As the 2022-2023 NCAA women's basketball season comes to a close, fans of the sport are already looking ahead to the future. While it may seem like it's way too early to make any predictions for the Women's NCAA Championship in 2024, there are some teams that are poised for success in the coming years. With a talented pool of players, experienced coaches, and strong recruiting classes, several programs have the potential to make deep tournament runs and contend for the national championship in 2024.

Related: Let Them Play: Trash Talk in Women's Sports

Let's take a “way too early” look at some of the top teams to watch in women's college basketball over the next few years:

A Resurgence of UConn's Dominance?

UConn has been a dominant force in women's college basketball for years, and they show no signs of slowing down. With a talented roster of players (including a presumably healthy Paige Beuckers for 2024) and a legendary coach in Geno Auriemma, the Huskies are always a top contender for the national championship. Look for them to make another deep run in the tournament in 2024.

The Start of a LSU Dynasty?

The departure of Alexis Morris, LaDazhia Williams, and Jasmine Carson will leave a big void for the Tigers as they were all integral parts of the team's success. However, coach Kim Mulkey and the reigning champion Tigers have brought in the No.1 recruiting class in the nation and retained the services of Angel Reese, Flau'jae Johnson, and Kateri Poole. With this talent on their roster, the Tigers have assembled a team that could compete for another championship…especially given how LSU has fared with transfers. Louisville transfer Hailey Van Lith is now a Tiger and will take on a huge role in Morris' absence, and DePaul transfer Aneesah Morrow is the perfect replacement for LaDazhia Williams whom LSU lost to the WNBA Draft. Don;t be surprised if LSU is a serious contender for the title once again.

Related: Athlete Feature: Multifaceted LSU Freshman Flau'jae Johnson

Don't Count the Hawkeyes Out

Monika Czinano is graduating, and while the team's chemistry this season may be hard to replicate, Clark keeps the Hawkeyes in contention despite their championship game loss to LSU. The departures of Czinano and McKenna Warnock will be mitigated by the decision of Gabbie Marshall and Kate Martin to use their extra years of eligibility. Sophomore Hannah Stuelke and junior Addison O'Grady are poised to take on larger roles next season–and with Clark, they will be an unstoppable force.

Keep an Eye on UCLA

Although senior Charisma Osborne provided leadership for the Bruins, they were still the youngest team in the NCAA tournament and made it to the Sweet 16. However, with the No.1 recruiting class in the nation from last year, UCLA is ready for a change. Kiki Rice, who was highly touted coming to Westwood, already demonstrated her scoring ability as the team's second-leading scorer and is poised to take over the leadership role vacated by Osborne. Additionally, Rice's fellow recruits, Londynn Jones and Gabriela Jaquez, are expected to have increased responsibilities, while Emily Bessoir has the potential to receive all-conference honors. And then there's the fact that the Bruins landed the overall number one recruit in the nation in Lauren Betts, who is transferring from Stanford with three years of eligibility remaining. As a result, UCLA is expected to challenge Utah and Stanford for dominance in the deep Pac-12.

Related: May Madness: A Recap of the 2023 Women's Basketball Transfer Portal Headlines

While it's impossible to predict with certainty who will come out on top, each of these teams have shown great potential and have strong foundations to build upon. From the talented rosters of the UConn Huskies and the LSU Tigers to the experienced players of the Iowa Hawkeyes and the UCLA Bruins, each team has what it takes to make a deep run in the tournament. As we eagerly anticipate the start of the 2023-24 season, one thing is for sure: women's college basketball fans are in for a treat.

Have an idea for a story or a question you need answered? Email us at [email protected].

Image Credit: NCAA

* Originally published on May 16, 2023, by Kelly Wick