This is a really great podcast focused on Big Ten Women's basketball done by Austin Render (Indiana PBP and Dalton Shetler (MSU broadcaster). They started it a few years ago to lift the profile of Big Ten wbb. They usually do a pretty good, though not quite perfect ;), job of checking their biases.

This epiaode discusses their preseason rankings and awards across the B1G so it seemed of interest here. https://www.youtube.com/live/fbJ1kEq8F5w

Their preseason work overall is incredible. They do a set of episodes with a discussion of each team and interview most teams' coaches. One or two per episode. They've done around ten teams so far. I really enjoyed the Big Ten season a lot more last year after watching these, because I felt like I knew and liked all the players and coaches of every team.

Aside: Kelly Graves is always a fun interview. He's on a quest to coach a game in every state. Lol. Hence some of Oregon's non-conference games are in New England.

You can watch it on YouTube or listen to it on your preferred podcast player. The link to this episode is in the upper right if you click on the pic. Their overall podcast home is here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFaZcfFxHzs-Es3XwbwIOy7ZS4naJf1tt

Spoiler alert:
It's definitely worth a watch but in case you don't have time-- they both agree with their top 3 but differ in 4th and 5th:

1. USC
   
2. Michigan
   
3. Iowa
   
4. Illinois/Minnesota
   
5. Maryland/UCLA

If anyone wants a bootleg game thread for the UCLA exhibition game tonight against Cal here it is.

These will be the starters as per the UCLA WBB Instagram page:

Elina Aarnisalo

Donovyn Hunter

Bonnie Deas

Timea Gardiner

Sienna Betts

I went to the Cal-UCLA exhibition today, and while I know this is a whole new roster, I think Cori Close definitely knows what she’s doing. Today they played the whole roster, and the contribution from the “bench” (which was really a bench in name only and not in minutes!) was spectacular. Every single player scored, and FIVE were in double figures! Lots of defensive hustle all around. Freshman Somto Okafor looks fantastic; and both Elina Aarnisalo and KK Branford look phenomenal to start the year—like they’re certainly in the right place!

Anyway… lots of media outlets and even Redditors have written off this team after the championship run, and I wouldn’t be so hasty! Of course they have lots of kinks to sort out still, but for a team that’s only just learning how to play together, they look great. And you’ve gotta love Close’s commitment to TEAM basketball!

ESPN ranks the incoming freshman on what they think their impact will be. They don't fully specify their definition of impact but say

"Impact for these freshmen can be defined in several ways. Some of these players will have an opportunity to contribute immediately because of roster needs; others will need more time to carve out roles alongside established stars."

Their list:

1. Kate Harpring UNC

2. Saniyah Hall USC

3. McKenna Woliczko Iowa

4. Sara Okeke USC

5. Olivia Vukosa UConn

6. Jacy Abii ND

7. Jerzy Robinson SC

8. Bella Flemings Duke

9. Savvy Swords Kentucky

10. Addison Bjorn Texas