Kentucky WBB projected to make 2025 NCAA Tournament in latest Bracketology

Kentucky women’s basketball failed to make the NCAA Tournament the last two seasons — Kenny Brooks was brought in to make sure that doesn’t become a trend.

And judging by his efforts in the offseason so far (bringing in eight new faces, including All-American point guard Georgia Amoore), he’s on pace to break that mini-streak as soon as this coming season. ESPN’s Charlie Creme sees the vision Brooks has in place, too.

Creme released his first Women’s Bracketology update for the 2025 NCAA Tournament earlier this week. Kentucky checked in as the 7-seed in the Birmingham Region with a projected first-round matchup against 10-seed Oklahoma State in Raleigh, NC.

Kentucky is one of 11 teams from the Southeastern Conference (which adds Texas and Oklahoma this season) projected to make the 2025 NCAA Tournament — still roughly 10 months out. That’s two more than the next highest conferences, as the ACC, Big Ten, and Big 12 all have nine projected teams in the field.

Joining the Wildcats are defending champion South Carolina (1), LSU (2), Texas (2), Oklahoma (4), Ole Miss (6), Alabama (6), Auburn (8), Vanderbilt (9), Mississippi State (9), and Texas A&M (11). Tennessee and Florida are both in the First Four Out category. Brooks is in for a tough conference slate in year one.

As of right now, Kentucky has 10 pieces locked in for the 2024-25 season. Only two players from last season (rising junior guards Saniah Tyler and Cassidy Rowe) return with the rest coming over from Virginia Tech, the transfer portal, or the high school ranks. Brooks typically runs with a roster of 12-13, so he’ll likely add a couple more pieces between now and the fall.

There is still room to improve the roster going into next season, but even as things currently stand, Kentucky is back in the postseason mix. That’s more than the program can say over the last two seasons. The future is bright under Brooks.