Utah up top: A Tucson reporter's handicapping of the '23-'24 Pac-12 women's basketball race

Entering her eighth year at the helm of the Wildcats, Adia Barnes is stepping into new territory.

She has a young team (six new players) that no one — not opponents and especially not the media — knows much about.

Arizona walks into the 2023-24 season with little expectations — something the Wildcats have not experienced in quite some time. But maybe that’s a good thing; maybe Arizona will sneak up and surprise teams.

When Barnes addressed local media last week in her first preseason press conference, her message was clear: Just be patient. Barnes assured that her team will be competitive, tough, and, yes, back in the AP’s Top 25 shortly.

On Tuesday, fifth-year seniors Helena Pueyo and Esmery Martinez join Barnes at the Pac-12’s women’s basketball media day in Las Vegas. The Wildcats are the first of the conference’s 12 teams to be interviewed at 9 a.m. on Pac-12 Networks (also available via the Pac-12 Now app and Pac-12.com).

If not ever, this will, at the very least, mark the final preseason media event for the conference as we know it, with the men’s media day following on Wednesday. Ten of the Pac-12’s current lineup of 12 teams will move on to other conferences in 2024-25.

Arizona, ASU, Colorado and Utah are shifting to the Big 12; Stanford and Cal will be part of the ACC; and USC, UCLA, Washington and Oregon are heading to the Big 10. Washington State and Oregon State are currently in limbo.

The media’s Pac-12 preseason poll and preseason all-conference teams both will be revealed on Tuesday. Here’s how the Star voted on the Pac-12 race:

1. Utah

Last season: 27-8 overall; 15-3 Pac-12 (tied for 1st), lost to LSU in the Sweet 16 of NCAA Tournament

They are stacked. With every starter returning from last year’s team — that means All-American/Pac-12 Player of the Year Alissa Pili, Jenna Johnson, Gianna Kneepkens, Kennady McQueen and Isabel Palmer — the Utes are ready to roll through the league again.

2. UCLA

Last season: 27-10 overall; 11-7 Pac-12 (tied for 4th), lost to South Carolina in the Sweet 16 of NCAA Tournament

The Bruins have seemingly had all the pieces over the last few years but have been hit with the injury bug. However, everything is lining up for this to be the Bruins’ year. Charisma Osbourne is back for her fifth year, Kiki Rice has a year in UCLA’s system, and if Lauren Betts reaches even a little bit of her potential, watch out.

3. Stanford

Last season: 29-6 overall; 15-3 Pac-12 (tied for 1st), upset by Ole Miss in the second round of NCAA Tournament

With the graduation of Haley Jones and Fran Belibi and former No. 1 recruit Lauren Betts transferring to UCLA, most think that Stanford is not going to battle for the league title. Think again. This is a Tara VanDerveer-coached team, and there’s still plenty of talent left in the cupboard, including All-American Cameron Brink, Kiki Iriafen, Hannah Jump, Brooke Demetre and Talana Lepolo (who started at point guard as a freshman).

4. USC

Last season: 21-10 overall; 11-7 Pac-12 (tied for 4th), lost to South Dakota State in first round of NCAA Tournament

On paper, USC could be one of the toughest outs in the conference. Rayah Marshall, one of the best defenders in the nation, is back, and with the additions of JuJu Watkins (No. 1 in Class of 2024) and some Ivy League grad transfers, Lindsay Gottlieb has the Trojans heading in the right direction.

5. Arizona

Last season: 22-10 overall; 11-7 Pac-12 (tied for 4th), lost to Maryland in the second round of the NCAA Tournament

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Don’t ever count a Barnes team out. Her clubs knows how to win in the Pac-12. This team has reloaded and has only one player — Pueyo — left from the 2021 team that took a magical run to the national title game. Each of the members of this squad has a chip on their shoulder and something to prove. Sound familiar?

6. Colorado

Last season: 25-9 overall; 13-5 Pac-12 (3rd), lost to Iowa in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament

Once again, Colorado will rely on Quay Miller (all-Pac-12) and Jaylyn Sherrod (all-Pac-12, all-defensive teams) to set the tone for the Buffs. They are back for their fifth seasons. Sherrod is just one of the top assists-leaders in Colorado history, is a 1,000-point scorer and led the league in steals last season (78). Quay, a center, is a former Pac-12 sixth player of the year winner, also a 1,000-point scorer and had only the second 300-plus rebounding season in Buffs history since 1982.

7. WSU

Last season: 23-11 overall; 9-9 Pac-12 (7th), lost to FGCU in the first round of the NCAA Tournament

Washington State was the belle of the ball at the Pac-12 tournament last season, taking home the title and winning a fan in Shania Twain after singing her song “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!” every time they won. Charlisse Leger-Walker — one of the top players in the country —along with fifth-years Johana Teder and Bella Murekette are all back for one more go-around. The Cougars always push opponents to the limit, and expect more of the same this year.

8. Oregon

Last season: 20-15 overall; 7-11 Pac-12 (tied for 8th), lost to Washington in the great eight of the WNIT

Oregon is led by a strong sophomore class of Kennedy Basham (from Phoenix), Chance Gray and Grace VanSlooten along with 6-8 junior Phillipina Kyei. It’ll take some time to see if they have the right pieces around them to make opponents miserable.

9. OSU

Last season: 13-18 overall; 4-14 Pac-12 (11th), lost to Colorado in the second round of the Pac-12 Tournament; no postseason play

Both PNW teams (Oregon & Oregon State), that could always be counted on to battle for the league titles, have had a rough go at it lately. Injuries hit the Beavers hard last season. They have a few really strong core players — Talia von Oelhoffen, Raegan Beers (Pac-12 freshman of the year, sixth player of the year), Timea Gardiner — to build around.

10. Washington

Last season: 19-15 overall; 7-11 Pac-12 (tied for 8th); lost to Kansas in WNIT

Tina Langley enters her third season at UW and has made quite the turnaround as the Huskies have gone from winning seven games in 2022 to 19 overall last season. Still, it’s not enough to push UW into the middle of the Pac this year.

11. Cal

Last season: 13-7 overall; 4-14 Pac-12 (10th), lost to WSU in Pac-12 Tournament, no postseason play

What can you say about Cal? They have found a home in the bottom of the Pac and can’t seem to find any upward momentum. The Golden Bears are tenacious and can’t be overlooked. They do push opponents to the brink — a four-point loss to Stanford and five points to Oregon last season. And every blue moon, they do finish the upset — USC in 2022 and 2023.

12. ASU

Last season: 8-10 overall; 1-17 Pac-12 (12th), lost to UCLA in Pac-12 Tournament and no postseason play

With second-year coach Natasha Adair in rebuild mode, the news that Tyi Skinner (who averaged 19.3 points per game last season) is out this year with a knee injury is devastating. The Sun Devils will now turn to seniors Jaddan Simmons and Treasure Hunt to carry even more of the load.