Top 5 NCAAW hoopers who can win the 2025 Freshman of the Year award
Freshman players bring a lot to the table when they arrive in the collegiate ranks. They could be high-impact players who can carry their teams to the NCAA Tournament or complimentary cagers who provide energy and effort for the team's glory.
Last season, USC's JuJu Watkins ran away with the women's version of the UWBWA National Freshman of the Year Award or the Tamika Catchings Award after leading the Trojans to the Elite Eight of the 2024 NCAA Women's Tournament. She averaged 27.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.6 blocks per game.
This year, the race for this year's top freshman is wide open, as there are a lot of standout high school prospects who could join the ranks of Paige Bueckers, Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, Sabrina Ionescu and Brittney Griner in winning the highly coveted award for first-year players.
Here are the Top 5 NCAA players who could be selected for the 2025 Freshman of the Year Award.
Top 5 NCAAW players who can win the 2025 Freshman of the Year Award
#5. Kateryna Koval, Notre Dame
Kateryna Koval is the fifth-ranked recruit and the top-post player in the Class of 2024, per ESPN HoopGurlz. The 6-foot-4 Ukrainian lass out of Long Island Lutheran was selected for the McDonald's and Slam All-American and the Jordan Brand Classic.
The former Gatorade Player of the Year in New York competed in the U18 and U16 European Championships. Koval will be a big factor in Notre Dame's campaign this coming season, as she'll be the recipient of Olivia Miles' entry passes and pull-down rebounds for the Fighting Irish as their top post presence.
#4. Syla Swords, Michigan
Syla Swords is Michigan's highest-ranked recruit in program history at No. 4. The Canadian played for the national team in the Paris Olympics to become the youngest basketball player in Canadian history to compete in the quadrennial meet.
Swords was Kateryna Koval's teammate at Long Island Lutheran and won the Gatorade New York Girls Basketball Player of the Year and New York MaxPreps Player of the Year awards. As a senior, the 6-foot guard averaged 17.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 3.0 steals.
#3. Joyce Edwards, South Carolina
Joyce Edwards has been tearing up the girls' hoops scene over the past two years, posting unbelievable numbers in high school. In her junior year, the 6-foot-2 Edwards led Camden High School to the 3A State Championship, averaging 28.5 ppg, 13.6 rpg, 2.9 apg and 3.5 spg.
The following year, she posted 31.3 ppg, 13.3 rpg, 4.0 apg, 4.5 spg and 3.3 bpg en route to winning her second straight South Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year. She was also named Morgan Wootten National Player of the Year.
#2. Jaloni Cambridge, Ohio State
Jaloni Cambridge is coming off a great season at Montverde, where she led the school to its third straight national championship in 2023-24. The 5-foot-6 guard is the No. 2-ranked prospect in the Class of 2024, per ESPN.
The McDonald's All-American, who has earned two gold medals while representing Team USA in the 2022 FIBA U17 World Cup and the 2021 FIBA Americas U16 Championship, is expected to be the Buckeyes' top playmaker this coming season.
#1. Sarah Strong, UConn
Sarah Strong is the No. 1-ranked recruit in the Class of 2024 after having an excellent season where she tallied 21.0 ppg, 16.8 rpg, 4.8 apg and 2.8 spg in her senior year. Strong led Grace Christian School to three straight state titles, earning her the Naismith High School Player of the Year.
Strong shared the MVP honors with Joyce Edwards in the McDonald's All-American Girls Game. The 6-foot-2 forward may likely take on the role left off by forward Aaliyah Edwards at UConn as the Huskies look to win their 12th NCAA women's title and first since 2016 with Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd leading the charge.