A month in, the picture is now much clearer. Duke has been the biggest early disappointment. The Blue Devils opened at No. 7, but injuries, a tough schedule, and a stagnant offense pushed them out of the Top 25 by December. Their defense remains among the best in Division I, but scoring issues have made them vulnerable, with losses to South Carolina, UCLA, LSU, West Virginia, and South Florida exposing the gap between their preseason hype and current form.

UConn, meanwhile, has exceeded expectations with its depth. Despite relying less on Jana El Alfy, the Huskies’ freshmen, Blanca Quiñonez, Kayleigh Heckel, and Allie Ziebell, have strengthened the rotation and given the team one of the most balanced lineups in the country.

The ACC’s Early Inconsistency Suggests a Down Year

After a rough showing in the ACC/SEC Challenge and uneven nonconference performances, the league may enter March without a single team hosting opening-round tournament games.

UNC has the best chances whereas TCU has taken the opposite trajectory. With Olivia Miles, Marta Suarez, and Donovyn Hunter driving the offense and a defense holding opponents under 30 percent shooting, the Horned Frogs look like a legitimate No. 1 seed contender. An undefeated regular season is not out of the question.

One Performance You Can’t Ignore

North Texas senior Megan Nestor posted 34 points and 31 rebounds, the most boards in a Division I game since 2016. A former netball player from St. Lucia, this performance of her's stands as one of the season’s most dominant individual outings.

Iowa State’s win over Iowa highlighted its rising potential. Audi Crooks delivered another efficient 30-point night, while Addy Brown added 20 points and 12 rebounds, and Jada Williams recorded 12 assists. The Cyclones’ balanced production showed they have the pieces to contend deeper into March.

Written by

Kalzang Uzor Gurung

Edited by

Joyita Das