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Four NCAA tournament teams headline 2017 Preseason WNIT

By Mike Peden

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 15: Oregon Ducks guard Sabrina Ionescu (20) dribbles the ball with UCLA Bruins guard Kari Korver (2) defending during the game between the Oregon Ducks and the UCLA Bruins on January 15, 2017, at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by David Dennis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 15: Oregon Ducks guard Sabrina Ionescu (20) dribbles the ball with UCLA Bruins guard Kari Korver (2) defending during the game between the Oregon Ducks and the UCLA Bruins on January 15, 2017, at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by David Dennis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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If you support the idea that it’s never too early to think about next season, then you officially have a present in the form of the Preseason WNIT tournament.

On Wednesday, the WNIT organization unveiled the 16 teams who will participate in the 24th annual showcase. All participants have a three-game guarantee. The WNIT will announce first-round pairings and the tournament bracket on a later date.

“The Preseason WNIT is a great mix of tried-and-true teams with up-and-coming teams, all eager to start their season in the national spotlight,” Renee Carlson, Executive Director of the WNIT, said in a statement.

The 16-team field features four contenders from this year’s NCAA tournament: Drake, Oregon, Louisville and George Mason. Also included is Michigan, who missed the tournament cut, but responded with a thrilling triple overtime victory over Georgia Tech to claim the WNIT crown. The remaining teams are, in alphabetical order, Cal State Northridge, George Mason, Houston, Liberty, Louisiana, Milwaukee, New Orleans, Old Dominion, Saint Francis, Southeast Missouri State, and Toledo.

Plenty of story lines surround the Preseason WNIT group, providing a healthy dose of anticipation. Drake is coming off a 28-5 season that included a 22-game winning streak. They also swept the Missouri Valley Conference in the regular season and conference tournament. Becca Hittner, the 2016-17 MVC Freshman of the Year, could get some early exposure.

WNIT champions don’t get much publicity, but Michigan’s victory in that tournament should add some excitement for the 2017-18 season. Katelynn Flaherty, who already has scored over 2,000 career points, will enter her final season. A good start at the Preseason WNIT could boost Flaherty’s value in the eyes of WNBA scouts.

Oregon was one of the Cinderella teams in the NCAA tournament. A late surge in the Pac-12 tournament secured an at-large bid, and Oregon proceeded to knock off Temple, Duke and Maryland en route to their first Elite Eight appearance in school history. Get ready for the next chapter of the Sabrina Ionescu show; she set an NCAA freshman record for most triple-doubles.

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