Best Games To Watch In Week 1 Of The Women’s College Basketball Season

6 hari yang lalu

Women’s assemblage hoops is almost back. The first week of action tin beryllium astir getting situated: Olivia Miles near Notre Dame for TCU, Ta’Niya Latson departed Florida State for South Carolina and MiLaysia Fulwiley divided from South Carolina for LSU. But location are much than a fistful of matchups that person March-style flair, pinch mid-major connection games and Top 25 showdowns each connected tap.

Here’s who to watch and wherever nan games tin beryllium recovered for this week’s slate of games:

Monday, Nov. 3, noon ET, ESPN

The play starts pinch an opening-day showcase successful Paris betwixt 2 teams hunting for more complete nan adjacent six months. The Blue Devils, who came wrong a 4th of their first Final Four since 2006 past season, are helmed by nan unflappable coach Kara Lawson and led connected nan level by elder defender Ashlon Jackson and sophomore guardant Toby Fournier. The Bears, meanwhile, are searching for their first Elite Eight quality of nan Nicki Collen era, and reloaded their backcourt pinch Auburn transfers Taliah Scott and Yuting Deng. Duke’s tough-as-nails defense will beryllium a difficult first test.

Creighton vs. South Dakota State

Monday, Nov. 3, 7:00 P.M. ET, ESPN+

One of nan astir competitory games of nan day, nan matchup betwixt nan Bluejays and nan Jackrabbits pits a retooling Big East squad against a mid-major powerhouse. South Dakota State, which hasn’t mislaid an in-conference crippled since March 2022, brings backmost 3 of its apical 4 scorers from past season, erstwhile it took down Oklahoma State successful nan first information of nan NCAA tournament. Creighton, meanwhile, will person to set to life without Lauren Jensen and Morgan Maly, who some scored 2000-plus points successful their careers. An early triumph against Creighton could person South Dakota State reaching Top 25 position sooner alternatively than later.

Tuesday, Nov. 4, 4 P.M. ET, ESPN2

The past clip these 2 teams played, Aziaha James and Saniya Rivers helped nan Wolfpack stave disconnected a 33-point capacity from Rickea Jackson and a precocious Vols comeback to scope nan 2024Sweet 16. Much has changed since then: Jackson (a ’24 first-round pick) and James and Rivers (both ’25 first-round picks) person near for nan WNBA, and Tennessee has taken connected a different style nether coach Kim Caldwell. Expect hockey-style substitutions arsenic Talaysia Cooper, nan Vols’ starring scorer past season, to lead nan charge, while NC State will look to inferior defender Zoe Brooks and Vanderbilt transportation Khamil Pierre to thief capable nan nonaccomplishment of James and Rivers.

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No. 1 UConn vs. No. 20 Louisville

Tuesday, November 4, 5:30 P.M. ET, ESPN

It’s ne'er a bad clip to watch UConn phenom Sarah Strong proceed her ascension. The 6' 2" guardant group nan grounds for astir points successful an NCAA tourney by a freshman (114) and became nan 2nd Husky to people astatine slightest 600 points arsenic a freshman. Maya Moore was nan other. Yes, Strong is that good. (Just perceive to Geno gush astir her.) The Huskies besides brought successful first-team All-Big Ten guardant Serah Williams from Wisconsin, and will bask different play of Azzi Fudd, KK Arnold and Ashlynn Shade successful Storrs. It’s an unenviable first crippled for Louisville, which will beryllium counting connected defender Tajiana Roberts to make a second-year leap.

Friday, November 7, 8:00 P.M. ET, SEC Network +

An NCAA tournament-worthy matchup successful early November? Yes, please. There are reasons for optimism successful Austin: All-American guardant Madison Booker and SEC All-Defensive squad defender Rori Harmon are backmost for different play alongside elder halfway Kyla Oldacre, who should beryllium featured prominently astatine halfway this year. Texas besides added to its extent pinch transfers Breya Cunningham (Arizona), Teya Sidberry (Boston College) and Ashton Judd (Missouri). On nan different broadside of nan floor, Richmond returns sharpshooters Maggie Doogan and Rachel Ullstrom—both members of nan Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of nan Year Preseason Watch—and welcomes St. Louis transportation Tierra Simon. There’s a logic why nan Spiders are classed for nan first clip successful programme history.