All four number 1 seeds are alive in the 2025 female NCAA tournament. But as the last four approaches, another number 2 seeds were terminated on Sunday as South Carolina knocked Duke in Elite Eight in Birmingham.
Even march continues to be madness, coaching Hindola is roaming and the transfer portal is open – so it is never hurry to look forward for the next season.
For the rest of the tournament, ESPN analysts will be demolished how 1- and 2-seeds dashed their title, and what is further for each team. Can the player depart on the way? Who are the top coming recruitments? What can be fitted on the roster for 2025-26?
record: 29-8, 14-4 ACC (Third, ACC won the tournament title)
How they were finished: Loss of 54-50 to South Carolina in elite eight
Expected departure: G Regan Richardson
Expected to come back next year: F Tobby Forenier, G. Aslon Jackson, G Oluchi Okananwa, F. Delni Thomas, G Jadin Donovan, G Vanessa de Jesus.
Top coming recruitment: PG Emil Skinner (No ESPNW Top 100 per ESPNW)
Portal priorities: There should be no really big hole to fill this team if Blue Devils hope to return to everyone. He said, even if there is an experienced transfer in that situation, coach Kara Lawson may consider adding it, “said that, if there is an experienced transfer in that situation. Key for any transfer addition: He will have to play defense at a very high level and get up in court.
Can Blue Devils break up to the last four next year? It is likely that Duke will enter the next season as a Presiden Top-Five Team and ACC favorite. Blue Devils came very close to a last four berths this year, thanks to their ability to stop opponents with energetic defensive style. If anything, they should be even better in the next season as their deep sophomore class goes into its junior years and the ACC Freshman of the Year Forenier returns to the experience of experience under her belt.
If you like a high scoring game then Duke may not have a cup of tea; The Blue Devils coach of Lawson is very different from the final four teams of 1999, 2002, 2003 and 2006 under coach Gayle GoStencorce. But now Duke’s style has proved effective, and Lawson is definitely ready to reach its own final four. – Michael Vopel
record: 28-7 overall, 16-2 ACC (tied to first)
How they were finished: 80-73 loss to number 3 seed LSU in Sweet 16
The tigers were lower seeds, but they felt like a favorite in the game: they were healthy than recently (back to injury with guard Flazes Johnson) and defeated Wolfpack in November. Both teams have got the success of the NCAA tournament; The neck state created the last four last season and LSU the Elite Eight (Tigers won the NCAA title in 2023), and both had great experience for 2024–25. But LSU Senior Forward Anees Moro (30 points, 19 rebounds) was the largest X factor on Friday. A guard-led team could not stop the neck state, Moro, which led the Division I in rebounding and double-dabbles this season.
Required departure: G Aziaha James, G Sanya rivers, G. Madison Hayes
Expected to come back next year: Although the Wolfpack Guard loses very little, Zo Brooks and Zamareya Jones should feel great about playing their circumference again to coach Wes Moore. And players to Tilda Trigger (6-Foot-6) and Lorena Awau (6-5), both new people in this season, Return Size Plus more experience. Forward Maddy Cox, who will be junior in the next season, on Friday a confidence-brain of the season’s best game-8 points and 7 rebound-un-faced season.
Top coming recruitment: Zee Destin “Ky’she” Lunan (Number 60 per espnw)
Portal priorities: Adding experiences to guards and more post plays. James led Wolfpack in the points, Hayes led him to rebound and aid in the river. The trio matters a lot to the state with its production and leadership. If there was a one cylice heel for Wolfpack this season, it was required for a better post play. He was hurt in Friday’s loss.
Can the neck state maintain its sweet 16 speed? It does not matter that they have been chosen to finish in ACC over the last several years, Wolfpacks under the Moore usually put things together and become a strong team in Postsen. He has made it in the NCAA regional semi -finals in six of the last seven sessions. In the next season, they have to be done without a standout guard, which matters a lot for the program.
