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 below 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 sport final season.
On the opposite aspect, the Sixteenth-ranked Bears misplaced their main scorer from final season, middle Aaronette Vonleh (14.9 PPG), to the WNBA’s Dallas Wings, however have senior Darianna Littlepage-Buggs (13.8 PPG, 10 RPG) again for one more season. Each groups need 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 Woman 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 move 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 group would go a great distance so early within the season.
The defending-champion Huskies return to the court docket for the primary time since Paige Bueckers was chosen No. 1 total by the Wings.
Contemplating guard Tajianna Roberts (12.8 PPG) is the one considered one of 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, alternatively, could possibly be even higher than final season led by sophomore ahead Sarah Robust (16.4 PPG, 8.9 RPG) and senior guard Azzi Fudd (13.6 PPG). With the addition of Wisconsin switch Serah Williams, who almost averaged a double-double (19.2 PPG, 9.8 RPG) and shot 49.3 p.c from the ground final season, this can be a tall process for Louisville out of the gate.
This can be a sneaky opening-week sport to regulate 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 gained back-to-back convention Participant of the Yr honors. Texas ought to win this one, however this will likely be a superb take a look at to see the place a gifted Richmond group 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 could possibly be the extra favorable matchup of the 2, although, particularly with the harm to Watkins and a few key departures from final season on this Trojans group.
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