NCAAW: No. 13 NC State, TCU meet in WNBA Draft Lottery appetizer

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The 2025 WNBA Draft Lottery is the main event for women’s basketball fans on Sunday, Nov. 17. Shortly after 5 p.m. ET, we’ll learn if the Dallas Wings, Los Angeles Sparks or Washington Mystics will receive the No. 1 pick in April’s draft.

Before then, however, the NCAAW schedule offers several treats, headlined by No. 13 NC State traveling to Forth Worth to face TCU, which immediately will precede the draft lottery on ESPN.

Several players from both the Wolfpack and Horned Frogs likely will be on the radar of WNBA general managers, from NC State senior guards Saniya Rivers and Aziaha James to TCU grad center Sedona Prince and grad guard Hailey Van Lith. But before WNBA dreams can be realized, how might the Pack and Frogs matchup on Sunday afternoon?

Does NC State or TCU have the edge?

As Beckett Harrison recently postulated, NC State’s frontcourt could prove to be a pivotal weakness. That certainly seems like a potential problem against the 6-foot-7 Prince, who is leading TCU with averages of 19.3 points and eight rebounds per game. Prince also is tied for the national lead in total blocks (17) and blocks per game (5.7).

Prince’s presence in the paint not only threatens to overwhelm the Wolfpack’s inexperienced post players, but also could neutralize NC State’s strong backcourt play. The Wolfpack are not an especially effective outside shooting team; instead, their offense hums when their guards, particularly Rivers and James, are able to exploit their athletic advantages and generate easier scoring opportunities around the basket. With Prince patrolling the interior, NC State might be induced to take a few too many tough midrangers. Conversely, Rivers and James, along with sophomore guard Zoe Brooks and freshman guard Zamareya Jones, have more than enough shake and skill to separate from TCU’s perimeter defenders and find shots in their comfort zones.

However, as the Wolfpack are averaging 72 points per game, which ranks 16th in the ACC, their defense is more likely to drive their victory. Rivers, who averages almost four “stocks” per game, captains a NC State defense that, when dialed in, can suffocate opponents with a combination quickness, instincts and intelligence. Expect the Wolfpack’s guards to be prepared to give Van Lith a hard time.

Thus far, Van Lith is filling up the box score in ways she never did at Louisville or LSU. She’s averaging 17.7 points per game, along with a career-high 7.7 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game. Look for NC State to try to shut down her distribution opportunities and make her a scorer. For the season, Van Lith is shooting 40 percent from the field and 26.3 percent from 3. From the Wolfpack’s perspective, forcing Van Lith into tough shots is preferable to seeing the Horned Frogs’ sharpshooters catch fire from behind the arc. Senior guard Madison Conner remains one of the nation’s best 3-point shooters. Currently, she’s seventh in the nation in attempts and fourth in makes, shooting 43.8 percent from behind the arc. Junior guard Taylor Bigby, a transfer from USC, gives TCU another long-distance threat; she’s shooting 41.2 percent from 3.

If those players catch fire, NC State could be in trouble. In contrast to the Wolfpack, the Horned Frogs will be more than happy if this game turns into a shootout, as they are scoring 91.7 points per game, which ranks 15th in the nation.

Other NCAAW action worth watching

At 2 p.m. ET (FS1), a reeling Indiana team host No. 24 Stanford. The Hoosiers, with losses to Harvard and Butler, are struggling to put the ball in the basket. They’re last in the Big Ten in scoring, averaging only 65.3 points per game as they shoot 40.3 percent from the field and 25.5 percent from 3 as a team. Stanford, in contrast, has found early success behind sophomore forward Nunu Agara, who leads the Cardinal with 19.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.

At 3:30 p.m. ET (CBSSN), No. 16 Duke visits South Dakota State, presenting the Blue Devils with the kind of early-season road test that head coach Kara Lawson craves. It will be another opportunity to watch freshman forward Toby Fournier further explore and expand her already-apparent potential. Duke fans probably would like to see Reigan Richardson have a big day. So far, the senior guard hasn’t scored more than 13 points in a game.

Finally, at 7:30 p.m. ET (FS1), No. 4 Texas takes on DePaul in Chicago. This should be an easy win for the Longhorns, even if sophomore forward Madison Booker is unable to play. She missed Texas’ second game with a sore hamstring. Head coach Vic Schaefer has plenty of other weapons, highlighted by senior guard Rori Harmon, who has resumed her reliable, two-way role as she leads the team with 7.5 assists and 3.5 steals per game. Junior forward Kyla Oldacre, a transfer from Miami, also has emerged as an impactful contributor, averaging a double-double of 14 points and 10.5 rebounds.