Tampa, Florida – Female university basketball has been increasing in recent years, riding the wave of iconic players such as Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Paige Bueckers and Juju Watkins.
Now, with Clark and Reese in the WNBA, the Bueckers went to the League and Watkins left aside for the predictable future with a LCA injury, raises the question of who will collect the torch and continue that impulse.
There may not be a clear candidate to become the face of the game, although there is no shortage of talented players, including Lauren Betts of UCLA, the first -year student of UConn Sarah Strong and the first year student of South Carolina, Joyce Edwards. And there is more imminent on the horizon, such as the sensation of Aaliyah Chavez high school will make its university debut in Oklahoma next season.
The qualifications for the NCAA women’s tournament that lead to the game of the title on Sunday did not coincide with the record numbers last year, although they They were better than almost every two years In the history of the NCAA.
“It is a great sign that without Caitlin we are still certainly in the ascent,” said ESPN Rebecca Lobo analyst. “Hopefully, that is the same even without the power of the stars next year of Paige Bueckers and Juju. The game is in the place where it can still grow.”
The group of talents continues to strengthen, as was evident in the game’s performances for the title of Strong (24 points and 15 rebounds) and Edwards (10 points, five rebounds). As expected, both impacted the game, although UConn left with his 12th National Championship, ending a nine -year -old drought with a 82-59 Victoria About South Carolina.
“You run like this makes you feel relevant, you still have an impact. Children still respond,” said the Huskies coach, Geno Auriemma. “Our coaching staff is very, very good in what they do. And I am lucky to train the big children who want to win each other.”
Although Uconn was back at the top at the end, more teams showed this season that they could compete with the best. UCLA, who held the number 1 position in the AP survey for 14 weeks, did not have older people in his team and leaving his first Final Four Four, could go one step beyond the next season.
South Carolina will also return with a young nucleus led by Edwards and Milaysia Fulwiley.
“I am excited about how our team will look next year,” said South Carolina coach Dawn Staley. “I am, because I think they will have the talent talented enough to get here, especially with entering the transfer portal and obtaining some experienced pieces that can help with this young group.”
Female basketball, like other university sports, has changed in recent years with the transfer portal. There are currently more than 1,200 players on the portal, a person with access to him shared with Associated Press.
Where some of those impact players, Olivia Miles, Cotie McMahon and Ta’niya Latson, end up not only making shape to which teams are raised to challenge UCONN and South Carolina next season, but also which player separates from the rest.
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