South Carolina, Texas, and UConn Lead the Pack in 2025 Women’s NCAA Basketball Odds
In the NCAA women’s final on Sunday, Dawn Staley’s South Carolina Gamecocks decisively sealed a perfect season. It should come as no surprise that they have +150 odds on BetMGM to open as the 2025 favorite to win it all again. Given that Kamilla Cardoso has announced her candidacy for the WNBA Draft, the only player confirmed to be going is Staley, whose third championship might usher in a period of true dynasty. (Counterpoint: They already are one, having won in 2022 following another perfect regular season.)
The odds favor Texas (+325) and UConn (+475) behind the Gamecocks. Key starters for both clubs should return for the 2024–25 campaign. Before the odds begin to spread out with NC State at +2200 and LSU at +3000, the top tier of favorites is rounded out by Notre Dame +700, USC +1000, and UCLA +1200.
All of the top five teams have shorter odds than the favorite in the men’s tournament, reflecting the continued gap in parity between the two.
However, things will be different for the women’s competition in 2019. With USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington joining the Big Ten; Oklahoma and Texas joining South Carolina in the SEC; Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, and Utah moving to the Big 12; Oregon State and Washington State joining the WCC; and Stanford, Cal, and SMU joining the ACC with Notre Dame and NC State, conference realignment will change rivalries and present new obstacles for dominant teams.
In the top tier of favorites — South Carolina, Texas, UConn, Notre Dame, USC and UCLA — not much change is in the air yet for the offseason.
Texas should bring back Madison Booker and Rori Harmon in what could be the nation’s best backcourt, with Aaliyah Moore and DeYona Gaston up front, plus two top-10 recruits in Justice Carlton and Jordan Lee added to the roster.
Paige Bueckers will return to UConn, of course, but she will not have the excellent support of Aaliyah Edwards and Nika Muhl. The Huskies have a solid roster that includes top recruit Sarah Strong, Azzi Fudd, Aubrey Griffin, and Caroline Ducharme if they can avoid injuries.
The majority of the strength from its younger rosters is returned by Notre Dame, USC, and UCLA. JuJu Watkins, Hannah Hidalgo, and Olivia Miles for USC, while sophomores Lauren Betts, Kiki Rice, Londynn Jones, and more for UCLA will lead them into the upcoming campaign.
The absence of Iowa at the top is the largest difference between this year’s opening odds and those from last year. The Hawkeyes are going through a significant transition phase in the offseason with the loss of Kate Martin and Gabbie Marshall, two more important starters, along with Caitlin Clark.
Another club whose odds have decreased from the previous season is LSU, who is still in the running at +3000, three thousand points behind NC State. Hailey Van Lith (transfer portal) and Angel Reese (WNBA Draft) will be leaving Kim Mulkey and the Tigers. However, the relocation might just create space for celebrities like Aneesah Morrow, Mikaylah Williams, and Flau’jae Johnson to flourish.
Odds aside, one thing is for sure in women’s college basketball: The future is looking bright.
2025 women’s college basketball national title odds
| TEAM | ODDS |
|---|---|
 South Carolina |
+150
|
 Texas |
+325
|
 UConn |
+475
|
 Notre Dame |
+700
|
 USC |
+1000
|
 UCLA |
+1200
|
 NC State |
+2200
|
 LSU |
+3000
|
 Stanford |
+3500
|
 Iowa State |
+5000
|
 Duke |
+5000
|
 Oregon State |
+8000
|
 UNC |
+10000
|
 Baylor |
+10000
|
 West Virginia |
+25000
|
 Iowa |
+50000
|
(Photo of Dawn Staley: Steph Chambers / Getty Images)