While men’s college basketball and March Madness are more well-known and followed, women’s college basketball is gaining rapid popularity in recent years. Ahead of March Madness 2024, we’re introducing you to some of the best women’s college basketball players right now.
Everyone is familiar with Iowa Hawkeyes guard Caitlin Clark, the all-time leading scorer in NCAA history. However, she isn’t the only one dominating right now and even when she leaves for the WNBA, the game she leaves behind will be left in great hands.
Here are the best women’s college basketball players in the March Madness 2024 tournament.
10. Angel Reese, forward, LSU Tigers
Many remember the moment from the 2023 national championship game when Angel Reese taunted Caitlin Clark. However, the LSU Tigers star and national champion should be known for her excellence on the court, too. A unanimous first-team All-American last year, Reese hasn’t been as effective scoring this season (49.1% FG) as last year. However, she’s started to lock in this month, especially on the defensive end (1.5 BPG, 1.8 SPG). Plus, when you win the 2023 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player Award, you have more credibility for March Madness.
Angel Reese stats (2023-’24): 19 PPG 13.1 RPG, 2.3 APG,1.8 SPG, 0.9 BPG
9. Lauren Betts, center, UCLA Bruins
While there is no relation between UCLA Bruins center Lauren Betts and Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts, they are both dominating in their respective sports in Southern California. Betts, at 6-foot-7, is one of the most outstanding players in college basketball right now. After averaging 5.9 points and 3.5 rebounds last season at Stanford, Betts has more than doubled her output at UCLA. Named to the All-Pac-12 Team this season, Betts has 10 games with 18-plus points, four with at least four blocks and her defense both in the paint and on the perimeter makes her an outstanding two-way player for the Bruins.
Lauren Betts stats (2023-’24): 14.7 PPG, 9 RPG, 2 BPG, 65.3% FG, 3.6 ORPG
8. Georgia Amoore, guard, Virginia Tech Hokies
There are two pairs of teammates making our list of the best women’s college basketball players right now and it starts with the guard-center combo at Virginia Tech. Georgia Amoore, an Australian native, has sharpened her game over four seasons to become one of the best lead guards in college basketball this year. She’s also on a scoring tear as of late, averaging 30 points in her first three games this month. Plus, Amoore has nine games with double-digit points and assists. She also proved against Virginia on March 3 (39 points) that she can deliver in big spots.
Georgia Amoore stats (2023-’24): 19.2 PPG, 6.9 APG, 2.7 RPG, 0.9 SPG, 41.8% FG, 34% 3PT
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7. Aaliyah Edwards, forward, UConn Huskies
Standing at 6-foot-3, forward Aaliyah Edwards has often put the UConn Huskies on her back at times this year. Among players averaging at least 12 shots per game, Edwards has the fourth-highest shooting percentage (59.4%) in the nation. She’s scored 18-plus points in 17-of-32 games and has 16 performances with double-digit rebounds. Edwards is one of the best women’s college basketball players right now and she’ll be highly coveted in the 2024 WNBA Draft.
Aaliyah Edwards stats (2023-’24): 17.8 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.9 BPG, 59.4% FG
6. Elizabeth Kitley, center, Virginia Tech Hokies
The Virginia Tech Hokies are one of the best women’s college basketball teams in 2024 in large part because of their dynamic duo. Paired with guard Georgia Amoore, 6-foot-6 center Elizabeth Kitley is closing out her NCAA career in emphatic fashion. After averaging 18 PPG in the last three seasons, Kitley has taken that to another level this year and she’s even better on the glass. If Kitley and Amoore can maintain the dominance they’ve shown in recent weeks, Virginia Tech could be going on a very deep run in March Madness 2024.
Elizabeth Kitley stats (2023-’24): 22.8 PPG, 11.4 RPG, 2.1 BPG, 1.8 APG, 55.2% FG
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5. Paige Bueckers, guard, UConn Huskies
It’s been a long road back for UConn Huskies guard Paige Bueckers to reclaim her title as one of the best women’s college basketball players. She was lighting it up for the Huskies in 2021, earning AP Player of the Year and the John R. Wooden Award. She then had to overcome ankle surgery and a torn ACL. After shaking off some rust in 2023, still winning Big East Player of the Year, Bueckers is back to her top form this season, even setting career highs in scoring and blocks.
Paige Bueckers stats (2023-’24): 21.3 PPG, 4,6 ROG, 4.5 APG, 2.1 SPG, 53.3% FG, 42.9% 3PT
4. Hannah Hidalgo, guard, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
If you want to know why the future of women’s college basketball is so bright, it’s because of young players like Hannah Hidalgo. A five-star recruit this past year out of Paul VI High School, Hidalgo has been everything Notre Dame dreamed of and more. In her first college season, she won ACC Rookie of the Year, ACC Defensive Player of the Year and earned first-team All-ACC honors. She has led Notre Dame to March Madness 2024 and she is only 19 years old. The nation’s leader in steals, Hidalgo is poised to receive the national recognition she deserves on primetime television.
Hannah Hidalgo stats (2023-’24): 23.3 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 5.5 APG< 4.6 SPG< 45.3% FG, 34.8% 3PT
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3. Cameron Brink, forward, Stanford Cardinal
Some of the best women’s college basketball players are truly sensational on both ends of the court, unlike what’s going on with the men’s side both collegiately and professionally. Stanford Cardinal forward Cameron Brink, who leads the nation in blocks, is the do-it-all player in the Pac-12 Conference. She already won an NCAA championship in 2021 and is a two-time Pac-12 Player of the Year. Now, Stanford will be hoping Brink can finish her season with a second title.
Cameron Brink stats (2023-’24): 17.8 PPG, 12 RPG, 3.5 BPG, 2.9 APG, 51.2% FG
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2. JuJu Watkins, guard, USC Trojans
USC Trojans guard JuJu Watkins is going to be the next face of women’s college basketball. A Los Angeles native, Watkins came out of Sierra Canyon School rated as the No. 1 recruit in the 2023 recruiting class. She blew past expectations. We’ll go beyond the fact that the freshman is the second-leading scorer in the sport. Instead, we’ll highlight that the 18-year-old has scored 30-plus points 13 times this year, including a season-high 51 against Stanford and she pairs that with good rebounding and a rare ability to get to the free-throw line with ease, where she hits at an 85 percent clip. For some context, Clark averaged 26.6 PPG and 5.9 RPG in her freshman year.
JuJu Watkins stats (2023-’24): 27 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 3.2 APG, 2.4 SPG, 1.5 BPG, 40.5% FG
1. Caitlin Clark, guard, Iowa Hawkeyes
Caitlin Clark is the best player in women’s college basketball and one of the all-time greats in its history. She will finish her career as a two-time AP Player of the Year and a three-time unanimous first-team All-American. She’s the leading scorer in NCAA history and has averaged at least 27 points with 8 assists and 7 rebounds in each of the last three seasons. Plus, she can light it up with the best of them, demonstrated by 10 40-point games and 56 performances with at least 30 points.
Caitlin Clark stats (2023-’24): 31.9 PPG, 8.9 APG, 7.3 RPG, 1.8 SPG, 46% FG, 38.1% 3PT
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