Top NCAA Women’s Basketball Players to Watch in 2024

As the potential 2024 WNBA draft class garners attention, with players like Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, and Angel Reese in the spotlight, there are several other talented players to keep an eye on this season.

Don’t miss the NCAA women’s basketball regular season opener between South Carolina and Notre Dame – streaming on TSN.ca and the TSN App, live Monday at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT.

From promising rookies to skilled transfers and emerging stars, here are 10 players who have the potential to make a big impact this season.

Aneesah Morrow – LSU

After an impressive sophomore season at DePaul, Morrow transferred to LSU, the defending NCAA champions. She averaged 25.7 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game with the Blue Demons.

Morrow, named USBWA and WBCA freshman of the year in 2022, joins fellow high-profile transfer Hailey Van Lith at LSU, who averaged 19.7 points as a junior at Louisville.

“LSU won their championship in the transfer portal last year and it seems like they’re going to win their championship with the transfer portal again, on top of having the No. 1 overall recruiting class as well,” said Kia Nurse.

Azzi Fudd – UConn

Fudd, the former No. 1 recruit of the 2021 class, faced injuries in the previous season but showed promise with an average of 15.1 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.9 assists as a sophomore. With the return of Paige Bueckers, UConn has high expectations.

“A big piece of UConn’s game and the way they run their offense is very based on spreading the ball around and finding the best open shot,” said Kia Nurse.

Lauren Betts – UCLA

The top recruit in the 2022 class, Betts transferred from Stanford to UCLA for her sophomore season. She averaged 5.9 points and 3.5 rebounds in limited playing time with the Cardinal. Betts will join forces with Kiki Rice and Charisma Osborne at UCLA.

“Betts played really well against Canada in the AmeriCup,” said Kia Nurse. “Her alongside Kiki Rice at UCLA I think will be a good 1-2 punch for them.”

Kiki Rice – UCLA

Ranked second in the 2022 class, Rice had an impressive rookie year at UCLA, averaging 11.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.0 assists. She showcased her skills with a season-high 22 points against Stanford in the Pac-12 tournament.

“There’s some flair to Rice’s game. There’s a cadence to it, an understanding, a high basketball IQ,” said Kia Nurse.

Shayeann Day-Wilson – Miami

As part of a strong Canadian contingent at Miami, Day-Wilson seeks a fresh start after transferring from Duke. She had a solid rookie season but saw her numbers decline in her sophomore year.

“Now she transfers, she reunites with her high school teammates, and she gets a fresh look on college basketball at Miami,” said Tamika Nurse.

JuJu Watkins – USC

The No. 1 recruit in the 2023 class, Watkins will make her NCAA debut with a rebuilding USC squad. She had an impressive high school career, earning accolades like the Gatorade National Player of the Year.

“She’s going to be asked to do a lot, she’s going to have to score a lot to help them out in a tough conference,” said Tamika Nurse.

Qadence Samuels – UConn

Samuels, a rookie making her NCAA debut, made a strong impression during UConn’s European tour. Despite being on a stacked UConn squad, she has the opportunity to carve out a role for herself.

“She’s really good on defense and has a lot of room for development,” said Tamika Nurse. “I think she can really prosper in that structure.”

Te-Hina PaoPao – South Carolina

PaoPao transferred from Oregon to South Carolina for her senior year. As South Carolina enters a new era without Aliyah Boston, PaoPao brings her scoring ability and game management skills to the team.

“Point guards tend to thrive under Dawn Staley, obviously part from her pedigree as a player, as a point guard,” said Kia Nurse.

Georgia Amoore and Elizabeth Kitley – Virginia Tech

The duo of Georgia Amoore and Elizabeth Kitley played key roles in Virginia Tech’s 2023 Final Four run. Amoore had a breakout junior year, while Kitley showcased dominance as a traditional center.

“Amoore turned a lot of heads last year as a scoring point guard with a deep three-point threat,” said Kia Nurse. “There’s still room for a traditional center like Kitley in the WNBA.”