Preseason Top 16: Podcast Insights
In a recent episode of the IX Sports Podcast, hosts Melissa Triebwasser and Michael Waterloo guided listeners through their preseason top 16 rankings for NCAA women's basketball, weaving analysis of team depth, schedule difficulty and recruiting momentum.
The duo placed Notre Dame, North Carolina, Louisville and Ohio State in the 13‑16 bracket, while also positioning Nebraska, Oklahoma, UCLA and Texas Christian University within that same range, a placement that surprised Waterloo given Nebraska's demanding non‑conference slate.
Both analysts praised the Fighting Irish's recruiting class, noting its potential to elevate the program, and concurred that Washington, Texas, Ole Miss and UCLA deserve a 9‑12 slot, with Triebwasser highlighting Washington's synergy between Sayvia Sellers and Avery Howell as an underrated backcourt.
Their consensus on the top four — South Carolina, UConn, Michigan and USC — underscored a belief in traditional powerhouses, yet the conversation turned to the impact of returning star JuJu Watkins for USC, a factor that Triebwasser says could reshape her ranking calculus.
The episode also touched on Gabriela Jaquez's transition from UCLA to the WNBA and lauded the partnership of Sellers and Howell as a quietly dominant force that could push Washington deep into the postseason.