Girls’s NCAA match 2022 – High 25 gamers within the ladies’s bracket

The controversy over who ought to be the nationwide Participant of the Yr has been as spirited this ladies’s faculty basketball season because the one over which crew may hoist the 2022 NCAA trophy.

South Carolina junior Aliyah Boston and Iowa sophomore Caitlin Clark will little doubt headline each All-America crew — and so they cleared the path in our rating of the highest gamers within the women’s NCAA tournament, as voted on by ESPN’s Charlie Creme, Alexa Philippou and Mechelle Voepel.

Twelve gamers have been featured in all three of ESPN’s prime 25 participant rankings this season (denoted under with *). Not a lot has modified on the very prime of the record from our final rating on Jan. 12, however one large title was added: UConn‘s Paige Bueckers, who was No. 1 in ESPN’s preseason record however was omitted from model 2.Zero after being sidelined by a knee harm.

Some prime gamers have been eradicated from these rankings when their groups weren’t included within the NCAA bracket. And Tennessee‘s Jordan Horston — who acquired sufficient votes to make the lower — was taken off the record as her standing for the match is unsure attributable to a fractured dislocation of her left elbow suffered Feb. 17.

From potential first-round picks in April’s WNBA draft to affect underclassmen, these are the 25 finest gamers within the Massive Dance. Stanford, UConn and Louisville every put two gamers on the record.

Ahead | 6-foot-5 | junior

Her SEC-record double-double streak is at 24, and she or he was named SEC Participant of the Yr and the league’s prime defender, averaging 16.Eight factors, 12.Zero rebounds and a couple of.6 blocks. Boston’s management has been stellar all season. The sudden loss to Kentucky within the SEC ultimate provides her one other probability to show it going ahead within the NCAA match because the Gamecocks search a second straight Last 4. — Voepel

Guard | 6-foot-0 | sophomore

Clark, the Massive Ten Participant of the Yr, leads Division I in scoring (27.4) and assists (7.9), and helped propel Iowa to the Massive Ten regular-season and convention match titles, the primary time this system received each in the identical season. The Hawkeyes, who made the Candy 16 final 12 months, are on a seven-game successful streak coming into NCAA match play. — Voepel

Ahead | 6-foot-4 | senior

Making a late push to reenter a nationwide participant of the 12 months dialog that appeared to neglect her, Smith racked up averages of 32 factors and 16 rebounds in Baylor’s ultimate three regular-season video games because the Bears overtook and overwhelmed the remainder of the Massive 12 on their strategy to a 12th straight regular-season crown. — Creme

Guard | 6-foot-1 | junior

The Cardinal ran the desk within the Pac-12 on their strategy to this system’s 15th league match title, and Jones was a pressure all through. The Last 4’s most excellent participant final season for nationwide champion Stanford, Jones is second on the crew in scoring (13.1) and rebounding (7.9) and leads in assists (3.7). Even on a crew with a number of offensive choices, she is the go-to at crunch time. — Voepel

Guard | 6-foot-2 | senior

Howard put up her typical sterling numbers, however for greater than half the season, she did not appear to be doing a lot to assist Kentucky win. On Feb. 10, the Wildcats have been 9-11 and it regarded like Howard’s profession would finish with an early loss within the SEC match. As an alternative, Kentucky started successful once more and by no means stopped. With Howard steering the ship, the Wildcats received their first SEC match title in 40 years and experience a 10-game successful streak into the NCAA match. — Creme

Ahead |6-foot-2 | senior

In a world with out Caitlin Clark, Hillmon is a two-time Massive Ten Participant of the Yr and some of the adorned gamers within the league’s historical past. However, she’s the most effective participant ever at Michigan and the heartbeat of a program having its most profitable season. — Creme

Middle| 6-foot-5 | senior

Austin (15.Four PPG, 8.9 RPG) has the Rebels again within the NCAA match for the primary time since 2007, and she or he has elevated her sport into potential WNBA lottery-pick standing. Ole Miss was 0-16 within the SEC in 2019-20, the season earlier than Austin transferred there from Maryland. This season, Ole Miss went 10-6 and made the SEC match semifinals. — Voepel

Ahead | 6-foot-4 | sophomore

Brink has been getting it performed on each ends for the Cardinal this season, simply edging teammate Haley Jones as their prime scorer and rebounder whereas additionally taking dwelling Pac-12 Defensive Participant of the Yr. When she stays out of foul bother, she’s a pressure to be reckoned with, and at her finest her inside presence provides an in any other case balanced Stanford squad a significant shot at repeating as nationwide champions. — Philippou

Ahead | 6-foot-1 | senior

Whereas the numbers aren’t fairly pretty much as good as a season in the past, Joens has performed one thing even greater: lead the Cyclones to their finest Massive 12 season ever. Averaging 20.Zero PPG and 9.2. RPG is hardly a down season, particularly when Joens additionally grew to become Iowa State’s all-time main scorer in mid-February. — Creme

Guard | 5-foot-11 | sophomore

Since getting back from a knee harm that sidelined her for 19 video games, Bueckers continues to be having good and unhealthy days, each mentally and bodily, although the Huskies did not want her a lot to cruise to a Massive East match title. UConn’s newfound depth takes a few of the load off her shoulders if she’s not at 100 p.c, however her unparalleled courtroom imaginative and prescient and playmaking potential, plus her constant taking pictures and talent to get a bucket when her crew wants it, may make the distinction between the Huskies attaining their targets this spring and going dwelling empty-handed. — Philippou

Middle | 6-foot-6 | junior

Kitley (17.7 PPG, 10.Zero PPG) took the following step in her profession, being named ACC Participant of the Yr and main Virginia Tech to the league semifinals for the primary time in program historical past. She wasn’t in a position to play within the ACC match semifinal loss to NC State due to a shoulder harm, however she is anticipated again for the NCAA match. — Voepel

Ahead | 6-foot-3 | sophomore

After lacking half of her freshman season with a foot harm, basketball followers have lastly seen the Angel Reese they have been promised. In an in any other case up-and-down 12 months for the Terps, Reese has been a shiny spot, main Maryland in scoring, dominating the glass on each ends and standing out on protection. Reese is in elite firm as one of many handful of gamers, together with Ayoka Lee and NaLyssa Smith, who common a minimum of 17 factors and 10 rebounds per sport. — Philippou

Middle | 6-foot-5 | senior

The Wolfpack are outlined by Cunane, who has led them to a few consecutive ACC match titles and two No. 1 seeds in a row. Her self-discipline, effectivity, excessive IQ and unselfishness have turn out to be the best way of this system. The offense, rated second within the nation by Her Hoop Stats, runs by way of Cunane, who additionally anchors the sixth-ranked protection. — Creme

Middle | 6-foot-6 | junior

Lee set the NCAA D-I single-game file with 61 factors on Jan. 23, and she or he was averaging a double-double going into the Massive 12 match. When she will get the ball the place she needs it, Lee is close to automated as a scorer. Defensively, she is robust and takes up house within the paint, blocking round three photographs per sport. Her mobility may not be the most effective, however she has logged quite a lot of minutes because the Wildcats’ centerpiece participant. — Voepel

Guard | 5-foot-7 | senior

Pointer has been the definition of reliable for brand spanking new LSU coach Kim Mulkey, main the Tigers in scoring (19.0), assists (5.2), steals (1.7) and minutes performed (36.9). The seniors are the center of LSU this season, and Pointer leads the best way there, too. — Voepel

Ahead | 6-foot-1 | senior

Few gamers on this record are extra versatile than Engstler, who emerged as a difference-maker in her first 12 months with the Cardinals after transferring from Syracuse. Her gritty protection — she is tied for the third-most defensive win shares within the nation, in keeping with Her Hoops Stats — is the straw that stirs the drink for this staunch unit. However she’s additionally an adept distributor, the Cardinals’ prime rebounder by a mile and is one among their finest 3-point shooters. — Philippou

Ahead | 6-foot-1 | senior

Morrow burst onto the nationwide scene after placing up ridiculous numbers for any participant no matter convention, not to mention a freshman: 21.7 factors, 13.Eight rebounds, 2.7 steals and 1.Eight blocks per sport, together with what was on the time a nation-best streak of 23 consecutive double-doubles. She performs with a relentlessness and competitiveness that assist her dominate inside and on the glass — regardless of being a guard at coronary heart — and make her a must-watch participant in March. — Philippou

Guard | 5-foot-7 | sophomore

It took a while for Van Lith to get going, significantly from the 3-point arc, however she has performed a few of her finest basketball of late, averaging 18.6 factors per sport in Louisville’s ultimate six regular-season contests. If she will be able to play like she did in Louisville’s current rout of Notre Dame (20 factors, together with 4-of-5 taking pictures from 3, 6 rebounds and 5 assists), the Cardinals may very well be a pressure in March. — Philippou

Guard | 6-foot-0 | senior

With a nostril for the ball and a precision old-school midrange sport, Berger has been the headliner within the Hoosiers’ success that depends extra on chemistry than stars. She helped navigate Indiana by way of a protracted COVID-19 pause and month with out final 12 months’s main scorer, Mackenzie Holmes, and have become this season’s prime level producer and crew chief in assists. — Creme

Guard | 6-foot-1 | junior

Bell already has mentioned she is going to enter the WNBA draft. Bell has been ASUN Participant of the Yr in each her seasons since transferring from Ohio State. A tall, sturdy guard, she missed 9 video games with a knee harm however returned in late February and hasn’t slowed down since. — Voepel

Guard | 5-foot-10 | junior

The Buckeyes have emerged from final 12 months’s self-imposed postseason ban to turning into Massive Ten co-regular-season champions largely due to the expansion of Sheldon’s sport. She completed within the prime 10 within the convention in factors, assists, steals and free throw share, and she or he teamed with Taylor Mikesell to kind some of the productive backcourts within the nation. — Creme

Guard | 5-foot-11 | senior

Williams has had her share of ups and downs all through her UConn profession, even throughout her senior season at occasions. However final 12 months, she turned a nook within the postseason, rising as a two-way risk to assist the Huskies advance to their 13th consecutive Last 4. This season, she as soon as extra appears to be kicking it into excessive gear at simply the best time, together with her sturdy efficiency within the Massive East match incomes her Most Excellent Participant honors. — Philippou

Guard | 5-foot-6 | freshman

Harmon took over the Massive 12 match, serving to Texas to the title and an NCAA No. 2 seed. She averaged 22 factors, 4.Three assists and three.7 rebounds in three victories and was the match’s most excellent participant. She had no turnovers within the semifinal or ultimate, regardless of taking part in each minute of each video games, one an additional time contest. — Voepel

Ahead | 6-foot-1 | junior

Regardless of being a constant and prolific scorer for the reason that day she arrived on campus, Siegrist has remained underrated nationally. She simply received Massive East Participant of the Yr and has led the league in scoring every of the previous two seasons. Solely 5 occasions in her profession has she failed to attain a minimum of 10 factors in a sport. — Creme

Guard/ahead | 5-foot-11 | senior

Williams leads Oklahoma in scoring and rebounding, and she or he is efficient each as a spot-up shooter and slasher to the rim. The Sooners are identified for his or her quick tempo underneath new coach Jennie Baranczyk. Once they get late within the shot clock and simply want somebody to create, Williams does it. — Voepel

Additionally receiving votes: Zia Cooke, South Carolina; Lorela Cubaj, Georgia Tech; Monika Czinano, Iowa; Azzi Fudd, UConn; Shaylee Gonzales, BYU; Destanni Henderson, South Carolina; Mackenzie Holmes, Indiana; Cate Reese, Arizona; Nyara Sabally, Oregon