In order of predicted finish by Star contributor PJ Brown:
1. Stanford
Coach: Tara VanDerveer (1,125-255 overall in 42 seasons; 973-204 in 35 seasons at Stanford).
Last season: 31-2; 19-2 in Pac-12 (1st); national champions
Key returners: G Haley Jones (13.2 ppg, 7.4 rpg); G Lexie Hull (11.6 ppg, 5.1 rpg); F Fran Belibi (7.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg); F Cameron Brink (9.9 ppg, 6.6 rpg); G Anna Wilson (4.6 ppg, 2.1 apg); F Ashten Prechtel (5.8 ppg)
Key losses: G Kiana Williams (playing professionally for Seattle Storm)
Key additions: G Jordan Hamilton (grad transfer from Northwestern; 7.6 ppg, 3.3 apg over career); G Brooke Demetre (McDonald’s All-American, ESPN’s No. 3 guard, No. 11 in Class, California Gatorade Player of Year); G Elena Bosgana (from Greece, U16 FIBA European Championships 19.3 ppg, 8.3 rpg and 4.1 apg); G Jzaniya Harriel (ESPN’s No. 14 point guard, No. 78 overall); F Kiki Iriafen (ESPN’s No. 4 forward, No. 14 overall in class)
2. Arizona
Coach: Adia Barnes (89-66 in five seasons, all at Arizona)
Last season: 21-6; 13-4 Pac-12 (2nd); national runners-up
Key returners: F Cate Reese (10.9 ppg, 6.5 rpg); F Sam Thomas (7.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 61 steals); F Lauren Ware (3.9 ppg; gold medal in FIBA World Cup) G Bendu Yeaney (4.1 ppg, 30 steals); G Helena Pueyo (3.7 ppg, 38 steals); G Shaina Pellington (5.8 ppg)
Key losses: G Aari McDonald (playing professionally for WNBA’s Atlanta Dream); F Trinity Baptiste (playing professionally in Russia)
Key additions: F Koi Love (transfer from Vanderbilt; 20.8 ppg, 9.5 rpg); F Ariyah Copeland (grad transfer from Alabama; 14.4 ppg, 8.6 rpg); G Taylor Chavez (transfer from Oregon; 4.1 ppg, 2.1 apg); G Anna Gret Asi (played for Estonia’s FIBA 3X3 Olympic qualifiers; 2019 U18 European Championships & 2018 U16 European Championships); G Madi Conner (played for UA in spring semester; in ESPN’s Top 30 recruits); F Netty Vonleh (ESPN’s No. 9 post); F Gisela Sanchez (played for Spain in 2019 U16 European Championships)
3. Oregon
Coach: Kelly Graves (597-265 overall in 27 seasons; 170-63 in six seasons at Oregon)
Last season: 15-9 overall; 10-7 Pac-12 (4th), lost to Louisville in Sweet 16 of NCAA Tournament
Key returners: F Nyara Sabally (12 ppg, 7.3 rpg); F Sedona Prince (10.4 ppg, 3.9 rpg; gold medal for Team USA in AmeriCup); G Te-Hina Paopao (10.2 ppg, 4.4 apg); G Sydney Parrish (6.0 ppg)
Key losses: G Taylor Chavez (transferred to UA); G Jaz Shelley (transferred to Nebraska); G Taylor Mikesell (transferred to Ohio State); G Erin Boley (graduated); F Angela Dugalic (transferred to UCLA)
Key additions: G Endyia Rogers (transfer from USC; 13.8 ppg, 3.5 apg); G Ahlise Hurst (transfer from New Mexico; 12.4 ppg, 2.9 rpg); F Shannon Dufficy (transfer from Missouri; 6.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg); F Taylor Hosendove (transfer from Georgia State; 12.5 ppg, 8.8 rpg); F Chanaya Pinto (transfer from Northwest Florida State College; 14.6 ppg and 8.3 rpg); G Taylor Bigby (ESPN’s Top 30 overall; Nevada Gatorade Player of the Year)
UCLA guard Charisma Osborne is cornered by UA guard Helena Pueyo during a 2020 game in McKale Center.
4. UCLA
Coach: Cori Close (215-110 overall as head coach in 11 seasons at UCLA)
Last season: 17-6 overall; 12-4 Pac-12 (3rd); lost to Texas in second round of NCAA Tournament
Key returners: G Charisma Osborne (17.0 ppg, 3.8 apg); G Natalie Chou (9.9 ppg); G Chantel Horvath (6.1 ppg)
Key losses: F Michaela Onyenwere (playing professionally for WNBA’s New York Liberty); F Emily Bessoir (torn ACL out for entire season); F Lauryn Miller (graduated); G Lindsey Corsaro (graduated)
Key additions: F Izzy Anstey (Australia World Cup Team with the U-17, U-18, and U-19); F Angela Dugalic (transfer from Oregon; 3.4 ppg); G Gina Conti (grad transfer from Wake Forest; 13.8 ppg); F Iimar’i Thomas (grad transfer from Cincinnati; AAC Player of Year; 23.7 ppg, 7.5 rpg); G Jaelynn Penn (grad transfer from Indiana; 9.5 ppg in 11 games before opting out last season)
5. Washington State
Coach: Kamie Ethridge (124-97 overall in seven seasons, 42-53 third year at WSU)
Last season: 12-12, 9-10 Pac-12 (7th); lost to South Florida in first round of NCAA Tournament
Key returners: G Charlisse Leger-Walker (18.8 ppg); G Krystal Leger-Walker (9.8 ppg); C Bella Murekatete (8.5 ppg, 6.7 rpg); G Johanna Teder (7.1 ppg)
Key losses: G Celena Molina (graduated)
Key additions: G Tara Wallack (U 16 & U19 Canadian National Teams; U19 FIBA World Cup averaged 7.1 ppg, 5.7 rpg)
6. Oregon State
Coach: Scott Rueck (528-200 overall in 24 seasons; 240-113 in 11 seasons at Oregon State)
Last season: 12-8 overall; 7-6 Pac-12 (5th); lost to South Carolina in second round of NCAA Tournament
Key returners: F Taya Corosdale (injured last season; 2018-19 last full season played with 6.9 ppg, 7.8 rpg); F Kennedy Brown (injured, last played 2019-20 season with 6.3 ppg, 7.8 rpg); F Taylor Jones (12.3 ppg, 7.3 rpg); Ellie Mack (6.8 ppg)
Key losses: G Aleah Goodman (graduated); G Sasha Goforth (transferred to Arkansas); Savannah Samuel (transferred to West Virginia); G Jasmine Simmons (playing professionally in Australia)
Key additions: G Talia Von Oelhoffen (played for OSU in spring semester with 11.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg and made Pac-12 All-freshman honorable mention); G AJ Marotte (ESPN’s No. 63, 2019 Adidas USA Select Team); G Greta Kampschroeder (McDonald’s All-American; ESPN’s No. 32 overall)
7. USC
Coach: Lindsay Gottlieb (179-89 in eight seasons overall; first year at USC)
Last season: 11-12 overall; 8-10 Pac-12 (8th)
Key returners: F Alissa Pili (11 ppg); G Desire Caldwell (5.9 ppg); F Jordyn Jenkins (6.3 ppg)
Key losses: G Endyia Rogers (transferred to Oregon); G Shalexxus Aaron (grad transferred to Syracuse, then Texas Southern)
Key additions: C Clarice Uche Akunwafo (McDonald’s All-American; ESPN’s No. 2 post); G/F Rayah Marshall (McDonald’s All-American, ESPN’s No. 27 overall); G Bella Perkins (Virginia Gatorade Player of the Year); G Shemera Williams (mid-year transfer from Virginia, sat out in spring; at UVA 8.9 ppg); G Tera Reed (grad transfer from VCU; 11.1 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 3.6 apg)
8. Colorado
Coach: JR Payne (173-188 overall in 12 seasons, 60-64 in five seasons at Colorado)
Last season: 12-11; 8-8 Pac-12 (6th)
Key returners: G/F Mya Hollingshed (15.4 ppg, 7.4 rpg); G Jaylyn Sherrod (104 ppg, 3.1 apg); G Aubrey Knight (5.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg); F Charlotte Whittaker (5.1 ppg); F Peanut Tuitele (7.9 ppg)
Key losses: G Madison Buford (transferred to Hampton); F Annika Jank (graduated)
Key additions: G Tayanna Jones (transfer from Georgetown; 5.5 ppg); G Tameiya Sadler (transfer from UW; 10.4 ppg, 2.4 apg); C Quay Miller (transfer from UW; 9.9 ppg, 6.0 rpg); G Kindyll Wetta (ESPN’s No. 16 point guard; Colorado’s 5A Player of Year)
9. Arizona State
Coach: Charli Thorne Turner (516-316 overall in 27 seasons, 476-282 in 224seasons at ASU)
Last season: 12-12, 6-9 Pac-12 (9th); lost to Houston in third round of WNIT
Key returners: G Taya Hanson (12.6 ppg); G Jaddan Simmons (10.8 ppg); G/F Maggie Besselink (5.1 ppg, 5.7 rpg); F Katelyn Levings (5.7 ppg)
Key losses: G/F Bre’yanna Sanders (graduated)
Key additions: G Ayzhiana Basallo (transfer from San Jose State; 18.5 ppg in 2019-20 season; last year was canceled); F Mael Gilles (grad transfer from Rutgers; 8.1 ppg); F Meg Newman (ESPN’s No. 6 post); G Isadora Sousa (transfer from Chipola College; NJCCA All-American; 13.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 4.8 apg)
10. Utah
Coach: Lynne Roberts (312-262 overall in 19 seasons, 91-87 in six seasons at Utah)
Last season: 5-16, 4-15 Pac-12 (10th)
Key returners: F Andrea Torres (5.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg); G Dru Gylten (8.1 ppg, 5.2 apg); G Bryanna Maxwell (12.8 ppg); G Kemery Martin (11.1 ppg)
Key losses: F Lola Pendande (transferred to Miami); G/F Niyah Becker (transferred to Wake Forest)
Key additions: G Isabel Palmer (transfer from Texas, sat out last season); G Ines Vieira (2018 & 2019 U16 Team Portugal); G Gianna Kneepkens (Minnesota Gatorade Player of Year); F Jenna Johnson (ESPN’s No. 7 forward); G Maka Johnson (transfer from Texas Tech; 6.4 ppg); F Dasia Young (transfer from UT Martin; 12.7 ppg, 6.3 rpg)
11. Washington
Coach: Tina Langley (126-61 in six seasons at Rice; first year at UW)
Last season: 7-14, 3-13 (11th)
Key returners: F Haley Van Dyke (12.0 ppg, 2.1 spg); C Darcy Reese (8.3 ppg); G Missy Petersen (out last season with ACL; 7.0 ppg 2019-20); G Alexis Griggsby (5.7 ppg)
Key losses: G Tameiya Sadler (transferred to Colorado); C Quay Miller (transferred to Colorado); F Khayla Rooks (transferred to UNLV)
Key additions: G Jess Finney (played for UW in spring; ESPN’s No. 39 guard); F Marisa Davis-Jones (ESPN’s No. 12 wing; MaxPreps Arizona High School Girls Player of the Year); F Lauren Schwartz (transfer from Rice; 11.2 ppg; C-USA All-Freshman team); G Avery VanSickle (ESPN’s No. 17 point guard); F Olivia Pollerd (Team Australia U17 FIBA Oceania Championships gold medal; U19 FIBA Asian Cup); C Nancy Mulkey (transfer from Rice; 15.7 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 3.5 bpg); G Trinity Oliver (transfer from Baylor; 4.4 ppg)
12. Cal
Coach: Charmin Smith (13-35 two seasons at Cal)
Last season: 1-16 overall; 1-12 Pac-12 (12th)
Key returners: G Jazlen Green (injured last season; 8.8 ppg 2019-20); G Cailyn Crocker (injured last season; 7.5 ppg 2019-20); G Leilani McIntosh (10.1 ppg); G/F Dalayah Daniels (11.9 ppg); F Ugonne (Michelle) Onyiah (8.9 ppg); F Evelien Lutje Schipholt (7.1 ppg, 6.8 rpg)
Key losses: None
Key additions: F Jadyn Bush (grad transfer from Harvard; 10.9 ppg in 2018-19 season)
