Top 10 Women’s Freshman College Basketball Rankings – Predictions

Predicting the Women’s Freshman College Basketball Rankings of the 2024-2025 season as Sarah Strong of the UConn Huskies leads the way

By Sunday Umoh | November 1, 2024

Who is the best Women’s Freshman College Basketball Player?

The landscape of Women’s College Basketball continues to grow from one NCAA basketball season to the next. While a star-studded cast of women’s basketball players have left the college rankings the hype of incoming freshman is strong with the upcoming 2024-2025 NCAA Women’s Basketball season set to tip off on November 4^th, 2024. One of those talented incoming freshmen is the UConn Huskies forward Sarah Strong who lands atop the Top 10 Best Women College Basketball Freshman 2024 Prediction Rankings.

Strong, who is currently ranked as the top overall recruit of the Women’s Class of 2024 recruiting class is as talented as any player in the country while being a tremendous all-around player who can score, play defense, shoot from behind the three-point line, and can run the team’s offense.

While Strong is a key piece to the upcoming season for the Huskies, ultimately, she is just one of the many talented freshman women’s basketball players hitting the hardwood this fall.

Joining the Huskies talented forward includes Joyce Edwards of the South Carolina Gamecocks, Kennedy Smith of the USC Trojans, Syla Swords of the Michigan Wolverines, and Jaloni Cambridge of the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Here is a look at the Top 10 Women’s Freshman College Basketball Rankings 2024-2025:

Honorable Mention

Jordan Lee

School: Texas Longhorns

Position: Guard

Previous Ranking: Unranked

Just missing the Top 10 Women College Basketball Freshman 2024 Prediction list is Texas Longhorns guard Jordan Lee. Lee, who will be joining Justice Carlton during the 2024-25 Women’s Basketball season to help take the Longhorns to the next step within the women’s college basketball landscape.

On the offensive side of the floor Lee continues to continue to develop her all-around game while improving her shooting skills from one day to the next.

As her offense game continues to develop, Lee brings a tough, aggressive and physical style defensive approach while not being afraid to take a charge or step up to slow down opposing talented scoring threats.

Mikayla Blakes

School: Vanderbilt Commodores

Position: Guard

Previous Ranking: Unranked

While the Vanderbilt Commodores have not been known for landing talented top tier weapons on the hardwood, that has changed with the incoming Class of 2024.

The Commodores women’s basketball team landed one of the top 10-15 overall players in the incoming class in Mikalya Blakes. Blakes arrives in Indiana as a talented offensive threat who can shoot from all over the floor including from behind the three-point mark.

In addition to scoring, Blakes showcases a ton of basketball IQ on each play on both ends of the floor while also being physical and fast on the defensive end of the floor.

Top 10 Women’s Freshman College Basketball Rankings

10. Justice Carlton

School: Texas Longhorns

Position: Forward

Previous Ranking: Unranked

Sliding in at number 10 on the Top 10 Women College Basketball Freshman 2024 Prediction is the Texas Longhorns forward Justice Carlton. Carlton joins talented freshman Jordan Lee for what should be an exciting season for the team as well as their fan base.

The five-star forward has the size to play the forward position and physical tangibles to include strong ball handling skills to allow her to play like guard. The Longhorns freshman can attack the glass on one end of the floor, retreat back to the defensive side of the floor, and then shut down the ball handler all in one stride.

The six foot one inch Carlton is aggressive and strong while playing bigger than her size on defense as well as on the glass making her a tremendous rebounder.

9. Toby Fournier

School: Duke Blue Devils

Position: Forward

Previous Ranking: 9

The Duke Blue Devils continue to rank among the best college basketball programs in the country while the women’s basketball team continues to build a strong roster to compete each season.

One of those players arriving during the Class of 2024 is Toby Fournier who has made a highlight reel of plays over her high school career including posting multiple dunks on the offensive end of the floor. While all eyes will be watching for Fournier to post her first dunk of her collegiate career, her all around game is just as impressive to watch.

Fournier has size and speed making her a physical tool on both ends of the floor. The six-foot two-inch Fournier can attack the rim with the ball in her hand, dominate the glass for rebounds, and can shut down an opposing player while also showcasing her skills as a talented shot blocker.

8. Allie Ziebell

School: UConn Huskies

Position: Guard

Previous Ranking: Unranked

When you start to look at the top recruiting classes for the 2024 class, it is easy to see why the UConn Huskies rank among the best in the country. One of those top recruits is guard Allie Ziebell who will deliver the Huskies two top elite recruits for the upcoming season.

The talented star from Wisconsin is a game changer at the guard position while ranking among the best all around scorers and shooters within the recruiting class. Ziebell brings an all-around game to the Huskies including a high basketball IQ and great vision of the court as well as the physical tools to help her get open on the offensive end of the floor.

On the defensive side of the floor Ziebell is a solid physical defensive threat that understands how offenses operate and can adapt to make plays.

7. Kayleigh Heckel

School: USC Trojans

Position: Guard

Previous Ranking: Unranked

As the 2024-25 NCAA Women’s Basketball season approaches one team to keep an eye is the USC Trojans who continue to add top tier recruiting classes. The Class of 2024 features not one but two of the top recruits in the country including Kayleigh Heckel.

Heckel, who will arrive on campus along with Kennedy Smith, joins former top overall recruit JuJu Watkins. Heckel is an aggressive playing point guard who has tremendous ball handling skills and speed to move the ball up and down the floor while also using that speed to play a physically tough style of defense.

In addition to handling the ball and running the team’s offense, Heckel continues to develop into a strong shooter who can stop, catch and shoot in transition but also use her speed and quickness to attack the rim.

6. Kate Koval

School: Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Position: ForWARD

Previous Ranking: uNRANKED

Possibly the most dynamic of the downlow incoming freshman Kate Koval will look to continue her dominance in the paint and under the paint this season for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

Koval arrives standing at over six foot four inches delivering the Fighting Irish a body who can be strong down low while also supplying the team with a physical strong defensive weapon on the defensive end of the floor.

While the talented star has room to grow, the former New York Gatorade Player of the Year Award winner has tremendous court vision and basketball IQ to help her develop into one of the best players in the country.

5. Kennedy Smith

School: USC Trojans

Position: fORWARD

Previous Ranking: Unranked

Rounding out the Top 5 on the Top 10 Women College Basketball Freshman 2024 Prediction is the USC Trojans Kennedy Smith. After landing the top overall recruit from the Class of 2023, the Trojans landed another talented weapon for the upcoming Class of 2024 in Kennedy Smith.

Smith who is coming off a strong final high school season including taking home the California Gatorade Player of the Year Award, The Trojans freshman is a two-way basketball star who has size, speed and power to dominate on the defensive end of the floor including being a tremendous shot blocker and a physical body that can guard any position.

On the offensive end of the floor Smith’s athleticism, basketball IQ, and her all around set of skills allows her to be an effective shooter from the floor, attack the rim for layups while also having great court vision to find the open teammate.

4. Syla Swords

School: Michigan Wolverines

Position: Guard

Previous Ranking: uNRANKED

In one of the top conferences for Women’s College Basketball, Syla Swords delivers the Michigan Wolverines one of the top incoming recruits in the country who has the talent to help the program win from day one.

Swords, who represented Canada during the 2024 Summer Olympics is a strong shooting guard who has all the physical offensive tools to rank among the best shooters in the country.

The Wolverines freshman can shoot from any spot on the offensive side of the floor whether it be from a pick and roll or a straight catch and shoot type of play.

While Swords will need to improve her overall defensive skills, her offensive upside makes her an interesting freshman to watch as the 2024-25 NCAA Women’s Basketball season approaches.

3. Jaloni Cambridge

School: Ohio State Buckeyes

Position: gUARD

Previous Ranking: Unranked

Another talented freshman arriving to the women’s college basketball landscape this season is the Ohio State Buckeyes guard Jaloni Cambridge.

Cambridge, who lacks the size of other incoming freshmen, has the speed and court vision to make up with her ability to run the team’s offense while also being a weapon who can shoot the ball from all three levels of the floor including attacking the rim. In addition to having a strong shot, Cambridges court vision and ability to find the open teammate makes her a dynamic threat entering her first season with the Buckeyes.

Cambridge will arrive on a team that features a solid group of recruits ranking among the top in the country while also joining her sister Kennedy Cambridge who will be entering her redshirt sophomore season.

2. Joyce Edwards

School: South Carolina Gamecocks

Position: fORWARD

Previous Ranking: uNRANKED

The South Carolina Gamecocks and Dawn Staley continue to find pedigree basketball players each season allowing the team to compete as a favorite for the National Championship each season.

The next name up on that list is Joyce Edwards who is one of two Gamecocks arriving this season that rank among the 10 best incoming freshman basketball players in women’s basketball.

Edwards, who elected to stay home and play for the Gamecocks, is coming off taking home the South Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year Award.

The Gamecocks talented freshman is as good of a two-way player as any of the incoming freshmen who can slow down ball handlers, attack the rim aggressively, and block shots. Meanwhile Edwards is a strong shooter and a player who can open up her own shot while also finding her teammates in traffic.

1. Sarah Strong

School: UConn Huskies

Position: fORWARD

Previous Ranking: uNRANKED

In at number one on the Top 10 Women College Basketball Freshman 2024 Prediction list is the UConn Huskies talented freshmen recruit Sarah Strong.

Strong is as talented as any forward in the country while bringing a versatile basketball game to Women’s College Basketball during the upcoming 2024-2025 season.

The talented freshmen recruit who headlines a strong Class of 2024 group of players can play all over the offensive side of the floor including being a threat from behind the three-point line while also battling down low aggressively. As Strong continues to develop her all-around game will continue to improve.

How would you rank these college basketball freshmen for the 2023-2024 season? Rank below to be added in the NCAA Power Rankings.