Women’s College Basketball Season Kicks Off with High Stakes

UPDATE: The women’s college basketball season has officially launched, with intense competition brewing across the nation. As the 15th-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish aim to make a deeper run in the NCAA Tournament, all eyes are on star guard Hannah Hidalgo to lead the charge.

Officials confirm that after four consecutive Sweet 16 exits, including a disappointing 71-62 loss to TCU last year, Notre Dame faces a challenging season with significant roster changes. Hidalgo, a preseason All-American and ACC Player of the Year, returns after averaging 23.8 points, five rebounds, and 3.7 steals per game last season. The Irish, however, will need to fill the void left by key departures, including star guard Olivia Miles and forward Kate Koval.

Notre Dame’s season kicks off against ranked opponents, starting with No. 13 Michigan on November 15, followed by No. 18 USC and No. 12 Mississippi. Head coach Niele Ivey remains optimistic despite the changes, stating, “Notre Dame is the standard… the expectation never changes.”

Meanwhile, Illinois faces its own set of challenges. After making the NCAA Tournament for the second time in three years, the Illini lost five key seniors, including leading scorer Kendall Bostic. With an average team age of just 19.91, head coach Shauna Green must rely on returning players like junior guards Gretchen Dolan and Jasmine Brown-Hagger to step up. Green welcomes talented newcomers, including Destiny Jackson, last year’s Ms. Basketball of Illinois. “They have a joy to them… They’re so hungry. They want to be great,” Green expressed.

In a notable farewell season, Northwestern’s head coach Joe McKeown prepares to retire after 40 years in coaching. With a focus on finishing strong, the Wildcats hope to capitalize on the talents of senior forward Grace Sullivan. McKeown believes Sullivan could be among the best players in the Big Ten, emphasizing teamwork and execution.

The DePaul Blue Demons are also in transition, having named Jill Pizzotti as head coach following the retirement of legendary coach Doug Bruno. Pizzotti, who served as interim head coach last season, aims to rejuvenate the team after three consecutive losing seasons. Despite injury setbacks, including to key players Kate Clarke and Meg Newman, Pizzotti remains determined to lead DePaul into postseason contention.

As the season unfolds, the Big Ten is expected to be fiercely competitive with six teams in the AP Top 25, including No. 3 UCLA. The Bruins, led by senior center Lauren Betts and guard Kiki Rice, are positioned to dominate following a strong prior season. Coach Cori Close remains optimistic, highlighting Betts’ impressive stats from last season and Rice’s recovery from injury.

What to Watch For: The next few weeks will be pivotal as these teams face off against formidable opponents. With high expectations and emerging young talent, the excitement surrounding the women’s college basketball season is palpable. Fans and analysts alike will be closely monitoring how teams adapt and compete in this crucial early phase of the season.

Stay tuned for more updates as the season progresses and these storylines continue to develop.