March Madness 2021: Top women’s basketball players to watch heading into NCAA Tournament

When the women's NCAA Tournament tips off Sunday in San Antonio, more than 900 college basketball players — some already proven game-changers — will be there, with hopes of winning a national title.

A year after the men's and women's tournaments were cancelled because of the pandemic, the 64-team field will gather in San Antonio and Austin, Texas, as the NCAA tries to limit the potential risk of contracting COVID-19 by holding the tournament in a smaller footprint.

The top four seeds – Connecticut, Stanford, N.C. State and South Carolina – will be the favorites, along with Texas A&M, ranked fourth in the final regular-season USA TODAY Women's Basketball Coaches Poll.

These 10 players will determine how deep their teams last in March — and who will hoist the national championship trophy April 4 in the Alamodome.

Aliyah Boston, South Carolina, F, 6-5, So.: Arguably the best defender in the country, she’s a two-time SEC defensive player of the year and was last year’s national freshman of the year. She’s 14th in the country in rebounds per game (11.7) and 12th in blocks per game (2.85).

Charli Collier, Texas, F/C, 6-5, Jr.: The likely No. 1 pick in the upcoming WNBA draft, Collier averages a double-double (20.1 points, 11.7 rebounds), shoots 51.3% from the field and 80.1% from the line. In November, she scored a career-high 44 points against North Texas.

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