The Ball-Knower's NCAA Season Preview: The Big 12
With another massive transfer portal haul TCU is ready to defend their Big 12 Championship. Who is poised to challenge them for that top spot?
With the NCAA Women’s Basketball season right around the corner, No Cap Space WBB is here to preview every end of the country. We started with a general mid-major preview then dove into the power conferences (Big East, ACC Big 12, SEC and Big Ten), priming you for one of the most anticipated women’s basketball seasons in recent memory.
With our mid-major and Big East previews completed, we move on to the four power conferences: the Big 12, ACC, Big Ten and SEC. We start with the Big 12, who now has a new standard bearer in TCU. In spite of NET concerns over Texas and Oklahoma leaving for the SEC, their old league has done a good job of building a solid core of teams that are nothing if not fun.
Also our own Tyler DeLuca was a preseason voter in the Big 12 Preseason Poll! He shows off how his ballot compares to the official results and gave his thoughts on the Big 12 here on our YouTube:
In case you missed it.
The Teams You Know:
Baylor -
2025 Record & Result: 28-8 (15-3 Big 12) NCAA Second Round
At some point, Nicki Collen is going to be asked to do just a little bit more. Since her high profile hire in 2021, the former Atlanta Dream head coach has had plenty of talent but not the deep tournament run to solidify her place among the nation’s elite. But this group, laden with veterans who are battled tested, may be the best chance since 2022 to bring a Big 12 title back to Waco.
Few players have been as fun to watch as Darianna Littlepage-Buggs, who flirted with double-double averages for two seasons before finishing with a career best 13.8 points and 10 rebounds per game last season. Auburn transfer Taliah Scott provides a scoring option while Bella Fontleroy will be asked to take a leap.
Iowa State -
2025 Record & Result: 23-12 (12-6 Big 12) NCAA First Round
The last couple seasons in Ames have been disappointing relative to expectations. Audi Crooks has been as good as advertised from the moment she’s stepped on campus but there is just an athletic element that has tripped up Iowa State in the last few Tournaments. But now, thanks to some surprisingly impressive portal work from Bill Fennelly, the ‘Clones have an ace in the hole.
Enter Arizona transfer Jada Williams, the once heavily hyped high school prospect who had a tough couple years at Arizona. This season, mentally and physically refreshed, she gives Iowa State an element they haven’t had in a long time. Add in star forward Addy Brown and there could be something cooking in Ames.
Kansas State -
2025 Record & Result: 28-8 (13-5 Big 12) NCAA Sweet Sixteen
This is a pretty substantial roster turnover especially after losing a foundational class that included Ayoka Lee and Serena Sundell. But if there’s one thing Jeff Mittie has done in his career, it’s reinvent himself and his team. If he manages to keep this team competitive, it may be one of his finest coaching jobs to date.
Stanford transfer Tess Heal has some shades of Sundell and has the capability to be a sparkplug scorer. 6’5 center Ramiya White only played sparingly for Virginia Tech but was the third ranked center in her 2024 recruiting class. The most intriguing player of the bunch is junior Nastja Claessens, who played professionally in Belgium and was even drafted in 2024 by the Washington Mystics. She never played in the W and, thanks to new NIL/Rev Share rules, is still technically eligible for college ball. It’ll be interesting to see a 20 year old who competed for Belgium in the Olympics at this level.
TCU -
2025 Record & Result: 34-4 (16-2 Big 12) NCAA Elite Eight
Mark Campbell is the toast of the women’s college basketball world. Through a heavy dose of pick-n-roll and an unparalleled skill as a recruiter, TCU is now the standard in the Big 12 and a contender for a deep tournament run. While there is some uncertainty at the center position in terms of actual production, the measurables are there. The Horned Frogs are long, tall and that’s not all.
Obviously TCU’s biggest recruiting win was not only convincing Olivia Miles to return to college but to travel from Notre Dame to Fort Worth. In a system that relies on pick-n-roll action on almost every possession, you can expect that she’ll fill up box scores and give you plenty of highlights in the process.
The Teams to Watch:
Arizona State -
2025 Record & Result: 10-22 (3-15 Big 12)
I’m firmly on the ASU hype train and have been a big believer in Molly Miller for the last couple of years. Already her presence has been a boon to a program that is used to a degree of national success but hasn’t truly leaned into its’ status as a potential sleeping giant. The history may not be there past Charli Turner Thorne but the market (Phoenix), access to top talent and path to Big 12 success are all pluses for a coach capable of taking advantage.
Now, admittedly, I have no idea what to think of this roster and how competitive they will be in the Big 12. All-Summit League selection and former University of Denver star Jordan Jones will be a play a big role as will former LSU Tiger Last Tear Poa. The big question is what they have in the frontcourt. I’m interested in 6’3 center Martina Fantini, who played professional volleyball in Italy before moving over to basketball and committing to ASU.
Colorado -
2025 Record & Result: 21-13 (9-9 Big 12) WBIT Second Round
JR Payne is fighting an uphill battle at CU and has managed to keep her Buffaloes competitive even after something of a rebuilding year. Colorado’s NIL apparatus isn’t super deep pocketed, the CU Events Center facilities are a bit dated and the athletic department is one of the smaller operations in the country. And yet, Payne managed to follow up two Sweet Sixteen runs with a 21-13 season and WBIT selection.
Jade Masogayo will once again feature heavily while Gonzaga transfer Claire O’Connor is likely to be a starter in Boulder. What’s interesting here is the amount of international flavor and size. Freshmen Sophie Zadel and Logyn Greer are both 6’4 while Australian center Jade Crook and Luxembourg guard Isa Hämäläinen is a 6’1 shooter. If it all gels, it could be fun.
Kansas -
2025 Record & Result: 16-14 (6-12 Big 12)
It took awhile but Brandon Schneider has put together a nice few years at Kansas. Last season was a bit of a hiccup after two NCAA tournament appearances and a WNIT title but there’s enough talent to potentially make a run in March.
WBCA All-American Honorable Mention S’Mya Nicholas is back and has a five star running mate in freshman guard Keeley Parks. The Oklahoma native is the jewel of a recruiting class that also includes five star prospect Jaliya Davis. Add in Big 12 All-Freshman teamer Regan Williams and you’ve got the makings of a potentially fun team in Lawrence.
Oklahoma State -
2025 Record & Result: 25-7 (14-4 Big 12) NCAA First Round
Jacie Hoyt’s Cowgirls were a nice surprise last year as Stailee Heard made a star turn into one of the best players in the Big 12. With arguably one of the best and deepest backcourts anywhere in the conference, I anticipate this group being a pretty tough out.
Much like TCU, the question will come down to who in the frontcourt will help shoulder the load. Faith Acker was a solid contributor at Tarleton State and is going to be asked to jump up a level in more ways than one. UCF transfer Achol Akot has all the measurables to help on the wings and frontcourt. Watch for transfers Amari Whiting (BYU) and Haleigh Timmer (South Dakota State) to be sharpshooters.
Utah -
2025 Record & Result: 22-9 (13-5 Big 12) NCAA First Round
It wasn’t quite the year people were expecting in Utah but that can happen when your head coach takes a WNBA job just a couple games into the season. Gavin Peterson did a pretty solid job in Lynne Roberts’ place and now has a full offseason to take the program in a direction of his choosing.
Gianna Kneepkens transferred to UCLA, which obviously hurts. But outside of a couple mainstays, it seems as though the desire here is to build for the long haul. Five star freshman LA Sneed and top 50 guard Avery Hjelmstad are the future and will be asked to bolster a senior core of Lani White and Maty Wilke.
West Virginia -
2025 Record & Result: 24-7 (13-5 Big 12) NCAA Second Round
Mark Kellogg will be asked to replace JJ Quinerly, a tough proposition even before you consider how integral she was to the Mountaineers’ defensive efforts.
The Rest of the Field:
Arizona -
2025 Record & Result: 19-14 (10-8 Big 12) WBIT First Round
This is a program that is completely unrecognizable from last year with the departure of head coach Adia Barnes and subsequently the heavy majority of the roster into the portal. It could be an uphill battle for a new look squad under head coach Becky Burke as they try and find their footing in Arizona.
BYU -
2025 Record & Result: 13-17 (4-14 Big 12)
Losing Amari Whiting to Oklahoma State is a big loss for this team and while they retained Delaney Gibb, their leading scoring from last year who averaged 17.4 PPG, the lack of action in the portal doesn’t bode well for BYU.
Cincinnati -
2025 Record & Result: 15-14 (9-9 Big 12)
Cincy has been a steady build since Katrina Merriweather took over and finally got their big win with a commitment from 5-star recruit Dee Alexander. Unfortunately, the star freshman is listed as out indefinitely with an ankle injury. Her status is said to be updated in a couple weeks and her recovery timeline might tell the story of the season for Cincinnati.
Houston -
2025 Record & Result: 5-25 (1-17 Big 12)
Houston was able to add some veteran presence from the transfer portal in Amirah Abdur-Rahim, Kyndall Hunter, and TK Pitts the expectations are still not very high for Houston going into this season.
Texas Tech -
2025 Record & Result: 19-18 (4-14 Big 12) WBIT Quarterfinal
Texas Tech suffered a major portal loss with leading scorer Jasmine Shavers leaving to join Florida State. After a 4-14 Big 12 record last year and loss like that, your eyes turn to Bailey Maupin, last year’s second ranked scorer on the team, to try and add more to her scoring totals.
UCF-
2025 Record & Result: 12-18 (4-14 Big 12)
While UCF was very active in the portal, the most notable move was the departure of Kaitlin Peterson to Ole Miss. Peterson averaged 21.4 PPG and was a massive reason for several wins last year for UCF, losing her is incredibly hard to replace.
The Five Best Players You Know:
Olivia Miles - TCU
In one of the most shocking moves in the transfer portal era, Olivia Miles will be in TCU purple. She is going to be entering one of the most guard friendly systems in the entire country under Mark Campbell that will provide a fun opportunity to show even more of her game before heading to the WNBA.
Darianna Littlepage-Buggs - Baylor
Littlepage-Buggs got over the hump of averaging a double-double last season with 13.8 PPG and 10 RPG on the dot. Year over year she has been asked to do more for this Baylor team and as she enters her senior year, the potential for her to take a leap is a real possibility.
Jada Williams - Iowa State
After a rollercoaster of a season for the Cyclones last year, Jada Williams has arrived as the help they needed. With Iowa State losing Emily Ryan to graduation they needed to go find a guard and they did exactly that in Williams. It will be a different type of guard compared to what Ryan offered, but it equally can be exactly what Iowa State needs and a chance for Williams to show more of her playmaking side.
Audi Crooks - Iowa State
You already know. Few players in the nation can stop Crooks, who will get some unique help in the form of Williams, Addy Brown and SoCon Player of the Year Evangelina Paulk. In a lot of ways, it’s the most help Crooks has had since arriving in Ames which can only mean good things for numbers this year.
Clara Silva - TCU
The 6’7 Kentucky transfer is part of a massive group of centers that includes herself, 6’7 Kennedy Bashem and 6’8 Sarah Portlock. While Silva didn’t get a ton of time in Lexington, her rebounding prowess was apparent and her international numbers suggest a player that can be unlocked in Mark Campbell’s system.
The Five Best Players You Need to Know:
Kierra Wheeler - West Virginia
MeMe Wheeler was one of the two HBCU superstars this past year at Norfolk State. But while Diamond Johnson graduated and Larry Vickers took the had coaching job at Auburn, Wheeler decided to blaze her own trail in Morgantown. Watching her in Mark Kellogg’s system of overwhelming press defense will be a blast.
Taliah Scott - Baylor
After averaging over 20 points per game on an underachieving Auburn team, Scott transfers to Baylor where she’ll be asked to provide a spark to a unit that feels like it needed one more piece. Scott is also a redshirt sophomore, meaning she’s got plenty of time to develop and improve under Nicki Collen.
Haleigh Timmer - Oklahoma State
A South Dakota State transfer, Timmer was one of the best long-range sharpshooters in the country last year (41.3% from 3PT). She links up with a Cowgirls roster that loves to shoot and will slot in well alongside Stailee Heard and the rest of this Oklahoma State crew.
Sahnya Jah - SMU
The South Carolina transfer followed Adia Barnes from Arizona to SMU and now is one of the most decorated players on a completely revamped Mustangs roster. While she hasn’t been asked to be a lead dog on previous teams, SMU might be her shot.
Delaney Gibb - BYU
Gibb averaged over 17 points per game and was one of the best freshman in the Big 12 last season. While there’s a lot of turnover in BYU and a brand new coaching staff coming in, expect Gibb to continue to be one of the top guards in the conference.
Five Must-See Big 12 Matchups:
Iowa State vs. Iowa: December 10th, 7:00 PM ET
Oklahoma State vs. Oklahoma: December 13th, 4:00 PM ET
Baylor vs. Texas: December 14th, 1:00 PM ET
TCU vs. Iowa State: February 22nd, TBD
Arizona State vs. Oklahoma State: February 4th, 8:30 PM ET