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(Correction: An earlier version of this article contained an incorrect order in our all-America teams. Paige Bueckers is a member of the All-America First Team of the Athletic and Ta’niya Losson is a second team All-America Selection.)
With the regular season in the Reveren view, AthleticsThe team of devoted writers and contributors came together to take stock of everything they have seen since November and made some difficult decisions about the best of the best in an impressive year of hoops. Some of their predictions for the preseason came from when four in the season all-America members were also in the first team season.
But two big surprises that they didn’t see coming? Two first -year students who have been stable forces in their respective teams and played their way to the second team in a very deep year in Women’s College Hoops.
The Chisel Jennings, Sabraena Merchant, Ben Pickman, Zena Keita and Mark Schindler rangers each their top 10 players, and totals were added to determine the praise for this season.
(Statistics from March 2)
First team
Juju Watkins, USC
Second -year wing
Statistics: 24.4 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 3.6 APG, 2.1 SPG, 2.0 BPG
The fact that the race for the national player of the year was not decided until the penultimate day of the season, and that in the end – on the last day – the choice became unanimous Watkins, says a lot about the assets of the second -year student to rise to the greatest moments of the year. Her 30 points, five assists, two steals and three blocks in the Big ten Regular Season Championship match against UCLA eventually gave her the last lead over Lauren Betts.
Watkins showed what we have seen of her all season. The mentality of a scorer. A defensive playmaker. An acute consciousness of how much her team needs her on the floor (after picking up her third error in the early parts of the second quarter, she no longer contaminated by the rest of the game). Last season, as a first -year student, Watkins proved himself as the best first -year player in America. This season you can delete any qualifying match. She was the best player. Point.
Cheryl Miller 🤝 Juju Watkins
Miller Hyped with Juju’s big night 🙌
(Via @Cbbonfox))
pic.twitter.com/rzyt8xkiem– Yahoo Sports (@yahoosports) March 2, 2025
Lauren Betts, UCLA
Junior center
Statistics: 19.7 ppg, 9.9 rpg, 2.7 APG, 2.8 BPG
Only four Power Conference players have had an average of 19-plus points, nine-plus rebounds and 2.5-plus assists for a full season in the last decade: Napheeesa Collier, Aerial Powers, Nia Coffey … and now Betts. It is not a bad company to keep. In her second year with UCLA, Betts was the most important reason why the Bruins maintained the number 1 of the majority of the season, and her dominance is also the best chance of the Bruins on a national title. An elite rand protector, defensive magnet that creates greater space and freedom for its teammates and one of the best offensive rebounders of the Nation – Betts proved its value daily for UCLA.
Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame
Sophomore Guard
Statistics: 24.2 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 3.6 SPG
Few players, if present, Stat-Stuff such as Hidalgo can. She is an improved 3-point shooter and for the second consecutive year she illuminates opponents on attack and disrupts them on defense. She is first national in defensive win shares and leads the ACC in Win shares for the second time in two seasons. Her production is an integral part of everything the Irish achieve, and a big reason why Notre Dame will certainly be a top two seed for the second consecutive year. Hidalgo may have another all-American who plays in addition to her in Olivia Miles, as well as another likely 2025 first round Wnba Draft Pick (Sonia Citron), but Hidalgo is also a power for himself. She is smart enough to put the best in her teammates, but still competent enough to take over games when the situation justifies.
Paige Bueckers, Uconn
Fifth -year Senior Guard
Statistics: 18.6 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 4.9 APG, 2 SPG
After her (in all likelihood) last match for regular season in Gampel Pavilion, Bueckers was admitted to the Huskies’ Ring of Honor and added to Uconn’s impressive list of national players of the year (in honor of her first -year season), on the occasion of the almost end of a remarkable university career. She again adds an all-America-honest to her resume. Hallmark Van Bueckers-Haar KoppelingScore-Gen-Was to be seen this season, because they got the top 20 players in points per game (1.17), but she was also the only player in the country in large hoops to average better than a 3.5 assist-to-turnover ratio this season.
Madison Booker, Texas
Second -year wing
Statistics: 16.0 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 2.9 APG, 1.6 SPG
One of the best first-year classes in recent memory has only gotten better as a second-year students, in which Watkins and Hidalgo repeated their 2024 All-America campaigns and Booker joined them in the first team of this year. Now in her natural position on the wing with the return of point guard Rori Harmon, Booker has been a more efficient scorer and impactful defender in her second season. She is the number 1 option for the SEC champions, on her way to conquer her second conference player of the year. Booker is also encouraged to attack the offensive glass without so many play responsibilities, and it follows that the Longhorns are second in the country in Lower Pans.
Second team
Anesah Morrow, LSU
Senior Vooruit
Statistics: 17.8 PPG, 14.1 RPG, 2.6 SPG
The Dubbeldouble-Koningin has had at least 10 points and 10 rebounds this season in 26 of its 30 games and leads the country in offensive rebounds and total boards. Although he was substandard as a power failure, Morrow stopped as a four in the SEC and she even played a considerable amount of center for the Tigers thanks to her motorcycle and speed. She is 19th nationally in total steals, feeds a top 10 LSU defense and jumps the tigers in transition.
Ta’niya Latson, Florida State
Junior guard
Statistics: 26.0 ppg, 4.8 APG, 4.6 RPG
Losson is one of the most productive attacking players in the country. She led the NCAA in scoring and became one of only two players who had several performances against opponents of at least 20 points and seven assists. Although it is 5-foot-8, Losson is fearless in attacking the basket. She draws 6.4 errors per game, which leads the nation. Latson is the engine in the high scoring attack by Florida State and her greatness has been shown throughout the season. Last week against Notre Dame, Latson played the best of an All-American in the game, ending with 23 points, nine assists and five rebounds in the over-controlled road victory of the Seminoles. Her game winner against North Carolina at the end of January is one of the highlights of the season.
Olivia Miles, Notre Dame
Senior Guard
Statistics: 16.5 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 6.0 APG, 41.3 3-PT FG%
Miles was demonstrably the best passer in the country before she tore her ACL, able to manipulate the defense in the Half Court and in transition with brutal strength and flair. This season she added an elite jump shot to her attacking arsenal and hit 41.3 percent of her 3S while she still matches 70 percent of her attempts in the limited area. She is perhaps the most complete attacking guard in Division I with her combination of passing and scoring, and she helmets one of the most devastating violations on the way to the NCAA tournament.
Sarah Strong, Uconn
First -year student
Statistics: 16.1 ppg, 8.0 RPG, 3.4 APG, 2.3 SPG, 1.5 bpg
Since 2009, the only player ever has a 15-point, eight-rebound, three-assistant season as a first-year student has strong. She was one of the two players who started every match for the Husky’s this season, and her ability to influence every facet of the game, made her a crucial part of the success of UConn this year. The 6-2 attacker was remarkably ready at big moments and turned out to be versatile as a consistent scorer, on average 9.4 points per game in the paint while he shot 37 percent from outside.
Mikayla Blakes, Vanderbilt
First -year guard
Statistics: 23.1 PPG, 3.1 APG, 45.7 FG%
It didn’t even take a full season for Blakes to arrive in Nashville and the process of the Commodores changed. From her first game at the university, she turned out to be a difference maker by scoring 23 points in just 25 minutes. From there, Blakes has been routinely proven to be one of the most dynamic players in the country. The highlight of the season of Blakes (so far) was a 55-point outing against Auburn in which she established the NCAA of all time of first-year single-game score record. The performance was also her second 50-piece of the season, because she had scored 53 against Florida on January 30. Blakes became the first NCAA first year student and the fourth NCAA Division I player since 1999-2000 to record several 50-point matches in the same season. She led the SEC in offensive win shares, a particularly impressive performance given the depth of the conference.
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