As the women's NCAA tournament field narrows, top contenders have found themselves on the wrong side of the Final Four. The latest is USC, which became the first No. 1 seed to fall in a loss to the UConn Huskies. Earlier Monday, TCU lost to Texas.
And with the coaching carousel already spinning and the transfer portal open, it's never too early to look ahead to next season.
For the rest of the tournament, ESPN's analysts will be breaking down how the 1- and 2-seeds had their title hopes dashed, and what's next for each team. What player departures might be on the way? Who are the top incoming recruits? What transfers might fit on the roster for 2025-26?
No. 1 USC Trojans
Record: 31-4 (17-1 Big Ten, first)
How they were eliminated: 78-64 loss to UConn in the Elite Eight
The Trojans acquitted themselves well with a good start and a third-quarter comeback against UConn, but without JuJu Watkins and against the nation's most efficient and prolific offense, they were always fighting an uphill battle. Rayah Marshall scored a season-high 23 points in her final college game, but a tough 3-for-15 shooting night from Kiki Iriafen and a combined 55 points from UConn's Paige Bueckers and Sarah Strong left the Trojans one game short of the Final Four with a loss to the Huskies for the second straight year.
Expected departures: F Kiki Iriafen, F Rayah Marshall, G Talia von Oelhoffen
Key contributors expected back next season: Everything about next season is predicated on JuJu Watkins' health and return. If she can be back by January, USC is a Final Four contender once again. With Watkins back or not, the No. 1-ranked recruiting class of a year ago will have to play more prominent roles. Kennedy Smith will lead the charge, but guards Avery Howell and Kayleigh Heckel are likely starters as well. Coached Lindsay Gottlieb leaned on that trio heavily in the NCAA tournament, and that experience should pay dividends. Malia Samuels' role could also expand as a junior.
Top incoming recruit: G Jasmine Davidson (No. 3 per espnW)
Portal priorities: Gottlieb will be looking for a veteran scorer and some interior defense. Those are the holes left behind by Iriafen and Marshall, and filling them will be necessary with or without Watkins. Another shooter to pair with Howell is also a need, and that takes on even more importance if Watkins doesn't return.
What if Watkins does not return next season? It's a possibility -- everyone heals and rehabs differently. How USC would navigate an entire season without its star will depend on whom Gottlieb is able to recruit from the portal. Without Iriafen or Watkins, the young Trojans will need some scoring help, but the win over Kansas State and the competitiveness against UConn illustrated that Smith, Howell and Heckel are a solid foundation to keep USC in the Big Ten mix. -- Charlie Creme
No. 2 TCU Horned Frogs
Record: 34-4 (16-2 in Big 12, first)
How they were eliminated: 58-47 loss to Texas in the Elite Eight
The Horned Frogs ran into a buzz saw of a Texas defense. Their usually fluid offense was disrupted for 40 minutes, scoring 30 points below their average against the Longhorns, shooting just 26.7% from the field and turning the ball over 21 times. Despite struggles from TCU's veterans -- Sedona Prince fouled out with 6:32 left in the game, while Hailey Van Lith (17 points, 3-of-15 shooting) and Madison Conner (nine points, 4-of-11 shooting) went cold -- TCU was still within 53-47 with 2:05 remaining. But in the end, Texas' defense was able to close the door on the best season in Horned Frogs history.
Expected departures: G Hailey Van Lith, C Sedona Prince, G Agnes Emma-Nnopu, G Madison Conner
Key contributors expected back next year: Donovyn Hunter and Taylor Bigby. Both transfers with eligibility remaining, Hunter and Bigby combined to average 12.1 points per game -- less than what Conner, TCU's third-leading scorer, produced (14.1 PPG). Hunter should take over full time at point guard. Bigby, once a top-30 recruit of Campbell's when he was an assistant at Oregon, also will have to take on a larger role.
Top incoming recruit: F Clara Bielefeld (Germany)
Portal priorities: This TCU team, the most successful in program history, was built largely on veteran transfers, most of whom have now exhausted their eligibility. And without any top-100 recruits heading to Fort Worth, expect Campbell to hit the portal hard again. He'll need virtually everyone -- bigs, playmakers, shooters. The Horned Frogs didn't have much depth this season, and now the top four scorers, who accounted for 58.6% of TCU's points, are gone. The experience of Van Lith, Prince and Conner, all of whom began their college careers in 2020, was how Campbell executed his game plan. To maintain that momentum, he will have to find another group of veterans to plug the roster's many holes.
What are the next steps in the growth of the program? The next few weeks will be critical. Campbell will be challenged to put together a roster talented enough to duplicate a Big 12 regular season title and conference tournament crown, plus a Sweet 16 appearance. The combination of Van Lith and Prince -- and how effectively they ran the pick-and-roll -- was a unique collaboration. But the transfer portal can help there, and Campbell has a proven track record of attracting players talent from other programs. How well he does in this cycle will determine the immediate future of the Horned Frogs. -- Charlie Creme
No. 2 Duke Blue Devils
Record: 29-8, 14-4 ACC (third, won ACC tournament title)
How they were eliminated: 54-50 loss to South Carolina in the Elite Eight
Expected departures: G Reigan Richardson
Key contributors expected back next year: F Toby Fournier, G Ashlon Jackson, G Oluchi Okananwa, F Delaney Thomas, G Jadyn Donovan, G Vanessa de Jesus.
Top incoming recruit: PG Emilee Skinner (No. 7 per espnW top 100)
Portal priorities: There really shouldn't be any big holes to fill on this team if the Blue Devils bring back everyone expected to return. That said, even with the Blue Devils bringing in a top point guard recruit, if there is a veteran transfer at that position, coach Kara Lawson might consider adding her. The key for any transfer addition: She must play defense at a very high level and get up and down the court.
Can the Blue Devils break through to the Final Four next year? It's likely Duke will enter next season as a preseason top-five team and the ACC favorite. The Blue Devils came very close to a Final Four berth this year thanks to their ability to stifle opponents with their energetic defensive style. If anything, they should be even better at that next season as their deep sophomore class moves to their junior years and ACC Freshman of the Year Fournier returns with a season of experience under her belt.
Duke is probably not your cup of tea if you like high-scoring games; Lawson's Blue Devils are very different from the Final Four teams of 1999, 2002, 2003 and 2006 under coach Gail Goestenkors. But the style Duke plays now has proved effective, and Lawson is surely ready to reach a Final Four of her own. -- Michael Voepel
No. 2 NC State Wolfpack
Record: 28-7 overall, 16-2 ACC (tied for first)
How they were eliminated: 80-73 loss to No. 3 seed LSU in the Sweet 16
The Tigers were the lower seed, but they felt like the favorite in this game: They were healthier than in recent weeks (with guard Flau'Jae Johnson back from injury) and had defeated the Wolfpack in November. Both teams have had NCAA tournament success; NC State made the Final Four last season and LSU the Elite Eight (the Tigers won an NCAA title in 2023), and both had a lot of experience back for 2024-25. But LSU senior forward Aneesah Morrow (30 points, 19 rebounds) was the biggest X factor Friday. NC State, a guard-led team, couldn't stop Morrow, who led Division I in rebounding and double-doubles this season.
Expected departures: G Aziaha James, G Saniya Rivers, G Madison Hayes
Key contributors expected back next year: Although the Wolfpack lose plenty at guard, Zoe Brooks and Zamareya Jones should make coach Wes Moore feel pretty good about his perimeter play again. And post players Tilda Trygger (6-foot-6) and Lorena Awou (6-5), both freshmen this season, return size plus more experience. Forward Maddie Cox, who will be a junior next season, had her best game of the season Friday -- 8 points and 7 rebounds -- a confidence-builder for next season.
Top incoming recruit: G Destiny "Ky'She" Lunan (No. 60 per espnW)
Portal priorities: Adding experience at guard and more post play. James led the Wolfpack in points, Hayes led them in rebounds and River in assists. That trio has meant so much to NC State with their production and leadership. If there was an Achilles' heel this season for the Wolfpack, it was a need for better post play. That hurt them in Friday's loss.
Can NC State keep up its Sweet 16 momentum? No matter where they've been picked to finish in the ACC the past several years, the Wolfpack under Moore typically put things together and become a strong team in the postseason. They have made it to the NCAA regional semifinals in six of the past seven seasons. Next season, they'll have to do it without the standout guards who've meant so much to the program. -- Voepel