By james art 
South Carolina enters the 2024-25 season as the No. 1 team in the CBS Sports women’s college basketball power rankings after going a perfect 38-0 a year ago and winning Monday’s season opener against Michigan, 68-62. However, UConn, USC, Texas and Notre Dame should not be overlooked.
It’s exciting to think what Dawn Staley’s Gamecocks have accomplished over the past few seasons. They lost just three games in three years and won two national titles. This season they return most of their key players with the exception of Camila Cardoso who is now in the WNBA.
Cardoso’s absence will be felt, but South Carolina has some solid returners in MiLaysia Fulwiley, Te-Hina Paopao and Raven Johnson. Freshman Joyce Edwards also showed great potential with a double-double in South Carolina’s two exhibition games and 10 points in the Gamecocks’ win over Michigan.
Right behind the Gamecocks is UConn, a team with a lot of talent that has only been held back by injuries. The Huskies will begin the season without Azzi Fudd (torn ACL), Carolyn Ducharme (head/neck) and Aubrey Griffin (torn ACL), but their returns — when that happens — could help the Bueckers get a national title in what to be her final college basketball season.
On the West Coast, USC is on the rise with Lindsey Gottlieb at the helm of the program. JuJu Watkins is fresh off a historic season in which she broke the all-time scoring record for women’s college freshman basketball. Former Stanford star Kiki Iriafen now joins her, which should help the Trojans succeed in their first year in the Big Ten. The Trojans escaped upset fright against Ole Miss in a stunning 68-66 season-opening win on Monday.
Texas takes the No. 4 spot because of its impressive guard depth, especially with the return of Rory Harmon. Rounding out the top five is Notre Dame, a team that boasts one of the best backcourts in the country with Hannah Hidalgo and Olivia Miles.
Here are the official CBS Sports women’s college basketball rankings:
Women’s College Basketball Power Rankings
Top five out: Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, TCU, Stanford