Big 12 team-by-team preview: Texas, Baylor battle for the top

COLLEGE PARK, MD - MARCH 17: West Virginia Mountaineers center Lanay Montgomery (15) with teammates at the start of the Div. 1 NCAA Women's basketball 1st. round game between Elon and West Virginia on March 17, 2017, at Xfinity Center in College Park, Maryland. West Virginia defeated Elon 75-62. (Photo by Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
COLLEGE PARK, MD - MARCH 17: West Virginia Mountaineers center Lanay Montgomery (15) with teammates at the start of the Div. 1 NCAA Women's basketball 1st. round game between Elon and West Virginia on March 17, 2017, at Xfinity Center in College Park, Maryland. West Virginia defeated Elon 75-62. (Photo by Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
1 of 12
UNCASVILLE, CONNECTICUT- DECEMBER 4: Brooke McCarty
UNCASVILLE, CONNECTICUT- DECEMBER 4: Brooke McCarty

The Big 12 has seen some of the most talented women’s basketball players over the years. Although Baylor held the reigns for many years, the 2016-2017 season had a different ending. The sixth-seeded West Virginia Mountaineers were able to defeat the Bears 77-66 to claim their first ever Phillips 66 Big 12 championship trophy. Baylor, ranked second in the country, won the Big 12 conference with a 17-1 record, but were not able to grab the tournament title.

More from Big 12

This season, there is a new contender in the mix. The Texas Longhorns have a great opportunity to claim the crown, but of course, every team will put up a great fight. This is how we see the season playing out.

Notes*
-Shooting percentages are all rounded to nearest number
-Transfers are only listed in the ‘newcomers’ section if they are eligible to play this season

-Stats are based on last season