The beginning of the ladies’s college basketball season is true across the nook and followers are in retailer for some marquee opening-week matchups starting on Monday.
Listed here are 5 must-watch video games for the primary week of the season.
No. 7 Duke vs. No. 16 Baylor | Nov. 3
One of many largest video games of opening week simply so occurs to be one of many first to tip off on Monday in Paris. Coming off an Elite 8 loss to No. 1 South Carolina, the Blue Devils are led by sophomore sensation Toby Fournier, who averaged a team-high 13.2 factors per recreation final season.
On the opposite aspect, the Sixteenth-ranked Bears misplaced their main scorer from final season, heart Aaronette Vonleh (14.9 PPG), to the WNBA’s Dallas Wings, however have senior Darianna Littlepage-Buggs (13.8 PPG, 10 RPG) again for an additional season. Each groups want to take that subsequent step after final season and a gap day win in a top-25 matchup can be a serious vote of confidence.
The Girl Vols look to enhance on final season’s Candy 16 run with the return of leading-scorer Talaysia Cooper (16.6 PPG) and the addition of UCLA switch Janiah Barker to go coach Kim Caldwell’s second-ranked recruiting class.
The Wolfpack misplaced two of their top-three scorers from final season, guards Aziaha James (17.9 PPG) and Saniya Rivers (11.9 PPG), to the Wings and Connecticut Solar, respectively, however have junior guard Zoe Brooks (14.2 PPG) returning to the fold. A win for both staff would go a great distance so early within the season.
The defending-champion Huskies return to the courtroom for the primary time since Paige Bueckers was chosen No. 1 general by the Wings.
Contemplating guard Tajianna Roberts (12.8 PPG) is the one one among Louisville’s double-digit scorers coming back from final season, the Cardinals have some looking out to do after failing to make it previous the opening weekend of the NCAA Event the final two seasons.
The Huskies, then again, may very well be even higher than final season led by sophomore ahead Sarah Sturdy (16.4 PPG, 8.9 RPG) and senior guard Azzi Fudd (13.6 PPG). With the addition of Wisconsin switch Serah Williams, who practically averaged a double-double (19.2 PPG, 9.8 RPG) and shot 49.3 % from the ground final season, it is a tall activity for Louisville out of the gate.
This can be a sneaky opening-week recreation to keep watch over because the Spiders have gone a mixed 57-13 the previous two seasons and are coming off this system’s first NCAA Event win in a first-round conquer Georgia Tech.
The fourth-ranked Longhorns look stout as soon as once more with the return of junior ahead Madison Booker, who has received back-to-back convention Participant of the Yr honors. Texas ought to win this one, however this will probably be a great take a look at to see the place a proficient Richmond staff is at.
No. 18 USC vs. No. 9 NC State | Nov. 9
The Trojans are one of many largest unknowns within the sport with star Juju Watkins out for the season with a proper ACL tear and Kiki Iriafen and Rayah Marshall gone to the WNBA.
That is the second of two huge opening-week video games for the Wolfpack. This may very well be the extra favorable matchup of the 2, although, particularly with the damage to Watkins and a few key departures from final season on this Trojans staff.
