Five things we learned from opening day of women’s college basketball

The 2026–27 women’s college basketball season began on Monday, November 2, with several major performances, a significant upset and the return of one of the sport’s biggest stars.

South Carolina opened with a victory in Paris, JuJu Watkins returned to competitive action, and several programs demonstrated why they belong in the national championship conversation.

Here are five things that stood out from opening day.

1. South Carolina still has an exceptional offensive ceiling, but defensive consistency needs attention.

The No. 1 Gamecocks defeated No. 20 Maryland 101–93 in Paris. Their first half was particularly impressive, as they established a 61–33 advantage and led by as many as 31 points.

Joyce Edwards finished with 23 points, while Agot Makeer contributed a career-high 20. Tessa Johnson and Jerzy Robinson added 15 points apiece.

However, Maryland made the contest considerably closer in the second half. Sophomore guard Addi Mack scored 35 points, including 31 after halftime, as the Terrapins reduced the deficit to six.

South Carolina has the offensive personnel to overwhelm opponents. The next step is maintaining defensive discipline when opponents begin to find their rhythm.

2. JuJu Watkins is back, and USC has considerable offensive depth.

After missing the entire previous season with an ACL injury, JuJu Watkins returned to the court against UNLV.

The USC star recorded 21 points in 25 minutes as the third-ranked Trojans secured a 100–68 victory.

However, her return was only part of the story. Jazzy Davidson scored 23 points, while freshman Saniyah Hall contributed 22 points and seven rebounds in her collegiate debut.

USC now has multiple players capable of carrying significant offensive responsibility. That combination could make the Trojans particularly difficult to defend as the season progresses.

3. Oklahoma has introduced itself as a serious contender.

One of opening day’s most significant results came in Paris, where No. 21 Oklahoma defeated No. 12 North Carolina 91–79.

Freshman LeeLee Bell made an immediate impression with 25 points, eight rebounds and four assists in her collegiate debut.

Sahara Williams also delivered an excellent performance, scoring 22 points.

Oklahoma demonstrated that its offensive system can challenge highly ranked opponents. For North Carolina, the defeat highlighted the importance of second-half execution, particularly against teams capable of scoring in transition and creating difficult defensive assignments.

4. Individual performances are already setting high standards.

Opening day produced some remarkable statistical performances.

Georgia Tech’s Talayah Walker scored 40 points in an 80–65 victory over Hofstra. Her performance also established an ACC record for points in a season opener.

Washington’s Sayvia Sellers recorded a triple-double against UC San Diego, finishing with 25 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in a 79–63 victory.

These performances provide an early indication of the individual talent across the country. Both players have given their respective programs excellent reasons for optimism.

5. The competition for the national championship will be intense.

Several established programs opened their campaigns with impressive offensive performances.

LSU scored 129 points, Louisville recorded 119, Vanderbilt finished with 112, and Tennessee reached 109.

UConn also began its campaign with a commanding 100–35 victory over Cornell.

These results reinforce the depth of offensive talent across the sport. The defending champions, UCLA, also opened their season with a 73–53 victory over Lehigh.

There are several teams with legitimate championship ambitions, and the early results suggest that the race will be highly competitive.

The bigger picture

Opening day delivered several encouraging performances, but it also revealed areas that teams will need to address before conference play begins.

For South Carolina, the victory over Maryland was an important first step. Dawn Staley has considerable talent available, and the return of Chloe Kitts and Ashlyn Watkins adds valuable experience and depth.

The challenge now is turning that individual talent into consistent team execution, particularly against opponents capable of sustaining pressure for four quarters.

One question for Gamecock fans: After watching the opening day performances, which team currently looks like South Carolina’s biggest threat in the race for the national championship?