (also a team high), 5.4 rebounds, 2.2 steals and 2.0 assists and earned All-Big Ten first-team and all-defensive team honors. The Terps will expect even more from her now in her second year in the program and as the most experienced returner on a young team. -- Philippou 12. Aaliyah Chavez, G, Oklahoma Sooners One of the country's top freshman last season, Chavez averaged 18.4 points and 4.2 assists, plus was second in Division I in free throw percentage (92.9). Her style at point guard is a perfect fit for the Sooners' fast-paced offense (third in Division I last season in scoring average at 85.9 PPG). One of two returning starters, Chavez is pivotal to Oklahoma's success. -- Voepel 11. Audi Crooks, C, Oklahoma State Cowgirls After three seasons in her home state playing for Iowa State, Crooks was part of the mass exodus from the Cyclones. She moved to another Big 12 school and hopes to lead the Cowgirls to what would be only their second regular-season conference title (the first was in the Big Eight). For her career, Crooks has averaged 22.8 points and 7.7 rebounds while shooting 61.3% from the field. -- Voepel 10. Toby Fournier, F, Duke Blue Devils Fournier started all 36 games and averaged a team-high 17.3 points last season on her way to leading the Blue Devils to their second ACC title in as many years. She has established herself as a shot blocker (2.2 per game last season) and rebounder (7.9), but Fournier sat out Tuesday's season opener because of a lower-leg injury. Coach Kara Lawson hasn't released a timetable for her return. -- Andrews 9. Mikaylah Williams, G, LSU Tigers At 6 feet, Williams can play physically on the inside while also being a reliable ball handler with a quick release from distance. She was tied with Flau'jae Johnson as LSU's second-leading scorer last season (14.2 PPG), but with Johnson gone, the Tigers will look for Williams to take on a bit more of a scoring load. In her fourth season under Kim Mulkey, Williams will be a go-to player for LSU when the Tigers need someone to deliver in big moments. -- Andrews 8. Jaloni Cambridge, G, Ohio State Buckeyes Cambridge arrived in Columbus as a highly touted recruit and then as a sophomore broke out even more on the national scene, her 23.2 points per game last season ranking sixth in the nation and first in the Big Ten on her way to earning WBCA All-American honors. How far the Buckeyes can go this season probably will have more to do with how strong the supporting cast can be around her, but no doubt Cambridge will need to be great every game for the Buckeyes to be a true contender in the Big Ten. -- Philippou 7. Olivia Olson, G, Michigan Wolverines Michigan's 51 wins over the past two seasons tied for the most in any two-year span in program history. Olson has been the catalyst of that success. She led the Wolverines in scoring as a freshman and sophomore and has emerged as one of the Big Ten's best players. Her game is built on being savvy and tough. Because Olson can score at all levels and guard multiple positions, coach Kim Barnes Arico can use Olson anywhere on the court. -- Creme 6. Joyce Edwards, F, South Carolina Gamecocks Edwards went from being the Gamecocks' top reserve as a freshman to a starter last season, improving her scoring average by almost seven points to 19.2. As a sophomore, she was a first-team All-SEC pick and a second-team All-American. She has made two trips to the Final Four but is still seeking her first national championship. -- Voepel 5. Madison Booker, F, Texas Longhorns A first-team All-American the past two years, the 6-1 Booker averaged career highs in points (18.9), rebounds (6.7) and steals (2.2) last season. She led the Longhorns to the national semifinals in 2025 and 2026. Known for her midrange game, Booker might look to improve from 3-point range, which would make her an even stronger 2027 draft lottery pick. -- Voepel 4. Mikayla Blakes, G, Vanderbilt Commodores From SEC freshman of the year to SEC player of the year, Blakes is now a leading contender for national player of the year. With her unique ability to get to the rim and finish, especially off the high pick-and-roll, plus 35.9% shooting on 3-pointers, Blakes can score from anywhere. Her 27.0 points per game led the country last season, and Blakes was also third in the SEC with 2.9 steals per game. Her defense often dictates how Vanderbilt plays and fuels the Commodores' transition game. -- Creme 3. Hannah Hidalgo, G, Notre Dame Fighting Irish Hidalgo is arguably the best two-way player in the country, averaging 25.3 points last season while also leading the nation in steals (5.6) and winning the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year award. A triple-double threat -- she had at least 10 steals in four games last season -- she also set an NCAA record with 202 total steals. -- Andrews 2. JuJu Watkins, G, USC Trojans Watkins waited 588 days between tearing her ACL in March 2025 to returning to the court in USC's season opener Tuesday, but the former All-American looks primed to pick right back up where she left off. She finished her first game with 21 points, five rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block in 25 minutes. Watkins averaged 23.9 points per game as a sophomore during 2024-25, when she swept the nation's national player of the year honors. In preseason interviews, Watkins told ESPN she's a better catch-and-shoot threat now, and coach Lindsay Gottlieb added that the guard is stronger, more explosive and an even more precise shooter. -- Andrews 1. Sarah Strong, F, UConn Huskies The reigning national player of the year, Strong is back in the top spot of ESPN's rankings. She spent the summer trying to get back to 100% physically after dealing with a nagging Achilles injury all of last season, making her 2026-27 performance even more impressive. With Azzi Fudd (and Paige Bueckers before her) off to the pros, this is definitively Strong's team now, and she'll need to play and lead like it. -- Philippou