The 2026-27 women’s college basketball season is underway, and the outlook after the first two weeks of play is promising. This season seems primed for parity among the top programs — led by Black coaches such as South Carolina’s Dawn Staley, Duke’s Kara Lawson and Kentucky’s Kenny Brooks — a heated race for national player of the year, featuring UConn’s Sarah Strong, USC’s JuJu Watkins and Vanderbilt’s Mikayla Blakes, and opportunities for new faces and teams to emerge on the national stage.

Which players in the 2026 draft class will raise their stock this season? Will Staley lead the Gamecocks back to the national championship? Will Red Panda be invited back to perform at the Final Four?

Those questions will all be answered in due time. Until then, we’re handing out a mix of superlatives for the programs, Black players and coaches who should be on your radar this season.

Potential breakout player

Te’Yala Delfosse, Michigan

In her junior season, Delfosse has emerged as a potential pivotal piece for a No. 2-ranked Michigan team. A bench contributor a season ago, the guard has played herself into a starting role and has stuffed the stat sheet since entering the lineup. In a statement win over then-No. 2 UConn on Nov. 5, Delfosse had a team-high 22 points and a game-high nine rebounds. She was recently named Big Ten Player of the Week for the first time in her career. It’s valuable production for Michigan in place of the injured Mila Holloway, who is out indefinitely. Delfosse’s production in Holloway’s absence will make the Wolverines even more of a force when Holloway returns.

Underrated player

Sayvia Sellers, Washington

A senior leader for the Huskies, Sellers is one of the best guards and scorers in the country. Her game is fluid and versatile — she can beat opponents off the dribble or dial up from distance. The Alaska native has flown somewhat under the radar on Washington teams in a crowded Big Ten Conference, but the No. 16- ranked Huskies should be a postseason contender this year. Sellers, a preseason All-Big Ten selection, opened the season with her first career triple-double.

Intriguing transfer

Mia Woolfolk, Vanderbilt

Woolfolk was an impact player last season for Georgia, and the junior forward’s addition to Vanderbilt’s roster has the potential to help the Commodores move the competitive needle. Playing alongside a national player of the year candidate in Blakes will surely take some of the pressure off Woolfolk in the paint, and having a point guard as gifted as Aubrey Galvan feeding her the ball will surely open up Woolfolk’s opportunities on the floor. Her success only helps space the floor for head coach Shea Ralph and could potentially boost Blakes’ play as well. Vanderbilt’s first game against a ranked opponent is Sunday against No. 10 Iowa.

Sophomore standouts

Blanca Quiñonez, UConn

UConn is Strong’s team for the foreseeable future, but Quiñonez also carries the same magnetic level of play as her Huskies teammate. Quiñonez, who underwent shoulder surgery in the offseason, aims to build on an impressive freshman campaign that earned the forward Big East Freshman of the Year and Sixth Woman of the Year, as well as all-second team honors.

Uche Izoje, Syracuse

Izoje seemingly went a bit under the radar nationally last season, but she was one of the country’s best interior defenders as a freshman. Named ACC Rookie of the Year, Izoje averaged 15.6 points and 9.2 rebounds per game for the Orange, and her 85 blocks ranked fourth in the country. Izoje was named to the preseason All-ACC team.

Most fun backcourt trio

Louisville: Tajianna Roberts, Imari Berry, Zam Jones

The Cardinals have produced their fair share of entertaining guards, and coach Jeff Walz’s backcourt this season features a trio of impactful players who will be fun to watch. The head of the snake is preseason All-ACC selection Tajianna Roberts, who led the team in scoring a year ago. Fellow preseason All-ACC selection Imari Berry is making the most of her opportunity as a starter, and Zam Jones, a high-energy transfer from N.C. State, completes a trio that plays fast together, is defensively adept, and can efficiently knock down 3s.

Most important freshman

Jacy Abii, Notre Dame

This year’s freshman class is filled with immense talent, from highly discussed 2026 No. 1 overall prospect Saniyah Hall (USC) to underdiscussed LeeLee Bell (Oklahoma), who has had an exceptional start to her Sooners career. Abii is another player to watch.

Notre Dame head coach Niele Ivey calls her a program-changing player, and Abii has already shown a glimpse of her dynamic potential. Through three games, the McDonald’s All-American is averaging 13 points, 10.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game. Notre Dame is relying on her and fellow freshman Jenica Lewis to capitalize on AP Preseason All-American Hannah Hidalgo’s final season. Though not the most high-profile freshman in the country, Abii could be the most important to her team’s success.

Storyline to watch

South Carolina’s path to the national championship

Last season was South Carolina’s third consecutive national championship appearance and second consecutive loss, finishing on the wrong end of the title game against UCLA. The Gamecocks entered this season with a reloaded roster and as the No. 1 ranking next to their name. They began the campaign against two opponents ranked in the top 20, and currently have six players who average double figures in scoring.

With an experienced core and national championship experience, South Carolina seems to have the pieces to be playing into April again, but the race for the top spot will be tough. Michigan, UConn and the University of Southern California all appear as early deep postseason contenders — and luckily for fans, some clarity should be gleaned over the next few weeks, as many of the nation’s top programs play one another in non-conference games. First up: No. 1 South Carolina vs. No. 3 USC on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, ABC) in a matchup dubbed “The Real SC.”

Mid-major Black coaches to watch

Aqua Franklin, Lamar

For the past several seasons, Aqua Franklin has steered Lamar into contention for the Southland Conference title but has fallen short of the Big Dance. The Cardinals have posted four consecutive 20-win seasons — the longest such streak in program history — but have yet to secure a conference tournament title that would secure the program’s third NCAA tournament berth. Franklin, on track to become the winningest coach in program history in her seventh year at the helm, hopes for a breakthrough, as Lamar was picked to win the Southland Conference this season.

Winston Gandy, Grand Canyon

In just his second season at Grand Canyon — and as a head coach at all — Gandy has the Lopes in position to contend in the Mountain West. He retooled his roster in Year 2, bringing in 11 new players, including several with power-conference experience. A touted assistant under Lawson and Staley before becoming a head coach, Gandy also brought in the highest-ranked high school recruit in program history.

Coming off of a 13-19 season last year, Grand Canyon was picked second in the Mountain West preseason poll, and received first-place votes. On Monday, the Lopes upset Oregon, which beat them by 18 points last season, giving Gandy the biggest win of his tenure.