Biggest women's college basketball surprises through the first month

Parity is at an all-time high for women’s college basketball. Teams who were predicted to be in the bottom half of their conference or were simply underestimated are stepping up to the plate and proving voters wrong.

Here are On3’s biggest surprises through the first month of the women’s college basketball season.

1. Maryland

The Maryland Terrapins had a ton of potential, so in a way, it’s not a huge surprise that they’re undefeated and among the top teams in the country. They also have one of the best coaches in the country, Brenda Frese. 

But this is a team that added seemingly a million new faces, so I wasn’t quite sure if they’d mesh quickly and find their chemistry. Boy, did they prove me wrong. 

From day one, this has looked like a top-10 squad so far. On the third day of the season, they showed that to the world by taking down now-No. 4 Duke at home. Christina Dalce from Villanova was a massively underrated pickup, Shyanne Sellers is performing as expected and Kaylene Smikle, a transfer from Rutgers, has been utterly impressive as the team’s leading scorer. 

They’re shooting the ball at the fifth highest clip in the country (50.9%) and averaging 15.1 offensive rebounds per game, which ranks 34th nationally. 

2. Mississippi State

I wasn’t quite sure what to make of this Mississippi State team. They returned their leading scorer in Jerkaila Jordan and Debreasha Powe, but there were a ton of unknowns, including how their portal additions would fare. 

Kentucky transfer Eniya Russell is one who has fared well so far. She’s averaging 14 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.9 assists through the Bulldogs undefeated start. They’ve held opponents to an average of 45.9 points per game, which ranks best in the country. Defensively, the Bulldogs have exceeded my expectations. 

They just notched two solid neutral site wins over now-ranked Utah and South Florida, which earned them a spot in On3’s Top 25. 

3. Kentucky

I shouldn’t have doubted new head coach Kenny Brooks. There, I said it. I was cautious to be too optimistic about Kentucky when it was announced that both Dominika Paurova and Jordan Obi would be missing significant time due to injury, but I was wrong in that. 

The Wildcats are rolling. 

Kentucky is undefeated with quality wins over two ranked programs in Louisville at home and Illinois on a neutral site. Georgia Amoore is a star, and that’s undeniable, but it’s Clara Strack who’s really been giving teams trouble. The 6-foot-5 sophomore is averaging 18.3 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists and 2.9 blocks. 

The Wildcats are also holding opponents to 32.1% shooting, which ranks second nationally. This is a team that could really do some damage in the SEC. 

4. Harvard

Despite a loss to Quinnipiac on the road, the Harvard Crimson have looked incredible in a 9-1 start to their season. They took down then-ranked Indiana on the road, Boston College, Northwestern, Illinois State and St. John’s to do it. 

A huge part of that success is Harmoni Turner, a true star who has averaged 20.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4 assists and 3.3 steals. I truly thought Princeton or Columbia were the heavy favorites to win the Ivy League this year, but the Crimson have proven me wrong. 

5. Michigan

Michigan is a team that I was absolutely too low on during the preseason. The Wolverines lost six players to the transfer portal, including star Laila Phelia, two of their leading scorers to graduation and started three freshmen in their season opener. 

But Syla Swords is no ordinary freshman – and Kim Barnes Arico turned lemons into lemonade. 

Swords, the No. 4-ranked freshman in the country, is averaging 18.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 2.1 steals and is shooting 55.6% from the field. No. 20-ranked recruit Olivia Olson is right behind her with 16.1 ppg, 5.8 rpg and 2.8 apg through a 7-1 start. 

The Wolverines’ only loss is a six-point falter to South Carolina, the defending national champions. It was also a game they realistically could’ve and probably should’ve won.