9. Aliyah Mazyck – USC
It was arguable that the Trojans should have made the NCAAW tournament last season. They were one of the final teams who just missed out and they’re looking to rectify that this year.
One of the main reasons why they should feel confident heading into this season is senior guard Aliyah Mazyck. She’s one of the best defensive players in the conference and a big part of why USC had one of the best defenses in the Pac-12.
She also knows how to put the ball in the basket, averaging 16.5 points per game last season as a junior. She sat out the Trojan’s opening night win over UC Riverside, but she returned in their victory over Long Beach State with a line of 19 points, four rebounds, and three assists.
USC hasn’t reached the tournament since 2014, and for them to get back to the Big Dance, they’ll need that kind of production from their floor leader.