Odds to Win the 2025-2026 NCAA Women’s National Championship

The 2024-25 women’s college basketball season ended just a few days ago, but it’s never too early to look ahead to next season. UConn finally ended a nine-year drought, as Paige Bueckers ended her collegiate career with a trophy.

We know we’ll head into next season without Bueckers, Kiki Iriafen and likely without JuJu Watkins, who will be recovering from a torn ACL. With that said, there is still plenty to look forward to in the women’s college basketball world in 2025-26. Let’s take a look at the early lines, but keep in mind, the market will fluctuate quite a bit between now and next November, especially with all the portal movement.

Odds to Win the 2025-2026 NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship

South Carolina Gamecocks

(+300, FanDuel Sportsbook)

Key Additions: Agot Makeer (ESPN100 No. 4), Ayla McDowell (ESPN100 No. 22)
Key Subtractions: Te-Hina Paopao, Bree Hall, Sania Feagin
Projected Starting Lineup: Ta’Niya Latson, Raven Johnson, Tessa Johnson, Chloe Kitts, Joyce Edwards

It should really come as no surprise to see South Carolina as the early favorites. Dawn Staley has brought the Gamecocks to the Final Four every year since the pandemic, making the championship game in three of those four seasons. As of this writing, they’ll return four of their top five scorers and add the nation’s leading scorer in Ta’Niya Latson. It’ll be worth monitoring whether MiLaysia Fulwiley hits the transfer portal, but bringing in Latson will make any potential loss of Fulwiley hurt quite a bit less. It’s also worth noting they will get Ashlyn Watkins back from a torn ACL. This is one of the deepest programs in the country, adding a serious weapon in Latson.

UConn Huskies

(+390, FanDuel Sportsbook)

Key Additions: Kelis Fisher (ESPN100 No. 27)
Key Subtractions: Paige Bueckers, Kaitlyn Chen
Projected Starting Lineup: KK Arnold, Azzi Fudd, Ashlynn Shade, Sarah Strong, Jana El Alfy

UConn will move into an era in which Paige Bueckers does not suit up, but they will return both Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd, keeping them in the National Championship conversation. What I’ll be monitoring is the status of head coach Geno Auriemma, who has seen his name pop up in rumors of potential retirement. If Auriemma were to retire, it would be a massive blow to the UConn program. While they would remain one of the favorites to repeat next season, there would be a lot of questions left to be answered regarding whether a new coaching staff can lead them there.

UCLA Bruins

(+700, FanDuel Sportsbook)

Key Additions: Charlisse Leger-Walker, Sienna Betts (ESPN100 No. 2), Lena Bilic
Key Subtractions: Janiah Barker (expected), Angela Dugalic (expected), Elina Aarnisalo, Kendall Dudley
Projected Starting Lineup: Charlisse Leger-Walker, Kiki Rice, Gabriela Jaquez, Sienna Betts, Lauren Betts

Perhaps not the favorites by oddsmakers, the UCLA Bruins will be my favorites heading into 2025-26. They’ll return the bulk of their core which earned them the No. 1 overall seed this past NCAA Tournament. Additionally, they will add Charlisse Leger-Walker, Sienna Betts and Lena Bilic. While losing Dugalic and Barker, the additions of Betts and Bilic should solidify their frontcourt, along with Timea Gardiner. The addition of Leger-Walker should help them get Kiki Rice more off the ball, while moving Londyn Jones into a reserve role. This should be a premier destination for anyone in the transfer portal as well, especially with a trio of UCLA freshmen hitting the portal, creating a few open scholarship roster spots. 

Texas Longhorns

(+700, FanDuel Sportsbook)

Key Additions: Aaliyah Crump (ESPN100 No. 5)
Key Subtractions: Taylor Jones, Shay Holle
Projected Starting Lineup: Rori Harmon, Laila Phelia, Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda, Madison Booker, Kyla Oldacre

The difference between Texas being the No. 2 team and perhaps No. 5 (at least for me) could ride on Rori Harmon’s decision to return or pursue her professional career. As of this writing, the deadline to enter the WNBA Draft has passed, so all signs point to Harmon returning to the Longhorns. While they will lose two starters in Taylor Jones and Shay Holle, Kyla Oldacre proved she is more than capable of taking on a starting role at the center position, while Laila Phelia should head into next season at full health, taking over Shay Holle’s starting two guard role. With Jordan Lee and Aaliyah Moore as depth options, as well as whoever they may bring in through the transfer portal, Texas should be expected to return to the Final Four, but they desperately need to improve their perimeter options.

Value

Oklahoma Sooners

(+4000, FanDuel Sportsbook)

Key Additions: Aaliyah Chavez (ESPN100 No. 1), Keziah Lofton (ESPN100 No. 50)
Key Subtractions: Skylar Vann, Liz Scott, Reyna Scott, Nevaeh Tot, Lexy Keys
Projected Starting Lineup: Aaliyah Chavez, Payton Verhulst, Zya Vann, Sahara Williams, Raegan Beers

March 25, Aaliyah Chavez committed to Oklahoma. At that moment, I zeroed in on the Sooners as a potential value bet in the 2025-26 futures market. With Payton Verhulst, Zya Vann, Sahara Williams and Raegan Beers all returning, the Sooners will return four of their top five scorers while adding an elite point guard to operate what should be an incredibly fun Oklahoma offense. Let’s not forget, Oklahoma held a four-point halftime lead against UConn in the Sweet 16 before self-destructing in the second half. I’ll be interested to see if Oklahoma can add anyone through the portal, whether it’s depth or someone who could supplant one of their projected starters, but currently, the Chavez, Beers, Verhulst big three could be a serious core, while Williams and Vann should both continue to improve as well. Right now, South Carolina remains atop the SEC, but Oklahoma is right there with Texas for the number two spot in the toughest conference in the nation and overall, I have them as the No. 5 team in the nation, and their ceiling is significant if Chavez makes the immediate impact most are expecting.

Maryland Terrapins

(+30000, ESPN)

Key Additions: Yarden Garzon, Gracie Merkle, Rainey Welson (ESPN100 No. 34)
Key Subtractions: Shyanne Sellers, Sarah Te-Biasu, Allie Kubek, Mir McLean
Projected Starting Lineup: Bri McDaniel, Kaylene Smikle, Yarden Garzon, Saylor Poffenbarger, Gracie Merkle

It has been 10 years since Maryland reached the Final Four, but Brenda Frese might be building something special in College Park. While she will lose Shyanne Sellers and Allie Kubek, she has already added Yarden Garzon and Gracie Merkle to effectively replace that tandem in her starting lineup. Bri McDaniel will also return from a torn ACL, which shut her season down in January. I would love to see this Maryland team add one of Cotie McMahon, Gianna Kneepkens, Ta’Mia Scott or Serah Williams, which would give them six really strong rotational pieces to utilize. While this roster doesn’t have that one special elite talent, they have several strong pieces. You could do a lot worse at 300/1 on a Maryland team that is currently my number two team in the Big 10 behind UCLA.

NCAA Champion Prediction

UCLA Bruins (+700, FanDuel)