Which team has the most talented roster in terms of top 8 players? 25-26 edition | The Boneyard

Which team has the most talented roster in terms of top 8 players? 25-26 edition

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Teams
1. Uconn
2. South Carolina3. UCLA4. Texas5. LSU6. Tennessee7. Duke8. Oklahoma9. North Carolina10. TCU11. Vanderbilt12. Michigan13. Ole Miss14. Washington15
Iowa State
CenterSerah WilliamsJoyce EdwardsLauren BettsKyla OldacreKate KovalZee SpearmanDelaney ThomasRaegan BeersCierra ToomeyClara Silva
Sacha Washington
Te'Yala DelfosseLatasha LattimoreYulia GrabovskaiaAudi Crooks
Power forwardSarah StrongChloe KittsAngela DugalicAaliyah CrumpGrace KnoxJaniah BarkerToby FournierSahara WilliamsNyla HarrisMarta SuarezKhamil PierreOlivia OlsonChristeen IwualaBrynn McGaughyAddy Brown
Small ForwardAshlynn ShadeTessa JohnsonGianna KneepkensMadison BookerMikaylah WilliamsRuby WhitehornJadyn DonovanPayton VerhulstLanie GrantMaddie ScherrNdjakalenga MwenentandaAshley SofilkanichCotie MchmannAvery HowellSydney Harris
Shooting guardAzzi FuddTaniya LatsonCharlise Ledger WalkerJordan LeeFlau'jae JohnsonNya RobersonAshlon JacksonAaliyah ChavezIndiya NavarDonovyn HunterMikayla BlakesSyla SwordsKaitlin PetersonElle LadineMackenzie Hare
Point guardKK ArnoldRaven JohnsonKiki RiceRori HarmonMilaysia FulwileyTalaysia CooperTaina MairZya VannReniya KellyOlivia MilesMadison GreeneMila HollowayTiana ThompsonSayvia SellersJada Williams
Bench playerJana El AlfyAshlyn WatkinsTimea GardinerBreya CunninghamKailyn GilbertJersey WolfenbergerArianna RobersonBeatrice CullitonNyla BrooksKennedy BashamAga MakuratBrooke DanielsSira ThienouHannah StinesAili Tanke
Bench playerBlanca QuinonezMaddy McDanielGabriela JaquezBryanna PrestonZaKiyah JohnsonAlyssa LathamRiley NelsonCaya SmithBlanca ThomasTaylor BigbyJustine PissottKendall DudleyDebreasha PoweChloe BriggsEvangelina Paulk
Bench playerCaroline DucharmeAgot MakeerSienna BettsAshton JuddAmiya JoynerMia PauldoEmilee SkinnerKeziah LoftonElina AarnisaloVeronica SheffeyAalyah Del RosarioCiara ByarsJayla
Murray
Nina Cain

A couple of things to mention. Rosters are still being finalized so many things can change. "Rotations" including who is starting at their respective positions is an educated guess I chose the top 8 because most teams play a rotation of 8 or 9, particularly when you get deep in the tournament. Finally the list consist of teams mostly found on ESPNs way too early top 25 as well as on3 list way to early list.









Similar to last year I think UCLA has the most talented top 8. I think UConn and then South Carolina are a close second and 3rd. For me UCLA has 4 potential WNBA 2026 draft prospects, 3 of which could potentially be drafted in the first round.I may actually be selling them short in terms of prospects. Uconn can arguably have 2 of the best 5 players in the country, and as a fan have complete trust in Azzi. But to be objective, she has yet to be healthy for a full season. I think South Carolina is 3rd but the top 3 are really close imo. I think in terms of tiers, I do think the first five left to right are in one tier. I think the next three are in another tier, and then it's sort of a crapshoot.



Other musings. When I made the chart last year I felt pretty confident I captured the teams you would see in the final weekends of the tournament. This year there are so many unknowns. I think Notre Dame, USC, NC State, all teams that made the sweet 16 last year could definitely make it there or further this upcoming season. They each just have really young teams and lost so much this off season.



What are your thoughts? Do any teams stand out?
 
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I always appreciate a good spreadsheet so kudos to you. I don't think I would call Joyce Edwards a "center" and I think Watkins will start there. I also think Tessa Johnson has been viewed more as a PG so her playing small forward is probably also a quibble. I think the SC starting 5 will be Watkins, Edwards, Kitts, Johnson and Latson. I suspect Maryam Dauda at 6'5" and a multiple transfer player to get into the rotation. Most teams really try to deploy a top 9 vs. 8 even at the elite level. Depending on the matchups, only 8 may get the majority of the minutes but that will change game to game, opponent to opponent.

I really am not sure what to think of Caroline Ducharme's role as so much depends on her health. What I do know is Kayleigh Heckel came here to play point guard and will be involved in the top 8 rotation, particularly if KK struggles with her 3 pt shooting again. I expect Geno to fully deploy a 9/10 person rotation as he has bench depth who can create their own shots and play defense. He has done this before when he had talent as deep as this years squad.

UCLA has talent but Cori has always struggled to get her teams to improve throughout the year. What they show in November is usually what they are in March. Their point guard situation is particularly concerning as Kiki is the only real player who can pass. When we shut down her capability to pass into the post, Betts struggled. As good as I know Kneepkens is and as CLW was, I am not quite sure how they fit into the UCLA scheme. Not sure if there are enough shots to go around.

Last, I think you left out Iyanna Moore at Vandy. She will be a starter on that team she was their 3rd leading scorer this year so she is definitely in their top 8.

But like I said overall, your presentation to provoke thought and discussion was AWESOME. Save this for November to continue the discussion.

Well played, my friend, well played.
 
UConn by a country mile, and frankly, it's not really close.

As I said in another thread, this is as confident I've been of a UConn squad entering the season post Stewie. The talent is off the charts. Might as well go 10 deep because first PG off the bench for UConn will be Heckel, if she doesn't beat out KK for the starting spot. Yeah she's going to be that good.

IF Morgan Cheli is healthy, she' can be ranked in UConn's top 10 as well. YIKES. I would LOVE to see UConn employ a very aggressive defense with full court press for 40 minutes or so. That would be something to see.
 
For me, it is the top 5 teams, and I will stay with the order from above.
 
Teams
1. Uconn
2. South Carolina3. UCLA4. Texas5. LSU6. Tennessee7. Duke8. Oklahoma9. North Carolina10. TCU11. Vanderbilt12. Michigan13. Ole Miss14. Washington15
Iowa State
CenterSerah WilliamsJoyce EdwardsLauren BettsKyla OldacreKate KovalZee SpearmanDelaney ThomasRaegan BeersCierra ToomeyClara Silva
Sacha Washington
Te'Yala DelfosseLatasha LattimoreYulia GrabovskaiaAudi Crooks
Power forwardSarah StrongChloe KittsAngela DugalicAaliyah CrumpGrace KnoxJaniah BarkerToby FournierSahara WilliamsNyla HarrisMarta SuarezKhamil PierreOlivia OlsonChristeen IwualaBrynn McGaughyAddy Brown
Small ForwardAshlynn ShadeTessa JohnsonGianna KneepkensMadison BookerMikaylah WilliamsRuby WhitehornJadyn DonovanPayton VerhulstLanie GrantMaddie ScherrNdjakalenga MwenentandaAshley SofilkanichCotie MchmannAvery HowellSydney Harris
Shooting guardAzzi FuddTaniya LatsonCharlise Ledger WalkerJordan LeeFlau'jae JohnsonNya RobersonAshlon JacksonAaliyah ChavezIndiya NavarDonovyn HunterMikayla BlakesSyla SwordsKaitlin PetersonElle LadineMackenzie Hare
Point guardKK ArnoldRaven JohnsonKiki RiceRori HarmonMilaysia FulwileyTalaysia CooperTaina MairZya VannReniya KellyOlivia MilesMadison GreeneMila HollowayTiana ThompsonSayvia SellersJada Williams
Bench playerJana El AlfyAshlyn WatkinsTimea GardinerBreya CunninghamKailyn GilbertJersey WolfenbergerArianna RobersonBeatrice CullitonNyla BrooksKennedy BashamAga MakuratBrooke DanielsSira ThienouHannah StinesAili Tanke
Bench playerBlanca QuinonezMaddy McDanielGabriela JaquezBryanna PrestonZaKiyah JohnsonAlyssa LathamRiley NelsonCaya SmithBlanca ThomasTaylor BigbyJustine PissottKendall DudleyDebreasha PoweChloe BriggsEvangelina Paulk
Bench playerCaroline DucharmeAgot MakeerSienna BettsAshton JuddAmiya JoynerMia PauldoEmilee SkinnerKeziah LoftonElina AarnisaloVeronica SheffeyAalyah Del RosarioCiara ByarsJayla
Murray
Nina Cain

A couple of things to mention. Rosters are still being finalized so many things can change. "Rotations" including who is starting at their respective positions is an educated guess I chose the top 8 because most teams play a rotation of 8 or 9, particularly when you get deep in the tournament. Finally the list consist of teams mostly found on ESPNs way too early top 25 as well as on3 list way to early list.









Similar to last year I think UCLA has the most talented top 8. I think UConn and then South Carolina are a close second and 3rd. For me UCLA has 4 potential WNBA 2026 draft prospects, 3 of which could potentially be drafted in the first round.I may actually be selling them short in terms of prospects. Uconn can arguably have 2 of the best 5 players in the country, and as a fan have complete trust in Azzi. But to be objective, she has yet to be healthy for a full season. I think South Carolina is 3rd but the top 3 are really close imo. I think in terms of tiers, I do think the first five left to right are in one tier. I think the next three are in another tier, and then it's sort of a crapshoot.



Other musings. When I made the chart last year I felt pretty confident I captured the teams you would see in the final weekends of the tournament. This year there are so many unknowns. I think Notre Dame, USC, NC State, all teams that made the sweet 16 last year could definitely make it there or further this upcoming season. They each just have really young teams and lost so much this off season.



What are your thoughts? Do any teams stand out?
Isn't Aaliyah Crump a wing and really a shooting guard more than anything else?
 
I always appreciate a good spreadsheet so kudos to you. I don't think I would call Joyce Edwards a "center" and I think Watkins will start there. I also think Tessa Johnson has been viewed more as a PG so her playing small forward is probably also a quibble. I think the SC starting 5 will be Watkins, Edwards, Kitts, Johnson and Latson. I suspect Maryam Dauda at 6'5" and a multiple transfer player to get into the rotation. Most teams really try to deploy a top 9 vs. 8 even at the elite level. Depending on the matchups, only 8 may get the majority of the minutes but that will change game to game, opponent to opponent.

I really am not sure what to think of Caroline Ducharme's role as so much depends on her health. What I do know is Kayleigh Heckel came here to play point guard and will be involved in the top 8 rotation, particularly if KK struggles with her 3 pt shooting again. I expect Geno to fully deploy a 9/10 person rotation as he has bench depth who can create their own shots and play defense. He has done this before when he had talent as deep as this years squad.

UCLA has talent but Cori has always struggled to get her teams to improve throughout the year. What they show in November is usually what they are in March. Their point guard situation is particularly concerning as Kiki is the only real player who can pass. When we shut down her capability to pass into the post, Betts struggled. As good as I know Kneepkens is and as CLW was, I am not quite sure how they fit into the UCLA scheme. Not sure if there are enough shots to go around.

Last, I think you left out Iyanna Moore at Vandy. She will be a starter on that team she was their 3rd leading scorer this year so she is definitely in their top 8.

But like I said overall, your presentation to provoke thought and discussion was AWESOME. Save this for November to continue the discussion.

Well played, my friend, well played.
Moore is on Notre Dame now
 
I would swap Caroline with Heckel.

Looking at the list though. UConn, UCLA, and South Carolina seem to be a class above the rest. I would probably pick ucla. That Kneepkens acquisition and walker back from injury make them look pretty impressive. I don’t think you can play the two betts sisters together though. That’s my one caution about them.
 
I would swap Caroline with Heckel.

Looking at the list though. UConn, UCLA, and South Carolina seem to be a class above the rest. I would probably pick ucla. That Kneepkens acquisition and walker back from injury make them look pretty impressive. I don’t think you can play the two betts sisters together though. That’s my one caution about them.
I think that team chemistry might once again be a problem for UCLA this upcoming, especially if the Betts sisters are on the court together a lot.
 
Teams
1. Uconn
2. South Carolina3. UCLA4. Texas5. LSU6. Tennessee7. Duke8. Oklahoma9. North Carolina10. TCU11. Vanderbilt12. Michigan13. Ole Miss14. Washington15
Iowa State
CenterSerah WilliamsJoyce EdwardsLauren BettsKyla OldacreKate KovalZee SpearmanDelaney ThomasRaegan BeersCierra ToomeyClara Silva
Sacha Washington
Te'Yala DelfosseLatasha LattimoreYulia GrabovskaiaAudi Crooks
Power forwardSarah StrongChloe KittsAngela DugalicAaliyah CrumpGrace KnoxJaniah BarkerToby FournierSahara WilliamsNyla HarrisMarta SuarezKhamil PierreOlivia OlsonChristeen IwualaBrynn McGaughyAddy Brown
Small ForwardAshlynn ShadeTessa JohnsonGianna KneepkensMadison BookerMikaylah WilliamsRuby WhitehornJadyn DonovanPayton VerhulstLanie GrantMaddie ScherrNdjakalenga MwenentandaAshley SofilkanichCotie MchmannAvery HowellSydney Harris
Shooting guardAzzi FuddTaniya LatsonCharlise Ledger WalkerJordan LeeFlau'jae JohnsonNya RobersonAshlon JacksonAaliyah ChavezIndiya NavarDonovyn HunterMikayla BlakesSyla SwordsKaitlin PetersonElle LadineMackenzie Hare
Point guardKK ArnoldRaven JohnsonKiki RiceRori HarmonMilaysia FulwileyTalaysia CooperTaina MairZya VannReniya KellyOlivia MilesMadison GreeneMila HollowayTiana ThompsonSayvia SellersJada Williams
Bench playerJana El AlfyAshlyn WatkinsTimea GardinerBreya CunninghamKailyn GilbertJersey WolfenbergerArianna RobersonBeatrice CullitonNyla BrooksKennedy BashamAga MakuratBrooke DanielsSira ThienouHannah StinesAili Tanke
Bench playerBlanca QuinonezMaddy McDanielGabriela JaquezBryanna PrestonZaKiyah JohnsonAlyssa LathamRiley NelsonCaya SmithBlanca ThomasTaylor BigbyJustine PissottKendall DudleyDebreasha PoweChloe BriggsEvangelina Paulk
Bench playerCaroline DucharmeAgot MakeerSienna BettsAshton JuddAmiya JoynerMia PauldoEmilee SkinnerKeziah LoftonElina AarnisaloVeronica SheffeyAalyah Del RosarioCiara ByarsJayla
Murray
Nina Cain

A couple of things to mention. Rosters are still being finalized so many things can change. "Rotations" including who is starting at their respective positions is an educated guess I chose the top 8 because most teams play a rotation of 8 or 9, particularly when you get deep in the tournament. Finally the list consist of teams mostly found on ESPNs way too early top 25 as well as on3 list way to early list.









Similar to last year I think UCLA has the most talented top 8. I think UConn and then South Carolina are a close second and 3rd. For me UCLA has 4 potential WNBA 2026 draft prospects, 3 of which could potentially be drafted in the first round.I may actually be selling them short in terms of prospects. Uconn can arguably have 2 of the best 5 players in the country, and as a fan have complete trust in Azzi. But to be objective, she has yet to be healthy for a full season. I think South Carolina is 3rd but the top 3 are really close imo. I think in terms of tiers, I do think the first five left to right are in one tier. I think the next three are in another tier, and then it's sort of a crapshoot.



Other musings. When I made the chart last year I felt pretty confident I captured the teams you would see in the final weekends of the tournament. This year there are so many unknowns. I think Notre Dame, USC, NC State, all teams that made the sweet 16 last year could definitely make it there or further this upcoming season. They each just have really young teams and lost so much this off season.



What are your thoughts? Do any teams stand out?
Asking for my clarification. How did you determine the list of teams? For example, Washington at 14. I can't view the On3 page, but the ESPN list has them listed at 23.
 
I think that team chemistry might once again be a problem for UCLA this upcoming, especially if the Betts sisters are on the court together a lot.
Lauren and sienna on the court together; I feel like that would be a bad defensive team.
 
Asking for my clarification. How did you determine the list of teams? For example, Washington at 14. I can't view the On3 page, but the ESPN list has them listed at 23.
Definitely some bias on my part and I didn't think too hard tbh. Next year I think I'll try to be more systematic. Just looking at it again, NC state is listed rather high on both list (9 and 11 respectively). They probably should be in the list. Most teams on the chart are on both list and on one of the list is top 15. Nevertheless 10-15 was a bit of a crapshoot. Michigan, Vandy, Iowa State are top 15 on both list. But then Ole Miss is 13 on one list and 22 on another. Michigan State is another, as high as 12 on the on3 list but in the 20s on ESPN. Maryland is similar, as high as 12 on one list but in the 20s on another but I think ESPNs list was compiled before they lost Merkle. So the two list are pretty different in terms of order but contain a lot of the same teams. So that's when I kinda winged it and looked at the rosters though I'm bias. The team I ultimately slid up really high, kinda replacing NC State was TCU and mainly because of Olivia Miles, and the success they had last season. I also think Maddie Scherr coming back alongside some of their other transfers, makes them really good. Also I think their conference isn't as strong so they may win it again. Washington was ranked 15th on the on3 list.
 
Definitely some bias on my part and I didn't think too hard tbh. Next year I think I'll try to be more systematic. Just looking at it again, NC state is listed rather high on both list (9 and 11 respectively). They probably should be in the list. Most teams on the chart are on both list and on one of the list is top 15. Nevertheless 10-15 was a bit of a crapshoot. Michigan, Vandy, Iowa State are top 15 on both list. But then Ole Miss is 13 on one list and 22 on another. Maryland is similar, as high as 12 on one list but in the 20s on anothet but I think ESPNs list was compiled before they lost Merkle. So the two list are pretty different in terms of order but contain a lot of the same teams. So that's when I kinda winged it and looked at the rosters though I'm bias. The team I ultimately slid up really high, kinda replacing NC State was TCU and mainly because of Olivia Miles, and the success they had last season. I also think Maddie Scherr coming back alongside some of their other transfers, makes them really good. Also I think their conference isn't as strong so they may win it again. Washington was ranked 15th on the on3 list.
Thanks for the insight. Wasn't seeing it as bias but because the On3 page link is to their paid site, I couldn't do my own comparison to piece it together.

There never is a clear cut way to put these lists together. Your effort is greatly appreciated. Looking forward to delving deeper now that I better understand.
 
Starting 5: UCONN
Bench: UCLA

Overall top 8 listed: probably UCLA.

Also thanks for listing out players and rotations for your top 15 teams. I’m sure that was a lot of work
 
Disagree about UCLA being at the top. That’s either UConn or SC. Last season, I think we pretty much demonstrated that UCLA would have come in second in the Big East and not enough has changed since then. Just kidding… or am I?
 
I always appreciate a good spreadsheet so kudos to you. I don't think I would call Joyce Edwards a "center" and I think Watkins will start there. I also think Tessa Johnson has been viewed more as a PG so her playing small forward is probably also a quibble. I think the SC starting 5 will be Watkins, Edwards, Kitts, Johnson and Latson. I suspect Maryam Dauda at 6'5" and a multiple transfer player to get into the rotation. Most teams really try to deploy a top 9 vs. 8 even at the elite level. Depending on the matchups, only 8 may get the majority of the minutes but that will change game to game, opponent to opponent.

Waktins may redshirt this year and Chloe isn’t going to start at a position she’s never played. She’ll likely continue to start at the 4 with Joyce coming off the bench. Tessa played the 3 last year as Bree Hall’s backup and will likely start there. She’s definitely not a PG but more of a SG/W player.
 
Waktins may redshirt this year and Chloe isn’t going to start at a position she’s never played. She’ll likely continue to start at the 4 with Joyce coming off the bench. Tessa played the 3 last year as Bree Hall’s backup and will likely start there. She’s definitely not a PG but more of a SG/W player.
Sorry to hear that about Ashlyn. That’s a huge setback. She is a glue player for Dawn’s style of play. Are there more details to know about Ashlyn?
 
Disagree about UCLA being at the top. That’s either UConn or SC. Last season, I think we pretty much demonstrated that UCLA would have come in second in the Big East and not enough has changed since then. Just kidding… or am I?
Most talented ≠ best team. Dawn and Geno are far better coaches IMO than Close.

UCLA though is stacked and should be a much better team than they showed in the Final Four this year. I don't see Jaquez/Rice/Gardiner combine to shoot just 3-18 in a rematch next season.

Also, I think people are sleeping on Sienna Betts. If she's in the same stratosphere as other top 2 recruits in recent years (ex. Sarah Strong, Jaloni Cambridge, Juju Watkins, Mikaylah Williams), she'll be a force next year for the Bruins.
 
Most talented ≠ best team. Dawn and Geno are far better coaches IMO than Close.

UCLA though is stacked and should be a much better team than they showed in the Final Four this year. I don't see Jaquez/Rice/Gardiner combine to shoot just 3-18 in a rematch next season.

Also, I think people are sleeping on Sienna Betts. If she's in the same stratosphere as other top 2 recruits in recent years (ex. Sarah Strong, Jaloni Cambridge, Juju Watkins, Mikaylah Williams), she'll be a force next year for the Bruins.
Still disagree. I don’t think the talent is as good as you do. The backcourt looks questionable to me, especially in comparison to either Azzi-KK-Ash-Kayleigh or Raven-Taniya-Tessa-Maddy-Agot. The bright spot for them is likely to be Kneepkens, not Leger-Walker, but we’ll have to see how the rehab went for both of them. And as good as Sienna Betts looked in high school, she’s got a ways to go. She’ll be a great one, but maybe not this season. Like her sister, she’ll be a good defender as a freshman, but a slow-footed offensive player with a very limited range. Lauren really built up her skills in 3 years, and so will Sienna. But this year, she’s a distant option behind Digalic and Gardiner.
 
Sorry to hear that about Ashlyn. That’s a huge setback. She is a glue player for Dawn’s style of play. Are there more details to know about Ashlyn?
Not sure of the full details but odds of her playing early or to start the season has to be slim considering she tore her knee in January, however it’s definitely possible considering the type of athlete she is. She was walking 2 weeks after surgery and running by April so she might just be back.
 
Starting 5: UCONN
Bench: UCLA

Overall top 8 listed: probably UCLA.

Also thanks for listing out players and rotations for your top 15 teams. I’m sure that was a lot of work
I appreciate that. It was pretty fun. It helped me really think about each roster and their strengths and weaknesses.
Some rosters that I thought were loaded kinda have some big gaps (Texas), and then some rosters I was not as high on initially seem to have a lot of talent (Duke).
Im really interested to see Texas and SC. I actually thought Rori and Raven kinda had down years last year. They both are returning for their 5th year with really good roster's. I think they are quietly the keys to each team.
 
I appreciate that. It was pretty fun. It helped me really think about each roster and their strengths and weaknesses.
Some rosters that I thought were loaded kinda have some big gaps (Texas), and then some rosters I was not as high on initially seem to have a lot of talent (Duke).
Im really interested to see Texas and SC. I actually thought Rori and Raven kinda had down years last year. They both are returning for their 5th year with really good roster's. I think they are quietly the keys to each team.
Had Okananwa not transferred out of Duke I think they would’ve been the clear #5 team going into next year.

Regarding Texas, they might be imbalanced on paper but wouldn’t be surprised if they play a 4 out, 1 inside offense similar to the system Vic ran in 2018 when they almost won the title.
 
Had Okananwa not transferred out of Duke I think they would’ve been the clear #5 team going into next year.

Regarding Texas, they might be imbalanced on paper but wouldn’t be surprised if they play a 4 out, 1 inside offense similar to the system Vic ran in 2018 when they almost won the title.

On my initial TDF poll sponsored by Biscuitville, I have Duke as the solid #6. That's a testament to Lawson's coaching ability and the teams plucky underdog mentality. Probably not top 10 in overall talent...maybe somewhere like 37-43.
 

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