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Ten teams with the best chance to reach the Women's Final Four in Minneapolis

Only four can make it, but here's an early look from Kent Youngblood on who has the best chance, come April 1-3.

By Kent Youngblood

November 12, 2021 at 10:42PM
Stanford guard Haley Jones (Tony Avelar, Associated Press/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

1. South Carolina

The Gamecocks are primed and ready to return to the Final Four, with three players ranking in the top 25 by ESPN: Aliyah Boston, Zia Cooke and Destanni Henderson.

2. Connecticut

A Final Four team, with the best player in the game in Paige Bueckers and the most highly touted freshman in Azzi Fudd.

3. Maryland

The Terrapins have 95% of their scoring back from last season's team, which was an NCAA tournament No. 2 seed.

4. Stanford

The defending national champions return 12 of 13 players, including Haley Jones, named the NCAA tournament Most Outstanding Player.

5. North Carolina State

Upset in last season's Sweet 16, the Wolfpack returns Elissa Cunane and Kakia Brown-Turner. Farmington's Sophie Hart is joining a top team.

6. Louisville

Cardinals coach Jeff Walz's biggest job: replacing Dana Evans and her 20.1 points per game.

7. Baylor

New coach, same expectations, led by Player of the Year candidate NaLyssa Smith.

8. Iowa

Led by Caitlin Clark, the Hawkeyes made it to the Sweet 16 last season. Clark and Monika Czinano return.

9. Oregon

Nyara Sabally and Sedona Prince return from a Sweet 16 team a season ago.

10. Kentucky

The Wildcats lost a lot of talent but return Rhyne Howard, who could be the WNBA's top draft pick next spring.

about the writer

about the writer

Kent Youngblood

Reporter

Kent Youngblood has covered sports for the Minnesota Star Tribune for more than 20 years.

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