NCAAW: WNBA prospects, undefeated teams and more end-of-year questions

The year 2025 is entering its final month, and we still have many questions left to answer about this women’s college basketball season.

The big ones, such as who will win the NCAA title, won’t be determined until the spring. But as winter begins, there are plenty of things we can discover that will shape the rest of this season and influence which team will ultimately be the champion.

Can Duke figure things out?

In the AP Preseason poll, Duke was placed No. 7 in the country. So far, they are 3-5 and have lost the only two games they’ve played against ranked opponents in blowout fashion.

There’s still time to turn things around, but it’s going to need to happen quickly. Duke has five games slated for December, including one against No. 5 LSU at home on Thursday. If they can rack up a few wins, they can begin to resemble the team they were supposed to be. If not, then 2025 will end with hopes that 2026 will be better.

On the floor, Toby Fournier will be a key to Blue Devil success. She’s averaging 15.8 points and 6.5 rebounds, leading Duke in both categories. Guard Ashlon Jackson will also be an important player. She’s a double-digit scorer and can help raise this team’s current floor.

Head coach Kara Lawson has done a tremendous job creating Duke’s culture. If this thing is fixable, she’ll find a way to get it done.

Will a clear No. 1 pick emerge?

A big part of every college basketball season is figuring out how ready the forthcoming draft class is for the next level.

Often, the best players are on the best teams, meaning they’re trying to win it all, all while raising their draft stock. This season’s WNBA draft class looks to be a great one, but a clear top pick has yet to emerge. Some of the potential No. 1 selections include Lauren Betts of UCLA, Olivia Miles of TCU and Azzi Fudd of UConn.

All three are on high-profile, championship-contending teams, making them easy for casual fans to watch. In doing so, fans can kill two birds with one stone: Check out some of the NCAA’s best teams and scout the players we will be seeing on a WNBA court in 2026, assuming the league figures out a new collective bargaining agreement, of course.

Will one player emerge as the clear-cut No. 1? Will one standout enough to make Dallas’ decision on who to take first easy? We’re about to find out.

When will undefeated teams lose?

Last year, UConn won it all. This season, they have remained perfect, starting 7-0, and are No. 1 in the nation. But are they the team to beat?

Texas is also unbeaten at 8-0 and they recently had their most impressive win of the season, defeating South Carolina 66-64 to win the Players Era Championship. They are currently No. 2 and are just as legitimate contenders for a championship this season as UConn.

There are a handful of other undefeated teams, including No. 5 LSU, No. 8 TCU and No. 10 Iowa State.

Eventually, the perfect teams will crack and fall. Until then, watching them try to complete perfect seasons will be fun to watch. A few key matchups to keep an eye on this month for the unbeaten teams include Texas-North Carolina, Iowa State-Iowa and UConn-USC.