Baylor Bears

Four Big 12 Teams in Way-Too-Early Women’s Basketball Top 25

By Matthew Postins

Posted on October 7, 2024 at 7:45 pm

Four Big 12 Conference teams were named in ESPN’s Way-Too-Early NCAA Women’s Basketball Top 25, which was released on Monday.

The season starts on Nov. 4 with games around the country and the Big 12 playing with 16 teams for the first time in its history.

Iowa State was the top Big 12 team at No. 8. The Cyclones reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season and were selected to finish second in the preseason Big 12 coaches poll, which was released last week. ISU returns stars like Audi Crooks, Emily Ryan, and Addy Brown.

Iowa State will play the top two teams in the Top 25, South Carolina and UConn, in non-conference games.

Baylor was No. 11 after reaching the Sweet 16 for the first time under coach Nicki Collen. The Bears return guards Jada Walker and Sarah Andrews, along with wings Bella Fontleroy and Darianna Littlepage-Buggs. Aaronette Vonleh, a transfer from Colorado, was recently named the Big 12 preseason co-newcomer of the year, along with TCU’s Hailey Van Lith.

Kansas State was No. 15 and is led by Big 12 preseason player of the year Ayoka Lee. The 6-6 center is part of a core that has been together for years, including guards Serena Sundell, Jaelyn Glenn, and Brylee Glenn. Tulsa transfer Temira Poindexter adds scoring for a team that hopes to get past the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

West Virginia was right behind K-State at No. 16. First-year coach Mark Kellogg led the Mountaineers to the NCAA Tournament and pushed Iowa to a near-upset in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. WVU returns senior guard and all-Big 12 preseason selection JJ Quinerly.

Utah, which joins the Big 12 this season, fell just outside of the Top 25 as a team that was considered. The Utes are getting back one of their top players, Gianna Kneepkens, who was injured in 2023-24.