Top 10 Women’s College Basketball Power Forwards 2024 Rankings

Ranking the best NCAA Women’s College Basketball Power Forwards of 2024 with names such as Angel Reese, Lauren Gustin, Kiki Iriafen, and more

By admin | April 24, 2024

The all-around women’s basketball game continues to evolve and develop as the stars taking the floor continue to elevate and adapt their all-around games. This includes some of the most talented power forwards in Women’s College Basketball that have the talent and physical skills to run the floor as a ball handler while also being able to play down low or be a threat to shoot inside and outside. One of those talented power forwards is the BYU Cougars senior Lauren Gustin who headlines the talented list of power forwards ranked among the Top 10 Women’s College Basketball Power Forwards Rankings list.

Gustin, who is wrapping up her four-year career with the Cougars, has posted four straight years averaging at least 29.1 minutes per game while being a starter in all four seasons.

Over her first 28 games of the 2023-2024 Women’s College Basketball schedule, Gustin has averaged a double double per game while posting 16.9 points per game to go along with 15.5 rebounds per game.

Joining Gustin among the best power forwards in college basketball include Angel Reese of the LSU Tigers, Kiki Iriafen of the Stanford Cardinal, Aaliyah Edwards of the UConn Huskies, and Yvonne Ejim of the Gonzaga Bulldogs. Each of these women’s basketball stars are making a run at the 2024 Katrina McClain Award this season.

Here is a look at the Top 10 Women’s College Basketball Power Forwards Rankings:

Honorable Mention

Mimi Collins

School: NC State Wolfpack

Just missing the Top 10 Women’s College Basketball Power Forwards Rankings list is the NC State Wolfpack Mimi Collins. The six-foot three-inch Collins is capping off a solid final season of Women’s College Basketball while continuing to be a backbone for the Wolfpack all season long.

Collins is averaging a career high 11.4 points per game to go along with 6.5 rebounds and one assists per game.

As the 2023-2024 Women’s Basketball Season slowly approaches the final few games of the season, Collins is looking to lead the Wolfpack on a deep run during March Madness.

Olivia Cochran

School: Louisville Cardinals

The Louisville Cardinals are off to a strong start as they look to fight for a top seed within the ACC conference as the ACC Tournament approaches.

One Cardinals star helping to lead the way is senior power forward Olivia Cochran. Cochran, who has been a four-year anchor for the Cardinals, is putting together a stellar all-around season while leading the Cardinals in multiple statistics including rebounds per game (6.4), steals (1.5) and blocked shots (.5).

In addition to those numbers Cochran is second on the team in scoring while averaging 10.9 points per game while also adding 1.5 assist per game.

Top 10 Women’s College Basketball Power Forwards

10. Dre’Una Edwards

School: Baylor Bears

Coming in at number 10 on the Top 10 Women’s College Basketball Power Forwards Rankings list is the Baylor Bears senior power forward Dre’Una Edwards. Edwards is in her first season with the Bears after spending time with the Utah Utes to start her collegiate career and the Kentucky Wildcats the previous two years.

The addition of Edwards to the Bears rotation has been solid while providing a strong spark to help the team to a 19-6 record to start the season.

Through 26 games this season Edwards has been brilliant on both ends of the floor including being a force in slowing down opposing players while picking up nearly two steals per game (1.7).

Meanwhile the senior power forward has added 12.2 points per game while also adding 6.5 rebounds per game this season.

9. Emma Ronsiek

School: Creighton Bluejays

One Women’s College Basketball team that has been putting together a strong season is the Creighton Bluejays who enter the final few weeks of the 2023-2024 regular season sitting at 21-4 on the season.

The Sioux Falls, South Dakota star has been as strong as any power forward within the nation while averaging 17.7 points per game and 5.7 rebounds per game.

In addition to her strong scoring abilities, Emma Ronsiek has also added 1.1 steals, 1.2 blocked shots, and 2.6 assists per game while shooting 47.7 percent from the field. Overall, the Blue Jays star has posted nine games with at least 20 points.

8. Maddy Westbeld

School: Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Looking at the top power forwards within Women’s College Basketball it is hard to look past the Notre Dame Fighting Irish power forward Maddy Westbeld.

Westbeld who is a finalist for the Katrina McClain Award for the best power forward within the country is nearly averaging a double double season while averaging 13.8 points per game to go along with 9.4 rebounds over her first 25 games of the season.

In 12 of the 25 games played this season, Westbeld has posted a double double including the team’s impressive 74-47 blowout of the Clemson Tigers to push their record to 6-2 over their last eight games.

7. Liza Karlen

School: Marquette Golden Eagles

Another talented power forward within the Women’s College Basketball landscape is the Marquette Golden Eagles senior Liza Karlen. Karlen who is from Saint Paul, Minnesota is capping off a solid three year stretch with the Golden Eagles including reaching career highs in a number of statistics this season.

This includes on the defensive end of the floor where Karlen has posted a career high 1.1 blocked shots per game while also adding 7.8 rebounds per game.

Meanwhile on the offensive end of the floor, Karlen has added a career high 18.3 points per game to go along with 2.1 assists while shooting 53 percent from the field.

6. Alissa Pili

School: Utah Utes

As you start to look around at the most dominating scoring power forwards within the country, Alissa Pili of the Utah Utes lands among the tops of the list.

The senior power forward currently ranks 13^th among all Women’s College Basketball players this season while averaging 21.5 points per game. The six-foot two-inch power forward has shot 55.9 percent from the field this season while also shooting 40.4 percent from behind the three-point line.

The numbers don’t stop their as Pili has added just below one steal (.9) and one blocked shot (.9) on the defensive end of the floor while also averaging six rebounds and 2.4 assists per game.

5. Yvonne Ejim

School: Gonzaga Bulldogs

Rounding out the Top 5 on the Top 10 Best Women’s College Basketball Power Forwards Rankings list is the Gonzaga Bulldogs senior power forward Yvonne Ejim.

Ejim who is rounding out her four-year career with the Bulldogs posting two straight seasons as the team’s starting power forward is posting her best season of her career while showcasing her physical abilities including her ability to score at will.

Over 27 games this season, Ejim is shooting 63.4 percent from the floor while averaging a career high 20.2 points per game. In addition, Ejim has added 8.3 rebounds per game while blocking 1.1 shots per game to go along with 10 double double performances.

4. Aaliyah Edwards

School: UConn Huskies

When you start to look at the best teams within Women’s College Basketball it is easy to see that talented stars like Aaliyah Edwards are a key part of their team’s success.

This is the Case with the UConn Huskies who are loaded with talent including Aaliyah Edwards as well as top point guard Paige Bueckers who are looking to lead the Huskies to the National Championship this season.

The three-year starter is rounding out her career with the Huskies nearly averaging a double double while averaging 18.1 points per game to go along with 9.2 rebounds per game. The Huskies talented power forward has shot 60.2 percent from the field while adding 1.5 steals, and 2.1 assists per game.

3. Kiki Iriafen

School: Stanford Cardinal

One of the handful of Women’s College Basketball players averaging a double double this season, the Stanford Cardinal power forward Kiki Iriafen has been as dynamic as any player in college basketball.

The junior power forward has elevated her game during her third season with Cardinal program setting career highs in both scoring and rebounding.

After averaging just 6.7 points and 3.8 rebounds last season, Iriafen has seen her minutes increase to 26.4 per game while her season scoring has increased to 18.5 points per game and her rebounds reaching 10.7 rebounds per game.

Entering the final few weeks leading into March Madness, the junior Cardinal is ranked 12^th in rebounding in the nation.

2. Lauren Gustin

School: BYU Cougars

When it comes to the top two players at the power forward position both Angel Reese of the LSU Tigers and Lauren Gustin of the BYU Cougars are well deserving of the top spot.

However, only one can land at the top with Gustin sliding in at number two. The Cougars power forward is as dynamic as any player in the country on the glass while leading the country while averaging 15.5 rebounds per game.

This comes after posting a career high 16.7 rebounds per game last season. Gustin has also added 16.9 points per game this season to go along with 1.9 assists per game.

1. Angel Reese

School: LSU Tigers

In at number one on the Top 10 Best Women’s College Basketball Power Forwards Rankings is the LSU Tigers star Angel Reese. Reese, who is looking to lead the LSU Tigers to their second straight National Championship is averaging 19.4 points per game to go along with 12.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.

The former Maryland Terps star and Baltimore, Maryland native is expected to be a highly coveted player during the 2024 WNBA Draft. Reese has also added nearly two steals (1.9) and one blocked shot per game (.8) while also setting a career high with 2.5 assists per game.

In addition to ranking among the best power forwards in the country, Reese has been nominated to the John Wooden Award watch list for the top overall player in Women’s College Basketball.