The SEC women’s basketball championship is expected to be contested once more between Dawn Staley’s South Carolina squad and Kim Mulkey’s LSU Tigers.
The SEC’s Continued Excellence
This past April marked the sixth occasion in eight NCAA Tournaments that an SEC program competed for the national title. Though South Carolina lost to UConn, the conference’s strength remained evident. From 2017 onward, only one Final Four has occurred without SEC representation, and three have included multiple conference teams. The 2024 semifinals in Tampa featured both South Carolina and Texas.
The league boasts charismatic coaches and elite talent. Staley, Mulkey, and Vic Schaeffer rank among the sport’s most successful coaches, while Kim Caldwell, Jennie Baranczyk, and Shea Ralph are emerging forces. Kenny Brooks has revitalized Kentucky with over 500 career wins and a Final Four appearance, and Yolett McPhee-McCuin has established Ole Miss as a consistent contender.
Star players include LSU’s Flau’Jae Johnson and Vanderbilt’s Mikayla Blakes, last year’s USBWA National Freshman of the Year. The transfer portal brought Ta’Niya Latson and Cotie McMahon to the conference, alongside six top-10 freshmen from ESPN’s 2025 rankings.
Let’s examine what may be women’s college basketball’s most competitive conference.
Central Question: Can South Carolina Overcome Injuries and Roster Turnover?
Staley’s program has dominated the SEC for nearly ten years. Since 2015, they’ve reached seven Final Fours (five consecutive), won nine SEC Tournament championships (five of six recently), and built their success on defensive intensity and post-oriented offense. Notable post players include A’ja Wilson, Aaliyah Boston, Kamilla Cardoso, and Sania Feagin.
Ashlyn Watkins and Chloe Kitts were versatile forwards alongside them. Watkins recorded 20 rebounds in the 2024 Final Four against N.C. State during their perfect season. Kitts excelled in a seven-game stretch through the Elite Eight, averaging 14.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and one block, earning SEC Tournament and Birmingham 2 Regional MVP awards.
Plans to rely on both players this season have changed—both are out for the year.
Joyce Edwards and Mississippi State transfer Madina Okot must now fill starting roles with potentially 30+ minutes nightly. Edwards showed improvement last season and starred on Team USA’s AmeriCup-winning team this summer, appearing primed for a breakout. Okot nearly averaged a double-double in SEC games last season, demonstrating conference readiness.
Fifth-year guard Raven Johnson anchors the backcourt, with junior Tessa Johnson likely starting. They’re joined by Johnson’s former high school teammate Ta’Niya Latson, who led the nation in scoring at Florida State last season.
The bench includes Maryam Dauda, Agot Makeer, Adhel Tac, Maddy McDaniel, and Ayla McDowell. South Carolina enters with 10 healthy players—enough talent for SEC success and another deep tournament run, but they can’t afford more injuries and need rapid chemistry development.
Rising Program: Kentucky
Kentucky seems undervalued, ranking 24th in the preseason AP Poll and eighth in the SEC’s preseason ranking after going 23-8 (11-5 SEC) and reaching the NCAA Tournament’s second round. Despite losing Georgia Amoore to the WNBA, three starters return: 6-4 Amelia Hassett, 6-5 Teonni Key, and 6-6 Clara Strack.
The Wildcats maintain a size advantage with skilled big players. Strack earned SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors as a sophomore, averaging over 15 points and nine rebounds. Key shot above 50% while posting career highs across the board.
Brooks added multi-time All-ACC guard Tonie Morgan at point guard, and former All-Ivy League player Jordan Obi returns from injury. In Brooks’ second Lexington season, Kentucky deserves more attention.
Struggling Program: Arkansas
Kelsi Musick wants the Razorbacks to press defensively and play uptempo. This approach requires excellent execution to compete in the SEC during Musick’s first season. The roster’s best player transferred from Oral Roberts, with few proven complementary pieces—this doesn’t appear to be a consistently competitive SEC roster.
Top Newcomer: Aaliyah Chavez, Oklahoma
Chavez is considered among the nation’s elite rookies. She scored over 4,000 high school points and chose Oklahoma over South Carolina, LSU, UCLA, Texas, and Texas Tech.
The 5-11 guard averaged over 35 points per game as a senior, won Jordan Brand Classic MVP, and earned National High School Player of the Year honors from Gatorade, Sports Illustrated, and MaxPreps.
Chavez predicts an Elite Eight appearance—Oklahoma’s first since 2010. Optimism is justified in Jennie Baranczyk’s fifth season, as Chavez joins last year’s top three scorers: Raegan Beers, Peyton Verhulst, and Sahara Williams. If Chavez delivers, Oklahoma’s potential rises significantly.
Overlooked Transfer: Amiya Joyner, LSU
While MiLaysia Fulwiley and Kate Koval dominated Baton Rouge headlines, Joyner may prove equally vital.
The versatile 6-2 forward played three seasons at East Carolina, earning three all-conference selections. Last season, she joined 15 other players nationally averaging at least 15 points, nine rebounds, and one assist while shooting above 48%.
Expect her to play power forward for LSU, potentially forming a strong frontcourt partnership with Koval.
Player to Watch: Janiah Barker, Tennessee
WNBA scouts have long admired Barker’s potential. At 6-4 with a 6-7 wingspan, she possesses dynamic face-up skills and elite athleticism. She runs like a guard, defends multiple positions, and has explosive leaping ability.
However, she hasn’t produced a breakout collegiate season. After starting at Texas A&M, she played an important bench role at UCLA last season, earning Big Ten Sixth Player of the Year and 2023 SEC All-Freshman Team honors. She averages 10.3 points and 6.5 rebounds on 46.9% shooting.
Can Barker maximize her potential and improve her draft stock under Kim Caldwell in her final college season? If Tennessee advances, Barker’s development could be key.
Coach Under Pressure: Joni Taylor, Texas A&M
This hiring—and subsequent moves at Georgia and UCF—has disappointed. While Taylor succeeded at UGA, she’s struggled at Texas A&M during the transfer portal, NIL, and revenue-sharing era.
Taylor is 11-37 in SEC games at Texas A&M with one NCAA Tournament appearance (a first-round loss to Nebraska).
The Aggies heavily recruited portal players this offseason, mostly mid-major talent they hope can compete in the SEC. If this strategy fails, Taylor may face termination this spring.
Three Key Matchups
Tennessee at UConn: Sunday, Feb. 1, 12 p.m. ET — FOX
Last year’s Lady Vols victory over the Huskies was Kim Caldwell’s signature first-season win, ending a four-game Tennessee losing streak to UConn. The defending national champions seek revenge against their rivals.
Oklahoma at Vanderbilt: Monday, Feb. 9, 8 p.m. ET — ESPN2
Aaliyah Chavez potentially trading baskets with Mikayla Blakes? Count me in.
South Carolina at LSU: Saturday, Feb. 14, 8:30 p.m. ET — ABC
Possibly the season’s biggest regular-season game. This could be Flau’Jae Johnson’s final opportunity to defeat the Gamecocks, and MiLaysia Fulwiley can show South Carolina what they’re missing. Meanwhile, Staley’s team may not view this as a true rivalry—South Carolina has won 17 consecutive games against LSU.
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