South Carolina and UConn Dominate 2026 27 Title Odds
JuJu Watkins returns to a USC roster that added the top high school recruit, challenging the preseason favorites.
By Stella Brooks ·
The 2026-27 women's college basketball season begins at noon Sunday in Rome. Betting markets have already identified the two teams most likely to lift the national trophy. South Carolina and Connecticut stand as the co-favorites, reflecting their dominance in the recent tournament landscape.
South Carolina holds the top spot in the AP preseason poll. The Gamecocks have reached the title game four times since 2022 and captured the championship in two of those appearances. UConn, ranked second in the poll, won the title two seasons ago by defeating South Carolina in the final.
The most notable roster move of the offseason occurred in Los Angeles. JuJu Watkins has returned to the USC Trojans for this campaign. Her presence transforms a team that reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament last year while she was sidelined. Freshman guard Jazzy Davidson led that effort. USC now pairs Watkins and Davidson with Saniyah Hall, the top-ranked high school recruit.
The Trojans carry the third-best odds to win the national title. Texas is the only other program with odds inside 10/1. The Longhorns reached the final four last season, coming closest to knocking off UCLA. Texas returns All-American Madison Booker, who is coming off her most productive college season.
UCLA, the reigning national champion, sits just outside the top 10 in the preseason poll. The Bruins remain a threat but start the season with less betting support than the teams mentioned above. The remaining top 10 teams on the odds board possess talent but face a steep climb against the powerhouses in South Carolina and UConn.
Both favorites returned their key players from last season. UConn brings back Sarah Strong, while South Carolina retains Joyce Edwards. Dawn Staley continues to coach South Carolina, a factor that may provide an edge in high-stakes tournament play. The Gamecocks typically enter the tournament after navigating the SEC, a path that often tests their resilience more than the routes taken by teams from other conferences.
The season opener will set the tone for a slate that features familiar faces at the top of the standings. South Carolina enters the year with +250 odds at BetMGM. The betting market views them as the most likely winner, a position they held last year as well.
