NCAAW: Hannah Hidalogo’s NPOY campaign and more early-season takeaways

The 2025-26 women’s college basketball season has delivered no shortage of surprises and statements through the opening week and change. Here are the three biggest storylines shaping early season narratives.

1. USC is better without JuJu than anyone imagined

When JuJu Watkins went down with a torn ACL during last season’s NCAA Tournament, many wrote off USC’s 2025-26 campaign before it even began. Losing the reigning National Player of the Year would cripple any program, and the Trojans were expected to take a significant step backward while awaiting Watkins’ return next season.

Instead, USC has opened the season 2-0, highlighted by a stunning 69-68 victory over then-No. 9 NC State in the Ally Tipoff. While the offensive execution remains inconsistent—the shooting efficiency hasn’t been there—what has emerged is a defensive identity that Lindsay Gottlieb can hang her hat on.

Freshman phenom Jazzy Davidson and sophomore Kennedy Smith have been the catalysts. Davidson had five blocks and three steals, and her game-winning layup with 8.2 seconds remaining capped off a remarkable 11-point fourth-quarter comeback where the Trojans held NC State scoreless for the last four minutes of the game. The Trojans’ defense forced 18 turnovers in that game alone, showcasing the kind of disruptive energy that can compensate for offensive limitations.

This USC team mirrors what we’ve seen from Duke in recent years—a program that leans heavily on defensive intensity and playmaking. The difference is that USC has even more high-end talent in the pipeline to contribute on offense. With Davidson already making an impact and the imminent arrival of 2026’s top recruit Saniyah Hall, the Trojans have assembled a roster that can compete through pure athleticism and defensive pressure for years to come.

As for the present, the ultimate test arrives Saturday when USC faces No. 2 South Carolina. Despite losing a ton of depth this year, Dawn Staley’s Gamecocks remain one of the best teams in women’s basketball, and this matchup will reveal whether USC’s game can translate against the elite of the elites. A strong showing against South Carolina would legitimize the Trojans as a team capable of making serious noise in March, even without their superstar.

2. LSU has the guard talent to finally win the SEC—and maybe another title

It’s been over two decades since LSU last cut down the nets at the SEC Tournament, but the 2025-26 Tigers might finally be the team to end that drought. Kim Mulkey has assembled what I’d consider to be the most talented backcourt in the entire nation.

The addition of junior transfer guard MiLaysia Fulwiley from South Carolina gives LSU an absurd concentration of guard talent alongside returning stars in senior Flau’Jae Johnson and junior Mikaylah Williams. Fulwiley brings explosive downhill scoring ability and defensive playmaking, having won SEC Sixth Player of the Year and Tournament MVP honors while at South Carolina. Her decision to transfer to a conference rival speaks volumes about her belief in LSU’s championship potential and what her role on the team will be.

Johnson and Williams form an All-SEC caliber duo that can take over games on both ends. Defensively, this backcourt has legitimate National Defensive Player of the Year candidates and the ability to create chaos with their length and hands. If this team goes far, the questions won’t be about the guards—they’re special.

Instead, the concerns center on the frontcourt. LSU has added sophomore Kate Koval from Notre Dame and senior Amiya Joyner from East Carolina, but can they provide the consistent interior presence needed against SEC powers like South Carolina and Tennessee? The Tigers will need reliable minutes and production from their post players to avoid being exploited on the glass and in the paint.

The other intrigue lies in offensive hierarchy. With three legitimate star guards, who gets the ball in crunch time? How will Mulkey manage minutes and touches to keep everyone engaged? These are good problems to have, but they’re still problems that need solving.

Make no mistake: This is a top-five team nationally. The guard talent alone makes LSU dangerous against anyone, and if the frontcourt pieces fall into place, the Tigers could not only win the SEC but make a deep March run.

3. Hannah Hidalgo’s National Player of the Year campaign is accelerating

If you’re not watching Hannah Hidalgo play basketball, you’re missing appointment television. The Notre Dame junior guard has been nothing short of sensational through the first weeks of the season, making a compelling early case for National Player of the Year honors.

Hidalgo is averaging 34.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, 5.0 assists and maintaining a ridiculous 55.7 percent field goal percentage through three games this season. These numbers don’t even look real. The scoring has been that special, and as someone who is big on players excelling in the margins, averaging almost eight rebounds as a 5-foot-6 guard is absolutely absurd.

Against Akron, Hidalgo delivered the single greatest performance in Notre Dame history, scoring 44 points while breaking the NCAA Division I all-time record with 16 steals in just over 27 minutes of action.

What makes Hidalgo’s performance even more remarkable is the context. With Olivia Miles having transferred to TCU after last season and Sonia Citron departing for the WNBA, Notre Dame is navigating a transitional period until their loaded 2026 recruiting class arrives. Hidalgo has essentially carried the Irish on her back, willing them to victories through sheer force of talent and competitive fire.

She’s already etched her name in history as one of only four players in NCAA women’s basketball to earn First-Team All-American honors in both their freshman and sophomore seasons. Now in her junior year, if Hidalgo maintains this level of two-way dominance—elite scoring paired with historically great defense—she’ll be impossible to ignore for the Naismith Trophy.

The challenge for Hidalgo will be sustaining this production over the full season while keeping Notre Dame competitive in the ACC. But if these first two weeks are any indication, we’re watching a player operating at a different level than almost anyone else in the country.