It has been three weeks since the South Carolina Gamecocks were crowned as NCAA champions, and a lot has already happened in that interim.

Transfers — like South Carolina’s Saniya Rivers and Maryland’s Ashley Owusu and Angel Reese — are going to change the landscape of college basketball next season. Players coming back for fifth seasons and injuries have the potential to do the same. In other words, there is a lot we don’t know about what the 2022-23 season will look like. But it’s still fun to speculate.

If play started today, here’s what the JWS Top 25 would look like.

1. South Carolina

Destanni Henderson was drafted by the Fever, but the rest of South Carolina’s starting five will return, including National Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year Aliyah Boston. The Gamecocks also have 6-foot-7 standout Kamilla Cardoso coming back for her junior season.

That’s more than enough to put the defending champions at No. 1, but that’s not all they have. Raven Johnson, the No. 2 recruit in 2021, will return after missing almost all of last season with a knee injury, and classmates Bree Hall and Sania Feagin will be ready to take on bigger roles.

2. Stanford

The Cardinal are losing a lot in Lexie Hull, Lacie Hull and Anna Wilson, but they retain Haley Jones and Cameron Brink — one of the best guard and post duos in the country. With shooters like Hannah Jump and Ashton Prechtel around them, plus Fran Belibi as another post option, the Cardinal will be more than fine. And the top-rated freshman in the country, 6-7 Lauren Betts, will be ready to contribute right away.

3. UConn

The Huskies lose Olivia Nelson-Ododa and Christyn Williams, two key pieces of their run to the national championship game, but 2020-21 National Player of the Year Paige Bueckers is back and, more importantly, healthy. So is Azzi Fudd.

UConn isn’t a team that ever worries about reloading, welcoming in two top-10 freshmen next fall in No. 4 recruit Ayanna Patterson and No. 5 Isuneh Brady.

4. Iowa

Creighton put a damper on an otherwise stellar end-of-the-season run for the Hawkeyes. Iowa won its last seven games prior to the NCAA Tournament, knocking off teams like Michigan and Indiana to win the Big 10 title. Caitlin Clarke is back, of course, but so are the rest of those Hawkeyes. When Monika Czinano announced she was returning for another year, Iowa instantly put itself in the national title conversation.

5. Iowa State

Here’s another team that’s retaining the bulk of its roster and benefiting from extra eligibility. Ashley Joens isn’t hanging up her Cyclones jersey just yet, which gives this team an instant bump. Joining her are an excellent point guard in Emily Ryan and another solid perimeter player and scorer in Lexi Donarski.

6. Texas

Led by freshman Rori Harmon, the Longhorns played a suffocating, up-tempo style that made them a team nobody wanted to face in March. Harmon will be even better this season, and so will fellow rising sophomore Aaliyah Moore. Senior Aliyah Mathuru will continue to contribute on both ends of the floor, and the ever-annoying Longhorns defense will be just as pesky in 2022-23.

7. North Carolina

I was so impressed by this UNC squad in March. Deja Kelly and Alyssa Utsby played with poise despite being sophomores, and the two will be even more experienced next season. They are a great starting point for the Tar Heels. Kennedy Todd-Williams also started every game as a sophomore, and 6-3 guard/forward Destiny Adams has star potential beyond her freshman season.

8. Ohio State

Jacy Sheldon and Taylor Mikesell proved themselves to be one of the nation’s top backcourt duos during Ohio State’s Sweet 16 run. With those two back, the Buckeyes will be tough once again. Combining them with post player and third-leading scorer Rebeka Mikulasikova should make Ohio State a force in the Big 10 once more.

9. Notre Dame

Olivia Miles led the Fighting Irish to the Sweet 16, where they nearly knocked off No. 1 seed NC State. That experience will be vital for Notre Dame as it looks to build on last season. Sonia Citron got better and better as the year went on, and Dara Mabrey is also returning, meaning four of five starters will be back for a talented Irish squad.

10. Louisville

Emily Engstler’s departure for the WNBA will be the biggest loss for the Cardinals. But Hailey Van Lith and Olivia Cochran, now entering their junior seasons, proved themselves to be a dynamic guard/post duo last season. Payton Verhulst played limited minutes as a freshman, but the former five-star recruit is poised to break out as a strong partner for Van Lith in the backcourt.

11. Tennessee

Rae Burrell may have moved on to the WNBA, but a healthy Jordan Horston and all-time blocks leader Tamari Key make for a solid foundation to build around. Coach Kellie Harper hasn’t wasted any time finding players to add to the roster: Mississippi State transfer Rickea Jackson and former Minnesota guard Jasmine Powell should both contribute right away.

12. Virginia Tech

With leading scorer and rebounder Elizabeth Kitley entering her senior year, and third-leading scorer Georgia Amoore ready to play an even bigger role, the Hokies are in good shape. Kayana Traylor and Cayla King provide them with two other solid scoring options.

13. Arizona

Get used to seeing Arizona in the top 25. Adia Barnes is bringing in a great recruiting class led by two five-stars, forward Maya Nnaji and guard Paris Clark. That young talent coupled with experienced returners Cate Reese, Shaina Pellington and Bendu Yeaney make the Wildcats a Pac-12 frontrunner once again.

14. Creighton

I slept on the Bluejays last season, and I’m not about to make the same mistake. Lauren Jensen, Morgan Maly, Molly Mogensen and Emma Ronsiek are all entering their junior years, and Carly Bachelor will be a senior. That group includes all four of Creighton’s top scorers and the sixth, allowing the Bluejays to continue their dominant, sharp-shooting style of play.

15. Indiana

It’s easy to look at what Indiana lost — Ali Patberg, Aleksa Gulbe and Nicole Cardaño-Hillary — and think this team will falter. But the Hoosiers retain top two scorers in Grace Berger and Mackenzie Holmes and key bench contributor Chloe Moore-McNeil, who blossomed at the end of the season. Oregon transfer Sydney Parrish rounds out the roster, making IU a solid team once more.

16. Kansas State

The Wildcats return their starting five, including their leading scorer and rebounder, 6-6 Ayoka Lee. Three other starters — Serena Sundell, Brylee Glenn and Jaelyn Glenn — also all return. They showed their potential last season, but also their youth. This time, the trio will have more confidence and experience.

17. NC State

Standout post player and Seattle Storm draft pick Elissa Cunane was the focal point of NC State’s offense in 2021-22. Now, you can expect the Wolfpack to be more guard-oriented. Diamond Johnson and Jakia Brown-Turner were NC State’s second- and third-leading scorers, giving the team a great base for the upcoming season.

18. Oklahoma

Ana Llanusa is coming back from injury, while leading scorer Madi Williams and 3-point leader Taylor Robertson will play fifth years. The Sooners also have plenty of role players to work with, as nine players started at various times throughout the past season.

19. Princeton

Losing leading scorer Abby Meyers is a big blow for the Tigers, but second- and third-scoring leaders Julia Cunningham and Kaitlyn Chen will be back. They were key to Princeton’s 25-5 record and upset of Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament. Grace Stone and Ellie Mitchell are also solid pieces to the Princeton puzzle, capable of averaging double digits on any given night.

20. Utah

The Utes dominated Arkansas in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, giving us a glimpse of what’s to come. Led by sophomore Kennedy McQueen’s 20 points and freshman Gianna Kneepkens’ 16 in that contest, the Utes showcased their young talent on a big stage. Jenna Johnson (freshman) and Kelsey Rees (sophomore) each scored in double figures as well.

21. Kansas

The Jayhawks were a surprise success story last season, making it to the Big 12 championship game and winning in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. This time, there are expectations. Top scorers Holly Kersgieter and Zakiyah Franklin will lead the way.

22. Gonzaga

The Zags topped Nebraska in the NCAA Tournament and then showed flashes in an 11-point loss to No. 1 seed Louisville. Kayleigh and Kaylynne Truong will be back to lead the squad, but GU fans should be most excited about rising sophomore Bree Salenbien. She didn’t play to end the year due to a knee injury, but the Michigan native is GU’s best prospect in history, and she is poised for a breakout season.

23. UCLA

The Bruins had a disappointing season that ended with an loss in the NIT semifinals, but Charisma Osborne was a bright spot. She will lead UCLA and get help from two talented freshmen — No. 2 recruit Kiki Rice and No. 19 Gabriela Jaquez. It might take time for them to get their footing, but the Bruins should have enough to make some noise later in the season.

24. Nebraska

Another team that had surprising success, Nebraska was upset-minded throughout the Big 10 season. The Huskers return their top eight scorers, bumping them from an upset-type team to a legitimate contender.

25. UNLV

This is a young team that gave Arizona all it could handle in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. That experience will help a talented Rebels squad that returns its top three scorers. Loaded with athleticism, UNLV will be the favorite in the Mountain West.

Eden Laase is a contributing writer at Just Women’s Sports. She previously ran her own high school sports website in Michigan after covering college hockey and interning at Sports Illustrated. Follow her on Twitter @eden_laase.

The USA women's hockey team came out on top over the weekend, kicking off the four-game 2025 Rivalry Series against Canada by dominating their northern neighbors, outscoring them by an impressive 10-2 margin across the pair's first two games.

US forward Abbey Murphy emerged as a series star, scoring a natural hat trick in the team's 4-1 win in Cleveland on Thursday — the first three-goal turn by a USA player against Canada since team captain Hilary Knight did so at the 2023 IIHF Women's World Championship.

"I told [Murphy], 'You set the bar pretty high,'" said Knight, who added her own hat trick to the mix in Saturday's 6-1 victory in Buffalo.

"I love how we showed up," the 36-year-old continued. "We've been working like dogs since August and to get rewarded for our work, and see situations that we need to work on."

Notably, while the USA brought their entire 2025 world championship-winning roster to the first two Rivalry Series games, Canada chose to evaluate some fresh faces while resting a number of standout veterans, including their No. 1 goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens — a fact that should temper the sting of adding two big losses to their now four-game skid against the US.

With women's hockey taking over Milan at the 2026 Winter Olympics in February, the last two 2025 Rivalry Series matchups will more likely see both sides testing their final rosters for Italy.

How to watch the final games in the 2025 Rivalry Series

Canada will welcome the USA for the last two matchups in the 2025 Rivalry Series, with the puck dropping in Edmonton, Alberta, at 9 PM ET for both the December 10th and 13th clashes.

Both games will air live on the NHL Network.

The LPGA is bringing star power to Florida this week, as a wealth of women's golf talent — and one basketball superstar — tee off at the 2025 edition of The ANNIKA.

Kicking off the event on Wednesday was the annual Pro-Am, with Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark headlining the field for the second straight year.

World No. 2 golfer Nelly Korda once again joined Clark through her first nine holes, as Fever teammates Sophie Cunningham and Lexie Hull served as guest caddies.

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The four-day professional tournament will then tee off on Thursday, though current world No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul will not be in attendance for the second year in a row.

Korda, however, will lead the charge to both defend her 2024 title and secure her first win of the 2025 LPGA season — as well as add to her full trio of trophies collected at The ANNIKA.

Four other Top-10 players will look to upend Korda's back-to-back bid, including No. 3 Miyu Yamashita, No. 6 Charley Hull, No. 9 Mao Saigo, and No. 10 Lottie Woad.

With the 2025 CMA Group Tour Championship capping the LPGA season later this month, The ANNIKA will also see golfers on the bubble — like US stars Rose Zhang and 2023 champion Lilia Vu — try to snag enough points to make the end-of-year tournament's final 60-player cut.

How to watch The ANNIKA 2025 LPGA tournament

Coverage of the fifth edition of The ANNIKA continues through Sunday, airing live on the Golf Channel.

The No. 3 UCLA Bruins rose to the occasion on Monday, looking like 2025/26 NCAA basketball championship contenders as they took down the No. 6 Oklahoma Sooners 73-59 in Sacramento.

Utah transfer Gianna Kneepkens made the difference for the Bruins, leading all scorers with 20 points while opposing defenses limited both UCLA center Lauren Betts and Oklahoma big Raegan Beers to single digits.

Bruins forward Angela Dugalić also put up a standout performance, coming off the bench to score 16 points and snag 15 rebounds on Monday.

"There are so many weapons that I feel like it's hard for the defense to choose what to take away," Kneepkens said ahead of Monday's matchup. "What makes this team special is that any night could be someone's night."

Monday's clash with UCLA also served as the national broadcast debut of Oklahoma freshman guard Aaliyah Chavez, with the No. 1 high school basketball recruit seeing her first Top 10 NCAA matchup as a Sooner.

Chavez had a slow start against the experienced Bruins, registering 11 points, three assists, and two rebounds across her 32 minutes on the court.

How to watch UCLA basketball this week

The heat continues for No. 3 UCLA on Thursday, when the Bruins will host the No. 11 North Carolina Tar Heels at 9 PM ET, airing live on ESPN.

Newly formed offseason league Project B is stocking up, with Phoenix Mercury star forward Alyssa Thomas becoming the second big-name WNBA player to sign with the overseas venture ahead of its anticipated November 2026 debut.

Thomas follows Seattle Storm forward Nneka Ogwumike in joining Project B, a traveling tournament-style competition reportedly offering players significant pay raises into the seven- and even eight-figure echelon — as well as equity stakes in the league.

Thomas will still feature in the 2026 season of Unrivaled 3×3 Basketball this January, with the launch of Project B expected to conflict with Unrivaled's third season in 2027.

With salaries reportedly topping both Unrivaled and the WNBA, Project B's funding sources came into question after Ogwumike's announcement last week.

In February, The Financial Times named Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund as a league investor, though Project B co-founder Grady Burnett denied those claims to Front Office Sports last week.

However, the league is working with event partner Sela, a known subsidiary of the Saudi Public Investment Fund, though Burnett was quick to qualify that "Sela is one event partner that we pay money to. We do not have any dollars coming from them."

With the first season of Project B set to field 66 players, expect more high-profile signings to continue as the new venture adds to the increasingly crowded WNBA offseason space.