Nebraska Women's Basketball Debuts at No. 23 in AP Preseason Top 25

For the second time in the past three seasons, Nebraska women's basketball is opening the season ranked.

Kaleb Henry | Oct 15, 2024

Oct 2, 2024; Rosemont, IL, USA; Nebraska head coach Amy Williams takes a question at the podium during the 2024 Big Ten Womenís Basketball media day at Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. / Melissa Tamez-Imagn Images

In this story:

Nebraska Cornhuskers

Expectations remain high for Nebraska women's basketball.

After making the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in a decade, the Huskers open the year at No. 23 in the Associated Press Preseason Top 25. This is the second time in the past three seasons that NU has opened the year ranked. In 2022-23, Nebraska opened at No. 22.

Defending national champion South Carolina earned the No. 1 spot in the poll, while UConn starts the season at No. 2. The rest of the top five is USC, Texas, and UCLA. USC and UCLA are entering their first season in the Big Ten Conference.

Other Big Ten teams ranked include Ohio State (14), Maryland (18), and Indiana (25), with Iowa, Illinois, and Michigan State receiving votes. In-state rival Creighton comes in at No. 21.

Nebraska went 23-12 last year, including 11-7 in the Big Ten. All-Big Ten center Alexis Markowski and Big Ten Freshman-of-the-Year Natalie Potts are back. Also returning are Big Ten All-Freshman selection Logan Nissley, starters Kendall Moriarty and Callin Hake, and contributors Kendall Coley and Jessica Petrie.

Oct 2, 2024; Rosemont, IL, USA; Nebraska forward Natalie Potts and Nebraska center/forward Alexis Markowski take a question at the podium during the 2024 Big Ten Womenís Basketball media day at Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. / Melissa Tamez-Imagn Images

The Huskers are hoping to take a step forward with the addition of several players who didn't suit up for the Big Red last season. Redshirt junior Allison Weidner missed the year with an injury. NU has also added two-time Nebraska High School Player-of-the-Year Britt Prince, one of the nation's top recruits, alongside fellow freshmen Amiah Hargrove, Petra Bozan and Kennadi Williams. Rounding out the newcomers is senior transfer Alberte Rimdal

Amy Williams is entering her ninth season at Nebraska. The Huskers have a 137-111 record under Williams, who has a career head coaching record of 330–220.

Nebraska will host Doane in an exhibition game on Oct. 27. The regular season begins Nov. 4 against Omaha at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Tip is set for noon CST.

MORE: Nebraska Football Awaits Undefeated Indiana; Hoosiers Have Feasted on Soft Schedule

MORE: Ranking the Remaining Games on Nebraska’s Schedule

MORE: Indiana's Curt Cignetti Compliments Nebraska Defense, Dylan Raiola Ahead of 'Important Game'

MORE: Husker Football Begins Second Half at 5-1

MORE: Why Nebraska Football's Exclusion From the AP Poll Makes No Sense

Stay up to date on all things Huskers by bookmarking Nebraska Cornhuskers On SI, subscribing to HuskerMax on YouTube, and visiting HuskerMax.com daily.

Published Oct 15, 2024

KALEB HENRY

Kaleb Henry is an award-winning sports reporter, covering collegiate athletics since 2014 via radio, podcasting, and digital journalism. His experience with Big Ten Conference teams goes back more than a decade, including time covering programs such as the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Oregon Ducks, and USC Trojans. He has contributed to Sports Illustrated since 2021. Kaleb has won multiple awards for his sports coverage from the Nebraska Broadcasters Association and Midwest Broadcast Journalists Association. Prior to working in sports journalism, Kaleb was a Division I athlete on the Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville Track and Field team where he discussed NCAA legislation as SIUE's representative to the Ohio Valley Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.