College basketball is 25 days away. Count down to the new season with 25 storylines – presented in no particular order – that deserve our attention in 2022-23.

1. Aliyah Boston vs. Caitlin Clark, part 2

After leading her team to a national title, Boston will be the front-runner for the gamut of Player of the Year awards once again this season. But Clark does things on the basketball court that no one else can — so if Iowa establishes itself as a legitimate contender, she could challenge Boston for the end-of-year honors. Whatever happens, these two players are worth watching anytime they play.

2. Connecticut without Paige Bueckers

When Bueckers tore her ACL during a pickup game in August, the complexion of UConn’s season changed dramatically. The star guard will miss the entire 2022-23 campaign, which means UConn’s success is up in the air. The Huskies have plenty of returning talent – like Azzi Fudd, Dorka Juhasz, Aaliyah Edwards and Caroline Ducharme – and two top recruits in Ice Brady and Ayanna Patterson, but no one has the talent and experience of Bueckers.

3. Maryland’s star duo transfers

Maryland entered last season with a ton of potential but never quite reached it, eventually losing to Stanford in the Sweet 16. Then, after the season, the Terrapins’ two best players in Ashley Owusu and Angel Reese announced their intentions to transfer.

This season’s team will look vastly different from last year’s. Owusu and Reese are out, and two other top transfers, Lavender Briggs (from Florida) and Abby Meyers (from Princeton) are in. Plus, Diamond Miller returns, so despite a new look, this should still be a talented Terps squad.

4. LSU and controversy around coach Kim Mulkey

The Tigers are chock-full of talent, from Maryland transfer Reese to returner Alexis Morris to newcomer Flau’Jae Johnson. But the major questions surrounding this team are happening off the court. Mulkey’s refusal to speak about her former player Brittney Griner’s detainment in Russia has been the subject of headlines and heated debate. How the Tigers deal with the outside noise will be interesting to watch.

5. 2021-22 tournament darlings

Who could forget the Lauren Jensen shot for Creighton that knocked Iowa out of the bracket? Then there was Princeton sending Kentucky packing in the first round, and South Dakota using its veteran squad to advance to the Elite Eight. South Dakota will likely be in rebuild mode after graduating their top three scorers and losing their fourth to the transfer portal, but Creighton and Princeton both return several key pieces. How will they fair this season after their tournament success?

6. Ashley Owusu and Elizabeth Kitley at Virginia Tech

The Hokies hung out in the bottom part of the top 25 last season, but with Owusu and her incredible playmaking skills transferring in from Maryland, they should have much more success this time around.

The guard alone is enough to elevate a team, but when coupled with a talented post in 6-foot-6 Kitley, watch out. Virginia Tech now has one of the top guard-and-post combos in the country. Watching them on the court together should be a blast.

7. South Carolina’s quest for a repeat

The Gamecocks graduated Destanni Henderson, who now plays for the Indiana Fever, but return their other four starters – Boston, Victaria Saxton, Brea Beal and Zia Cooke – as well as key bench pieces in Kamilla Cardoso, Laeticia Amihere, Bree Hall and Raven Johnson, who is returning from injury. That’s a lot of talent with a lot of experience, making South Carolina’s quest to repeat as champion more than possible.

8. The Texas backcourt

Texas already had one of the best point guards in the country in rising sophomore Rori Harmon, who led the Longhorns to the Elite Eight. During the offseason they added another elite guard, Shaylee Gonzales. The transfer from BYU averaged 18 points, 4.5 assists and 5.9 rebounds a game for the Cougars during her WCC player of the year campaign. She and Harmon are poised to be one of the best guard duos in the country, and Gonzales is the kind of player that can take Texas to even greater heights.

9. The continued development of Cameron Brink

Brink really hit her stride during the 2020-21 NCAA tournament, helping Stanford on its run to the national title. As a freshman, she averaged 9.9 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game. As a sophomore, those numbers increased to 13.5 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game. Over the last two years Brink has gotten better at staying on the court – foul trouble has been a concern in the past – and now, as a junior, she is ready to take over the college basketball scene.

10. No. 1 recruit Lauren Betts

Stanford has an embarrassment of riches this season, starting at the post position. The top recruit in the country, 6-foot-7 Betts is already polished enough to play right away. Her strength, post moves and ability to finish around – or through – multiple defenders are skills any team would love to have. She’s ready to play big minutes for Stanford.

The question is, with so much talent, how much time will Betts get? With Brink’s ability to extend the floor, Stanford could play both of them at the same time, which would mean two elite bigs partnering up and intimidating opponents.

11. UCLA’s young talent

The Bruins have four top-50 freshmen on their roster this season: No. 2 Kiki Rice, No. 19 Gabriela Jaquez, No. 22 Londyn Jones and No. 49 Christeen Iwuala. Top scorer Charisma Osborne is returning with her 16.14 points per game, but after her a lot of UCLA’s success this season will depend on how well those youngsters develop throughout the year.

12. Potential rise of HBCUs

The level of competition in college basketball has never been deeper, and players are realizing that they can have success at a variety of schools, not just established programs like UConn or Baylor. HBCUs are already starting to benefit from this.

No. 14 seed Jackson State nearly knocked off LSU in the first round of the NCAA tournament last season, and star Ameshya Williams-Holliday became the first HBCU player in 20 years to be selected in the WNBA draft. In the offseason, former five star recruit Angel Jackson transferred from USC to join the Tigers. Jackson State is making a name for itself, and other HBCUs could follow.

13. Is Iowa legit?

Iowa started last season ranked in the top 10 before some unexpected losses dropped them to the bottom of the poll. Eventually the Hawkeyes battled back, only to be upset by No. 10 seed Creighton in the second round of the tournament. With Monika Czinano coming back for another season and Clark at the point, Iowa has all the tools to make a deep tournament run. But after last season’s disappointment, it’s fair to wonder if the Hawkeyes will underperform again.

14. One more year of Ashley Joens

Joens surprised many when she announced her intention to come back for a fifth year. The two-time Cheryl Miller Award winner and Iowa State’s all-time leading scorer, Joens was a projected first-round draft pick, and she’s going to be just as good this time around. With her near double-double average of 20.3 points and 9.5 rebounds per game, Cyclones supporters and college basketball fans alike are lucky to watch Joens play one more season for Iowa State.

15. Arizona’s recruiting prowess

After Arizona’s run to the championship game two seasons ago, the question was whether or not the Wildcats had staying power as a program. Adia Barnes has proven herself as a skilled coach and recruiter, and the players she’s landed recently prove that Arizona has cemented itself on the national scene.

This year she signed the No. 9 freshman in the country in Maya Nnaji, No. 21 recruit Paris Clark, No. 31 Kailyn Gilbert and No. 85 Lemyah Hylton. Next season’s recruiting class is even more impressive, with four five stars committing to play for Barnes and the Wildcats.

16. UNC-Duke rivalry

Deja Kelly and Alyssa Ustby led North Carolina to the Sweet 16 last year, where the Tar Heels challenged eventual champion South Carolina, losing by eight points. They are both back for their junior seasons, giving UNC a great base for another solid season.

Meanwhile, Duke coach Kara Lawson continues to hit the transfer market hard, signing Kennedy Brown and Taya Corosdale from Oregon State, Mia Heide from Tulane and Reigan Richardson from Georgia. The Blue Devils also return top scorers Shayeann Day-Wilson and Celeste Taylor.

Both these teams should be competitive this season, meaning the Tar Heel-Blue Devil rivalry will be in full force.

17. Tennessee on the rise

The Vols had a plethora of talent last season but never quite put it all together, falling to Louisville in the Sweet 16. During the offseason, coach Kellie Harper shopped the transfer portal and landed three of the country’s top transfers in Rickea Jackson (Mississippi State), Jasmine Franklin (Missouri State) and Jasmine Powell (Minnesota). Now the question is: How will those new additions mesh with returning talent like Tamari Key and Jordan Horston?

18. Hailey Van Lith and Olivia Cochran’s junior seasons

Point guard Van Lith and forward Cochran are entering their junior years after successful sophomore campaigns at Louisville, including a run to the Final Four. With Emily Engstler and Kianna Smith graduating, it will be up to Van Lith and Cochran to lead the Cardinals.

Van Lith led the team in scoring last season with 14.4 points per game, and Cochran averaged 8.6 points and 5.1 rebounds. She’s poised for a breakout season, and with Van Lith at her side, the duo have the potential to be one of the top guard-post combinations in the country.

19. Oregon after underperforming

After a long season of not living up to its potential, Oregon was upset in the first-round of the NCAA tournament, losing to No. 12 seed Belmont 73-70. The Ducks return two key pieces in 6-foot-7 Sedona Prince and point guard Te-Hina Paopao. Coach Kelly Graves also added two five-star recruits in Chance Gray and Grace VanSlooten. The Ducks have talent once again, and fans in Eugene will be expecting success after last season’s disappointment.

20. Niele Ivey in her third season

In Ivey’s second season at the helm, the Fighting Irish narrowly missed the Elite Eight after losing by just three points to NC State. Notre Dame finished third in the ACC with a 24-9 record, building on Ivey’s first season where the Fighting Irish went 10-10 in a shortened season, finishing sixth. Ivey clearly knows what she’s doing, and with guards Olivia Miles and Sonia Citron entering their sophomore seasons and leading the way, Notre Dame should be even better this year.

21. Ayoka Lee’s future

Kansas State’s star post had knee surgery back in August, meaning she will be out for the entire 2022-23 season. Lee made headlines last season when she scored an NCAA-record 61 points against Oklahoma. Lee won’t be back for the Wildcats this year, but we will find out whether or not she will return for another season or choose to enter the WNBA draft.

22. Fringe teams looking to break out

Last season teams like Gonzaga, Nebraska and UNLV spent most of the year fighting to break into the top 25 and then the NCAA tournament. These are three of my favorites to break into the top half of the rankings this year, as they all have experience and talent — but as the season progresses, other surprise candidates will emerge, which is always a super fun part of the college basketball season.

23. Madness gets madder

March Madness lived up to its name last year, with eight double-digit seeds winning in the first round, and No. 10 Creighton and No. 12 South Dakota making the Elite Eight. It was the most chaotic tournament in history, and with the increased levels of competition year after year, this season’s tournament should be even better. It’s months away, but I’m already excited.

24. Awesome nonconference matchups

If you normally wait until March to tune into college basketball, it’s time to change your ways. This season some of the best matchups of the season will take place during nonconference play in November. So, which game is at the top of the list? South Carolina takes on Stanford on Nov. 20, which has the potential to be the best pre-tournament game of the season.

25. Title game on ABC

This may not be the most interesting storyline, but it’s definitely important to know. After years of being broadcast on ESPN, ABC will show the national championship game this season. So when it’s time to watch all these storylines officially come to an end, tune into ABC for the final game of what should be a thrilling season.

UCLA-bound high school senior Sienna Betts led the West team to a decisive 104-82 victory over the East in the McDonald's All-American Girls Game held last night at New York's Barclays Center.

The 6'4" forward contributed 16 points, seven rebounds, and two assists, earning MVP honors for her performance. ​

Betts is currently the class of 2025's No. 2 overall recruit. Only Texas-based point guard Aaliyah Chavez, who recently committed to the Oklahoma Sooners, ranks above her.

Betts to join sister Lauren Betts at UCLA next year

Betts's performance is a good indicator of her potential impact at UCLA next year. There, she'll join forces with her sister Lauren Betts, the senior currently leading the Bruins to this season's NCAA Final Four after transferring in from Stanford.

The Betts sisters' arrival is highly anticipated, with Lauren opting to forgo the 2025 WNBA Draft in order to play out her final year of college eligibility alongside her little sister.

“For me, it [committing to UCLA] was a lot about how the coaches care about you off the court, and the coaches at UCLA, they really care about your mental health,” Betts told The Flagler College Gargoyle after committing last year. “Every team that I’ve ever been on, we’ve been a family… So, they really cared about that part of basketball for me, and they showed me that on my visits and when I called to talk to them.”

Betts in good company as McDonald's All-American Game MVP

In Brooklyn, Betts showcased her ability among the sport's best high school talent. Recent McDonald's All-American MVPs have all gone onto fuel prominent NCAA programs, including top-ranked recruits UConn's Sarah Strong, South Carolina's Joyce Edwards, USC's JuJu Watkins, Notre Dame's Hannah Hidalgo, and UCLA's own Kiki Rice and Gabriela Jaquez.

The McDonald's All-American Game has a storied history of highlighting promising players, with past MVPs subsequently laying the foundation for future superstars.

Less than a day after Notre Dame’s Olivia Miles shocked the women’s basketball world by opting to enter the transfer portal rather than declare for the 2025 WNBA Draft, the Irish’s transfer fall-out has continued.

Sophomore guard Emma Risch and freshman forward Kate Koval have also entered the portal, with Koval — who started in 10 games this season — leading the Irish in blocks.

Between transfer moves and graduating seniors, sophomore guard Hannah Hidalgo remains Notre Dame’s only returning starter — a sharp turn for an Irish squad ranked No. 1 in the country just six weeks ago.

Other top NCAA programs see transfer portal movement

Notre Dame isn’t the only top-tier program experiencing a roster shakeup after exiting the 2025 NCAA tournament.

LSU sophomore forward Sa'myah Smith entered the transfer portal after the Tigers’ season ended in Sunday’s Elite Eight. USC sophomore guard Aaliyah Gayles subsequently followed suit after the Trojans fell to UConn on Monday.

Schools like TCU have become national contenders via the transfer portal, with the Horned Frogs recruiting both Hailey Van Lith and Sedona Prince ahead of their first-ever Elite Eight run. Former Kentucky center Clara Silva is the latest transfer to commit to TCU, as the team comes off their best tournament finish in school history.

The modern era of NCAA roster-building is upon us, with top players taking the reigns as ambitious teams scramble to fill offseason gaps.

The NWSL is looking to sign a new Sunday night TV deal, according to a Sports Business Journal report published this week.

The league is targeting a two-year deal starting in 2026, with both new and existing TV partners interested in picking up additional NWSL games.

NWSL looks to build on multimillion dollar TV deal

The NWSL is currently two years into a four-year, $240 million TV partnership with ESPN, Prime, ION, and CBS Sports. However, the current contract doesn’t cover the entire schedule. And with league expansion planned for 2026, even more inventory is on the way.

SBJ notes that the market for this season’s lineup has been strong. In fact, all four media partners have already sold out all their 2025 advertising slots.

“You cannot find a place to spend right now,” IMG’s Hillary Mandel said at a recent Business of Soccer event hosted by SBJ. “We know what’s motivating interest is the fact that there’s no place to invest. That’s a phenomenal story in such a short period of time."

ESPN spotlighted for TV network-owned Sunday lineup

ESPN could be a prime candidate for a Sunday package, with the network set to move on from Sunday Night Baseball after the 2025 MLB season.

The NWSL has traditionally leaned into network-owned nights, with Prime airing Friday night matchups and ION running Saturday double-headers.

The NWSL’s most recent contract subsequently added serious value to the league. And the returns have networks coming back for more, setting up a potential bidding war and easing growing pains as new teams join the fold.

UCLA will hit the court for their first-ever NCAA Final Four on Friday, but as they extend the most successful season in program history, the Bruins have looked anything but green.

“We said talent was going to be our floor,” UCLA head coach Cori Close said after Sunday’s Elite Eight win over LSU. “Our character, our chemistry, our habits were going to be our ceiling.”

With just two losses on the season, UCLA’s status as a first-rate NCAA title contender has actually been years in the making.

Roster-building paves the way to the Final Four

In 2022, the Bruins signed the No. 1 recruiting class in the country, stacking their roster with top high school standouts Gabriela Jaquez, Kiki Rice, and Londynn Jones.

UCLA then upped their game even further last year, when 2022 No. 1 overall recruit Lauren Betts transferred in from Stanford — a move that fueled the Bruins all the way to the Sweet 16 with the promise of even greater success.

“Everyone came to UCLA for this reason: to do something we haven't done in a really long time,” Jaquez said on Sunday. “[I’m] just really proud of my teammates, the staff, the coaches, just continuing to get better every day and grow from each season prior.

With Lauren Betts at center, UCLA leans on depth

As one of the most dominant post players in college basketball, Betts is at the literal center of every UCLA performance. But that doesn’t mean the Bruins lack the depth it takes to handle a team like Final Four opponent UConn.

“When we have a deep team, I don’t have to be in the game at all times,” Betts said. “I have a team full of players who are just amazing and talented in their own right, and they put in the work.”

All in all, UCLA is coming into their own after developing much of its squad from the ground-up. Now it's time to make the case that patient roster-building can pay off on NCAA basketball’s biggest stage.