The Big Ten’s West Coast injection has had a profound impact on the league’s women’s basketball landscape, arguably more so than any other sport.
Particularly with the arrival of USC and UCLA — two national title contenders in 2024-25 — the Big Ten has never had a more robust women’s basketball product than it will this year. Just when the league wrapped up its spotlight run alongside superstar Caitlin Clark, here comes player of the year candidate JuJu Watkins to grab the baton. A thrilling Big Ten season is undoubtedly ahead.
With that, here is Sports Network’s predicted order of finish for the upcoming Big Ten women’s basketball campaign. The poll is comprised of six voters who cover the league, which now sits at 18 teams.
Unsurprisingly, the Trojans and Bruins were picked atop the conference. But who comes next?
- 1. USC (6 first-place votes)
- 2. UCLA
- 3. Ohio State
- T4. Nebraska
- T4. Indiana
- T6. Maryland
- T6. Iowa
- 8. Michigan State
- T9. Minnesota
- T9. Michigan
- 11. Washington
- 12. Illinois
- 13. Oregon
- 14. Wisconsin
- 15. Penn State
- 16. Purdue
- 17. Rutgers
- 18. Northwestern
Sports panel of voters includes Chloe Peterson of the Indianapolis Star, Brianna Mac Kay of the Columbus Dispatch, Alec Dietz of the Eugene (Ore.) Register-Guard, Ethan Hanson of the Lafayette (Ind.) Courier and Journal, Brian Calloway of the Lansing (Mich.) State Journal, and Dargan Southard of the Des Moines Register.
Dargan Southard is a sports trending reporter and covers Iowa athletics for the Des Moines Register and HawkCentral.com. Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter at @Dargan_Southard.
