1. Connecticut:

Maya Moore is the best player in the country and the Huskies retain most of their all-star cast from last year’s undefeated national championship team. Tina Charles established herself as one of the best centers around and the two will continue to dominate other teams. Expect a bigger season from senior Kalana Greene, who started every game at the two-guard last year, and look for key contributions from sophomore guard Caroline Doty and freshmen Heather Buck and Kelly Faris to figure into the mix. Undefeated will likely be a stretch this year as the team does have some big shoes to fill – those of departed guard Renee Montgomery.

2. Stanford

The once young team has matured and is looking to make some noise for West Coast basketball after two straight Final Four appearances. Center Jayne Appel (16.1 ppg, 9.2 rpg) enters her senior season with frontline mate junior Kayla Pedersen. Add sophomore forward Nneka Ogwumike into the mix and the 6-foot-4, 6-4, 6-2 line is just plain scary to face. They will miss the leadership and skill of graduated Jillian Harmon, but the Cardinal returns redshirt junior guard JJ Hones from her knee injury. NCAA and summer international experience have fine-tuned one of the most talented women’s teams not named UConn or Tennessee of the past decade.

3. Ohio State

Junior center Jantel Lavender has been the class of the Big Ten for two years, winning back-to-back Player of the Year awards. One of the best centers in the game, she averaged 20.8 points and 10.7 rebounds last year. Complementing her in the post is sophomore guard Samantha Prahalis, who had 203 assists—that’s 5.8 a game—to go along with her 10.2 scoring average, earning conference Freshman of the Year honors. Everyone on this team can pass the ball, with the Buckeyes averaging 15.1 assists per game. With four starters back and six others returning, the team that went to the Sweet 16 last year looks deep.

4. Notre Dame

Yes, it returns 12 players and all five starters. Yes, the team is experienced and deep. But the story for the Irish this year is the addition of 5-9 guard Skylar Diggins. Diggins was one of the prize recruits noted as playmaker, a gamer and a focused, effective defender. She should blend in nicely with a tough, gritty Irish team, which features senior guard Ashley Barlow (12.7 ppg, 2.4 steals per game), senior guard Lindsay Schrader (12.6 ppg, 7.4 rpg) and junior forward Becca Bruszewski (10.7 ppg, 5.0 rpg). With that first-round NCAA loss to Minnesota last year, this veteran group has all the motivation it needs.

5. North Carolina

It’s hard to bet against coaches who prove themselves consistent contenders, as Sylvia Hatchell has. But some things you can’t plan for – like illness. Senior forward Jessica Breland was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma during the summer and while she reportedly has responded well to treatment, her status for the season is unclear. Breland is one of three returning starters. She averaged 14.1 points and 8.5 rebounds last year. Also returning to the starting lineup are junior guards Cetera DeGraffenreid (11.9 ppg, 4.1 assists) and Italee Lucas (13.9 ppg, 2.8 assists). Sophomore forward Chay Shegog (7.2 ppg, 4.4 rpg) should be a force in the post, especially if she gets to play with Breland.

6. Baylor

There’s a lot of youth in this edition of the Bears, but what a talented lot it is, headlined by freshman Brittney Griner. The 6-8 center was the top recruit in the nation—a player who can dunk and shot-block already and was the preseason Big 12 Freshman of the Year. Griner averaged 33 points. 15.5 rebounds and 11.7 blocked shots in high school last season. And she consistently dunked in games (52 times in 32 games to be exact). Getting her collegiate experience will be key, but Baylor still has a knack for leading the game in the heartland. Junior guard Kelli Griffin is the only returner for the Bears, racking up 128 assists last year.

7. Xavier

The key for the Musketeers is the return of junior forward Amber Harris, who missed last season with a knee injury. In 2007-08 she was lethal in the post, averaging 15.3 points, 8.9 rebounds and 2.8 blocks. Xavier wasn’t so shabby last year, particularly behind the emergence of junior forward Ta’Shia Phillips. Phillips, the Atlantic 10 Player of the Year, averaged 13.9 points, 12.1 rebounds and shot 61.3 percent from the floor. Xavier is big and athletic in the post with a solid guard game, paced by junior point guard Special Jennings. The Musketeers have the components to improve on last season’s 25 wins, which tied a school record.

8. Duke

The Blue Devils lost a lot to graduation in Chante Black and Abby Waner, but return two starters in junior guard Jasmine Thomas (10.2 points, 28 three-pointers) and senior swing guard Bridgette Mitchell (4.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg). Junior center Krystal Thomas has the potential for a breakout year after blocking 32 shots last season. Junior swing guard Karima Christmas and senior guard Keturah Jackson are both solid defenders. Jackson had 41 steals last year and is the team’s best on-the-ball defender while Christmas played well late, averaging 11.5 points over the last six games.

9. Oklahoma

The Paris sisters have left, but the cupboard is far from barren for the Sooners. Guard Whitney Hand was the Big 12 Freshman of the Year, averaging 9.2 points while shooting .373 from three-point range and having the knack for making big plays. Junior guard Danielle Robinson was an all-defensive team selection and averaged 12.6 points; senior Amanda Thompson shot 40.3 percent from the field, and senior Nyeshia Stevenson was the Big 12 Sixth Man, averaging 9.2 points, shooting 44 percent from the field and 36.4 percent on three-pointers. No Paris sisters? Without the spotlight and pressure of their “national championships guarantee” it may be no problem. Don’t write off the Sooners.

10. Tennessee

It was a rocky season for the Lady Vols, and not in the jovial Rocky Top kind of way. A 22-11 mark and first-round tournament exit are embarrassing by Tennessee standards. Count on a vastly improved team that returns 10 players with no seniors. Junior Angie Bjorklund is a consistent outside threat, shooting 40.8 percent on threes while junior forward Vicki Baugh (6.5 ppg, 7.3 rpg) returns after suffering an ACL tear. Also back is sophomore Shekinna Stricklen, last year’s national Rookie of the Year, who averaged 13.3 points and 5.9 rebounds

11. Florida St.

The Seminoles graduated two of their top three scorers but return three starters including leading scorer Jacinta Monroe. The senior forward was an all-defensive team selection and averaged 13.1 points and 7.4 rebounds last season. She is complemented in the paint by sophomore center Cierra Bravard, who averaged 9.7 points and 4.7 rebounds. The returning guard combination of senior Alysha Harvin (7.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg) and junior Courtney Ward (7.4 ppg, 5.0 assists) offers support for the inside game. Florida State tied for the regular season Atlantic Coast Conference title last year and that experience will be helpful for younger players to contribute immediately.

12. Virginia

Monica Wright begins her senior season as one of the best in the ACC. The 5-11 guard led the conference in scoring last year, averaging 20.5 points a game, and set the school’s single-season scoring record with 696 points. Wright can score at almost any time and has the ability to take over games. Five freshmen will have to be able to step up immediately for the Cavaliers. Junior point guard Paulisha Kellum returns after sitting last season with a knee injury. In 2007-08 she was the team’s most improved player and averaged nine points while starting 31 of 33 games.

13.Rutgers

The thing to know about any Rutgers team, or any team coached by C. Vivian Stringer, is that it will finish better than it started. The Scarlet Knights will miss Kia Vaughn and Epiphanny Prince but the lessons learned from a difficult 21-13 season will make the returners stronger. Senior forward Myia McCurdy can bring it on defense along with providing the intangibles of leadership and experience. Senior guard Brittany Ray is third in Rutgers history in three-point field goal percentage (.380) and averaged 10.2 points a game. Look for contributions from sophomores April Sykes, Nikki Speed and Chelsey Lee.

14. LSU

The Tigers have stability in the coaching staff with Van Chancellor, now comfortably in his third season. Now, add the talent. It starts with senior guard Allison Hightower, who led the team in six categories— points (14.9), assists (3.0), steals (1.9), blocks (1.2), minutes played (35.0) and field goal percentage (.457). Add to that the forward play of sophomore LaSondra Barrett, the Southeastern Conference Co-Rookie of the Year, who averaged 11.4 points and 5.7 rebounds, and it’s a balanced operation which has four returning starters. And you can’t beat LSU if you can’t score—the team led the SEC in scoring defense, allowing opponents just 53.5 points a game.

15. Arizona St.

The good news is that the Sun Devils have 13 players. That bad news is that they’ve lost seven – six to graduation and guard Dymond Simon, who will redshirt her senior season while recovering from two offseason knee surgeries. Arizona State would like to make a statement for West Coast basketball and is often lost amid the time zones and Stanford’s dominance. Senior guard Danielle Orsillo started every game last season, averaging 9.3 points and 2.5 assists. Senior forward Kayli Murphy averaged 5.0 points and 4.2 rebounds. If the freshmen can endure some early lessons, the Sun Devils will again be challengers in the Pac-10.

16. Michigan St.

When the Spartans come to play, they are very good. See their run to the regional semifinal in last year’s NCAA Tournament. But when they’re uninterested, they’re just a good team. The Spartans’ young talent has now come of age and it’s up to senior Allyssa DeHaan to lead them to the next level. DeHaan can dominate games and just as easily the 6-9 center can disappear. She ranks eighth all-time in the NCAA in blocked shots with 402. Last year, she had 107 blocks while averaging 10.8 points and 6.4 rebounds. Also back is leading scorer Aisha Jefferson (11.1 ppg), a senior forward.

17. Georgia Tech

Success is becoming routine as Georgia Tech has enjoyed three straight 20-win seasons. The key to the Yellow Jackets lies with junior guard/forward Alex Montgomery. She led the team in scoring (13.7) and rebounding (6.7) and is the go-to player in crunch time. To continue their winning ways, the Yellow Jackets will need solid production from junior guard Deja Foster (9.3 ppg last year). Along with Montgomery, Tech returns two starters, senior forward Brigitte Ardossi (7.7 ppg, 4.5 rpg) and sophomore center Sasha Goodlett (6.5 ppg, 3.7 rpg). Look for contributions from sophomore point guard Metra Walthour.

18. Middle Tennessee St.

The Blue Raiders earned their signature win last season by upending LSU in Baton Rouge. Poised to make an interesting NCAA run, Middle Tennessee lost by one point in the opening round to Michigan State – in a game played in East Lansing. Back to improve on that is senior forward Alysha Clark, who led the nation in scoring last year with a 27.5 points per game average. Clark shot 60.7 percent from the field while adding 9.8 rebounds a game. Senior forward Brandi Brown partners with her in the post. Brown averaged 11.9 points last season.

19. Texas

The Longhorns are short on bodies with only 10 players. Senior guard Brittainey Raven will shoulder most of the load. She led the team in scoring last year with 13.4 points a game while recording double-figures in 19 games, including a span of eight straight. Junior guard Kat Nash is a versatile player who can shoot the three-pointer but also rebounds well and has improved her defense. Nash averaged 11.4 points and shot 36.2 percent from long range while averaging 6.6 rebounds. Texas needs consistency to make a move up the ranks.

20. DePaul

The Blue Demons usually fly under the radar, particularly in the stacked Big East, but with four starters back don’t count them out. Senior guard Deirdre Naughton led the team in scoring last year with 15.5 points but can share the ball well, averaging 4.4 assists. Keisha Hampton was an All-Freshman selection in the Big East. The 6-2 forward averaged 10.4 points and had 31 blocked shots. Also returning to the starting lineup are juniors Sam Quigley and Felicia Chester. They combined for 103 steals last season while Chester added 36 blocks. Good defense and a solid perimeter game make DePaul a tough matchup.

21. California

The Golden Bears lost quite a bit through graduation but redshirt senior Alexis Gray-Lawson returns. The 5-8 guard averaged 12.2 points a game, has outstanding ball-handling skills and has the strength to post up other guards to create offense. Cal brought in a talented freshman class, led by high school All-America center DeNesha Stallworth. But the Golden Bears lost high school All-American Tierra Rogers, who was diagnosed with a rare heart condition and can no longer play competitive basketball. The rookie class will have to ride out that emotion to make an immediate impact.

22. Mississippi St.

Four starters are back on this senior-laden squad which boasts balance and discipline. Senior guard Alexis Rack is the key for the Bulldogs. She averaged 14.9 points last year and led the team in assists. Senior guard/forward Armelie Lumanu scored 10.7 points a game with 5.8 rebounds last year while fellow post player senior Chanel Mokango averaged 10.5 points and 5.8 rebounds and blocked 97 shots. Mississippi State gave coach Sharon Fanning-Otis a contract extension through 2012-13 after the team went to the second round of the NCAA Tournament last year.

23. South Dakota St.

The Jackrabbits return three players who averaged double digits last year —sophomore guard Jill Young (10.2 ppg), junior guard/forward Kristin Rotert (10.1 ppg) and senior forward Maria Boever (10.0 ppg). They outscored opponents by 18.5 points a game through a combination of good shooting, ball distribution and solid defense. They shoot the ball well (43.1 percent from the floor and 35.9 percent from three-point range) and they take care of the ball (a plus-4.1 turnover-margin and a 1.0 assist-to-turnover ratio).

24. Kansas

The Jayhawks went to the WNIT final last year and are in position to end a decade-long drought from the NCAA Tournament. They return preseason Big 12 Player of the Year Danielle McCray. Now a senior, McCray averaged 21.6 points and 7.7 rebounds last year. Also back is redshirt Angel Goodrich, who tore her ACL in the second practice last season. She was one of the top point guards in her recruiting class. If she returns to form, Kansas may find its way back to the NCAA postseason bracket.

25. Bowling Green

The Falcons lost to Ball State in the Mid-American Conference title game last year then in the third round of the WNIT. With four returning starters, BGSU will be out to prove they’re best of the MAC, taking a learning experience, and perhaps a chip on their shoulder, from last season. Lauren Prochaska averaged 17.3 points and 6.5 rebounds while Tracy Pontius averaged 14.8 points.