Women’s basketball way-too-early 2026-27 top 10 rankings, topped by USC

UCLA won the national championship on April 5 in Phoenix, Arizona, defeating South Carolina by a score of 79-51. It's the first national title for UCLA in women's basketball since 1978 — before there was an NCAA Tournament for the women's sport — when the Bruins won the AIAW crown.

Much will change in women’s college basketball this offseason. The coaching carousel is already in a full spin as two Power 4 jobs — UCF and Georgia — were filled this weekend and another, Virginia, surprisingly opened.

Additionally, the transfer portal opens on Monday, and fans already know about dozens of players that are going to enter, from Iowa State superstar Audi Crooks to North Carolina point guard Lanie Grant.

While we don’t know which coaches will still fill the open jobs, or what type of portal additions will be made, we’re going to get out our crystal ball anyway and take a look into the future.

For UCLA, the future is murky for the national champions. The Bruins top six scorers are all seniors who have exhausted their eligibility. Sienna Betts is expected to return, but it's unclear what the rest of the roster will look like.

Here’s your way-too-early power rankings entering the 2026-27 season:

1. USC

Yes, a team that lost in the second round of the Women's NCAA Tournament tops our list. In case you forgot, JuJu Watkins is set to return to the court for the Trojans next season. Before injuring her knee in the 2025 NCAA Tournament, Watkins was a two-time All-American, had led USC to a pair of Elite Eights and was the National Player of the Year. Watkins will become the bus driver once again for Lindsay Gottlieb’s Trojans, who are set to bring back National Freshman of the Year Jazzy Davidson and All-Big Ten Defense selection Kennedy Smith. USC is also bringing in the nation’s No. 1 recruit, Saniyah Hall. With those four players, you can pencil in USC to be a Final Four contender.

2. UConn

This team will have Sarah Strong on it and the others will not. Geno Auriemma’s Huskies are also expected to return Big East Rookie of the Year Blanca Quiñonez, as well as the guard trio of Ashlynn Shade, KK Arnold and Kayleigh Heckel. The No. 3-ranked recruit in the nation, 6-foot-4 Olivia Vukosa, is also set to join UConn.

3. South Carolina

Raven Johnson and Ta’Niya Latson will be leaving, but Dawn Staley will still be on the sidelines and the Gamecocks will bring back multiple key contributors like Tessa Johnson, Joyce Edwards and Agot Makeer. South Carolina is also expected to get Chloe Kitts and Ashlyn Watkins back on the court after they were sidelined with injuries. Three top 20 recruits — headlined by guard Jerzy Robinson — will join Staley’s squad, too.

4. Duke

The reigning back-to-back ACC champions will return a strong core of Toby Fournier, Delaney Thomas, Riley Nelson, Jordan Wood and Arianna Roberson, and are expected to have Jadyn Donovan and highly touted point guard Emilee Skinner healthy. Kara Lawson will likely aim to aid a veteran guard in the transfer portal to replace the steady hand of Taina Mair and the clutch shooting of Ashlon Jackson, but Duke is also set to add four top 45 recruits, headlined by Sidwell Friends’ product Autumn Fleary and Texas native Bella Flemings.

5. Texas

Three-time All-American Madison Booker will be back and the Longhorns are bringing in a pair of top 10 recruits in Addison Bjorn and Brihanna Crittendon. Texas is also expected to return key contributors Jordan Lee, Justice Carlton and Breya Cunningham.

6. LSU

Flau’Jae Johnson is off to the WNBA, but Kim Mulkey’s Tigers will still be equipped with talented players, such as Mikaylah Williams, MiLaysia Fulwiley, Jada Richard, ZaKiyah Johnson, Kate Koval and Grace Knox. LSU often brings in a splashy transfer or two each season and is also bringing in top 30 recruit Lola Lampley.

7. Vanderbilt

The Commodores will return the nation’s leading scorer in Mikayla Blakes, SEC Freshman of the Year Aubrey Galvan and National Coach of the Year Shea Ralph. The Commodores will also bring in two top 35 recruits.

8. Notre Dame

It’s unclear what the rest of Niele Ivey’s roster will look like, but two-time ACC Player of the Year Hannah Hidalgo will be back and the Irish proved this season that was enough to take them to the Elite Eight. Notre Dame is also bringing a strong recruiting class of five top 100 recruits, headlined by Jacy Abii.

9. Michigan

The Wolverines are going to be contenders as long as they have their trio of Mila Holloway, Olivia Olson and Syla Swords. Michigan also is set to bring in two top 50 recruits and have a few other key underclassmen returning.

10. Louisville

Jeff Walz’s Cardinals were young this season and didn’t have a singular standout star, but made the Sweet 16 anyway. Louisville will have to replace senior Laura Ziegler, but is set to return its strong core of Tajianna Roberts, Imari Berry, Elif Istanbulluoglu and Mackenly Randolph.