Big 12 Women’s Basketball Team Previews
-
- TCU guard Olivia Miles advances the ball against Arkansas Pine Bluff during an NCAA college basketball game in Fort Worth, Texas, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025.
-
- Iowa center Ava Heiden, left, and Iowa State center Audi Crooks (55) fight for position during an NCAA college basketball game against Iowa in Ames, Iowa, Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025.
-
- BYU’s Delaney Gibb works around a screen in a women’s college basketball game against San Jose State at the Marriott Center on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025.
-
- Baylor guard Taliah Scott (0) shoots against Texas guard Rori Harmon (3) during an NCAA basketball game on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Fort Worth, Texas.
Here’s a look at all 16 Big 12 women’s basketball teams heading into league play for the 2025-26 season, plus the Week 1 matchups.
(Listed in order of preseason predictions from Big 12 coaches)
1. No. 9 TCU (12-0)
NET: (8)
Top Player: Olivia Miles 5-10 Sr. G (18.1 points, 7.1 rebounds, 7.9 assists per game)
Best Win: A 69-59 win against North Carolina State (NET 31) on Nov. 16.
The Word: Miles, an All-American transfer from Notre Dame, controls everything for the Horned Frogs and posted three straight triple-doubles to end the non-conference schedule. Cal transfer Marta Suarez (18.7 ppg) is a big threat inside and shoots 55% from the field. TCU made the Elite 8 last season and could go even further in 2025-26.
2. No. 10 Iowa St (12-0)
NET: (13)
Top Player: Audi Crooks 6-3 Jr. C (27.8 ppg, 72.2% FG)
Best Win: A 74-69 victory against Iowa (NET 11) on Dec. 10.
The Word: Crooks is the leading scorer in the country and unstoppable in the post, pouring in a school record 47 points in a win against Indiana. She is a definite national player of the year candidate. Running mate Addy Brown (13.3 points, 9.4 rebounds, 5.8 assists per game) is one of the league best all-around players. The Cyclones have won their 12 games by an average of 26 points and could make a lot of noise come March.
3. No. 15 Baylor (11-2)
NET: (28)
Top Player: Taliah Scott 5-9 So. G (22.6 ppg)
Best Win: A 58-52 victory against Duke (NET 38) on Nov. 3.
The Word: Scott is a gun for hire and is on her third team in three years after stints at Arkansas and Auburn. She’s been an offensive machine at every stop and scored a season-high 32 points in a five-point loss to Iowa. The Bears were stung pretty hard by No. 2 Texas (89-54) on Dec. 14 but will still be a force in the Big 12.
4. Oklahoma State (11-2)
NET: (27)
Top Player: Haleigh Timmer 5-11 Sr. G (15.5 ppg)
Best Win: An 87-84 victory against Miami, Fla. (NET 48) at the Cayman Islands Classic on Nov. 29.
The Word: Timmer, a transfer from, South Dakota State, is one of seven Cowgirls averaging double figures. That includes BYU transfer Amari Whiting (11.9 ppg). Oklahoma State’s turbo style averages 93.8 points per game, second in the country.
5. West Virginia (10-2)
NET: (25)
Top Player: Gia Cooke 5-8 Jr. G (16.3 ppg)
Best Win: A 57-49 victory against Duke (NET 38) in the Greenbrier Tip-Off on Nov. 14.
The Word: Cooke is on her third stop (also played at Maryland and Houston) but has found a good home in Morgantown. The Mountaineers lost All-Big 12 guard JJ Quinerly to graduation and miss her defensive prowess. The win against then-No. 15 Duke on Nov. 14 gave West Virginia plenty of momentum.
6. Kansas State (7-6)
NET: (73)
Top Player: Taryn Sides 5-7 Jr. G (14.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists per game)
Best Win: A 61-60 victory against Ole Miss (NET 20) in Dan Snyder Classic on Dec. 7.
The Word: The Wildcats won 28 games last season and advanced to the Sweet 16 but lost important pieces to graduation (6-6 Aoyka Lee, guard Serena Sundell) and the transfer portal (Eliza Maupin to Nebraska). Three of Kansas State’s six losses in the non-conference have been to mid-major programs (South Dakota, Green Bay and San Diego State). Sides and Nastja Claessens (11.1 ppg) are dependable scorers but need some help on the offensive end.
7. Kansas (10-2)
NET: (67)
Top Player: S’Mya Nichols 6-0 Jr. G (19.3 points, 4.8 assists per game)
Best Win: A 63-57 victory against Minnesota (NET 16) on Nov. 19.
The Word: Nichols is one of the league’s top players and scored a career-high 40 points in a six-point loss to Georgia at the Fort Myers Tip-Off. Freshman forward Jaliya Davis averaged 17.7 points in her first three games before going down with a leg injury. The Jayhawks expect Davis to return for league play. Kansas has won four straight games heading into the Big 12 schedule.
8. Utah (9-3)
NET: (45)
Top Player: Lani White 6-0 Sr. G (13.2 ppg)
Best Win: A 70-58 victory against Colorado State (NET 57) on Dec. 4.
The Word: White started her career at Utah, transferred to Virginia Tech and returned to Salt Lake City this season. She’s thriving, averaging double digits for the first time in her career. After three straight losses to No. 25 Washington, Syracuse and No. 1 UConn, the Utes have won six straight games.
9. Colorado (9-3)
NET: (64)
Top Player: Logyn Greer 6-4 Fr. F (11.6 points, 6 rebounds per game)
Best Win: An 84-59 victory against New Mexico (NET 105) on Nov. 6.
The Word: Greer leads the Buffaloes in scoring but it’s definitely a team effort, with five others averaging nine points or better. Junior guard Zyanna Walker (9.4 ppg) was an All-Big 12 defensive selection last season at Kansas State. Colorado’s losses were to No. 22 Louisville, Texas A&M and Montana.
10. BYU (11-1)
NET: (52)
Top Player: Delaney Gibb 5-11 So. G (4 games, 16.3 ppg)
Best Win: A 64-60 victory against Virginia Tech (NET 63) at the Paradise Jam on Nov. 27.
The Word: Gibb’s injury and recovery have allowed other players to flourish, including freshman guard Olivia Hamlin (13.6 ppg) and junior guard Marya Hudgins (11.3). The Cougars are 10-0 in Quad 4 games, 1-0 against Quad 2 (Virginia Tech) and 0-1 against Quad 1 (Vanderbilt). With Gibb back in the lineup, BYU is hoping to finish better than where they are projected in the Big 12.
11. Arizona State (13-0)
NET: (44)
Top Player: Gabby Elliott 5-10 Sr. G (16.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.6 steals per game)
Best Win: A 74-60 victory against Penn St (NET 74) on Dec. 9.
The Word: The Sun Devils, under new coach Molly Miller, are the surprise of the Big 12 and undefeated heading into league play. Elliott is playing for her fourth college team (previously with Clemson, Michigan State and Penn State) and is the No. 1 offensive option. UNLV transfer Mckinna Brackens (6-1 Jr.) is contributing 14.4 points and 7.9 rebounds per game for ASU.
12. Cincinnati (5-7)
NET: (150)
Top Player: Mya Perry 5-11 Sr. G (18.2 ppg)
Best Win: A 65-48 victory against UNLV (NET 108) on Dec. 13.
The Word: The Bearcats opened with three straight losses to Lehigh, Penn State and St. Joseph’s and also dropped games with Ball State, Xavier and Howard, so it was a tough non-conference result. Perry, an Ohio State and Florida Atlantic transfer, is getting her looks and freshman guard Calliyah DeVillasee (16.2 ppg) also provides pop on the offensive side.
13. Texas Tech (13-0)
NET: (22)
Top Player: Bailey Maupin 5-10 Sr. G (14.8 points, 3.5 assists per game)
Best Win: A 69-62 victory against Mississippi State (NET 41) on Nov. 20.
The Word: The Red Raiders are another surprise in the Big 12, heading into league play unbeaten. Last year’s leading scorer, Jasmine Shavers, transferred to Florida State but Maupin, Ole Miss transfer Snudda Collins (14.1 ppg) and Iowa State transfer Jalynn Bristow (14 ppg) form a very good guard line. Those three players combined for 52 points in the seven-point victory against Mississippi State.
14. Arizona (9-2)
NET: 163
Top Player: Mickayla Perdue 5-7 Sr. G (18.9 ppg)
Best Win: A 75-61 victory against UC-Irvine (NET 81) on Nov. 9.
The Word: Perdue, a Cleveland State transfer, is a bucket and scored a season-high 34 points in a win against Chicago State. Southern Miss/Buffalo transfer Noelani Cornfield (14.2 ppg) is an efficient playmaker who is averaging 7.9 assists per game. The Wildcats lost to Southern and New Mexico but finished the non-conference with blowouts of Eastern Kentucky, Chicago State and Bellarmine.
15. UCF (8-3)
NET: 115
Top Player: Leah Harmon 5-6 So. G (16.9 ppg)
Best Win: A 57-56 victory against Rice (NET 77) at the Puerto Rico Shootout on Nov. 28
The Word: Last year’s leading scorer Kaitlin Peterson (21.4 ppg) ran out of eligibility but Miami transfer Harmon is filling in nicely and scored 27 points in the win against Rice. Khyala Ngodu, a 6-3 junior, is making her presence known inside (11.6 points, 6.1 rebounds per game) and put up a 21-point, 13-rebound performance in a five-point loss to Wake Forest.
16. Houston (6-5)
NET: 177
Top Player: Kydnall Hunter 5-7 Sr. G (9.8 ppg)
Best Win: A 66-61 victory against Tulsa (NET 155) at the Baha Mar Nassau Championship on Nov. 30.
The Word: The Cougars lost a lot of firepower to graduation but brought in Hunter from Texas A&M, one of six key transfers. So far, six players average 7.5 points or better but nobody is in double figures and Houston is averaging just 62.6 points per game. The Cougars finished 2-3 with losses Southern and New Mexico.
Big 12 Women’s Basketball Week 1
Saturday, Dec. 20
BYU at UCF, noon MT (ESPN+)
Kansas State at TCU, 3 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Sunday, Dec. 21
Kansas at Iowa State, 11 a.m. MT (ESPN2)
Oklahoma State at Cincinnati, noon MT (ESPN+)
Houston at West Virginia, noon MT (ESPN+)
Texas Tech at Baylor, 2 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Colorado at Arizona State, 5 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Monday, Dec. 22
Utah at Arizona, noon MT (ESPN+)
