Five Female Freshmen To Watch For This NCAA Season

The 2025–26 Women’s college basketball season kicked off this week, welcoming an exceptional class of first-year players who are ready to carry the game into the future. As with the men’s freshmen class, these “Diaper Dandies” are heavily compared to a previous legendary class, specifically the 2020 group that included stars like Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark. Of the talented freshmen class, these five ladies stand out above all others. 

Averaging 34.9 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game during her senior season at Monterey High School, Chavez was the top recruit for the 2025 class, winning basically every Player of the Year award available. One of the best shot makers and scorers in the class, Chavez posted 16 points, six rebounds, and five assists in the Sooners' season-opening victory over Belmont. 

Davidson gives the Trojans a versatile guard who averaged 28.5 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 3.8 steals, and two blocks per game her senior season at Clackamas High School. She was a four-time selection as Gatorade's high school player of the year for the state of Oregon.  In her debut, Davidson followed a rocky start by scoring 14 points, five rebounds, and four assists in USC's dominant 87–48 win over New Mexico State, stepping into a crucial role with JuJu Watkins sidelined for the season, recovering from an ACL injury.

A 6-foot point guard, Skinner averaged 26.3 points, 10.2 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 3.7 steals, and 1.5 blocks during her senior campaign while spearheading Ridgeline Riverhawks to an unblemished 28-0 record and its third straight Class 4A crown. She was a 2025 McDonald's All-American and competed on the United States squad at the Nike Hoop Summit, where she tallied 13 points, four assists, three rebounds, and two steals. Unfortunately, an early-season injury sidelined Skinner in the Blue Devils season-opening 58-52 loss to the Baylor Bears.  

The younger sister of Bruins center Lauren Betts, Sienna is an offensive-minded power forward who averaged 23.5 points, 16.5 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 3.4 blocks per game as a senior, which led her to be named the Colorado Gatorade Player of the Year for the third consecutive year. She was also named the MVP of the McDonald's All-American Game. While she has missed UCLA's first two games of the season due to a left leg injury suffered in a scrimmage, Betts is expected to play significant minutes for the third-ranked Bruins as they hope to improve on a Final Four appearance from last year.  

The Huskies' freshman combo guard/forward has a leg up on her fellow first-year players, having played professionally for the past four years in Italy and for Ecurador’s Senior National Team. Currently sidelined with a shoulder injury, Quinonez, who averaged 11 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.2 steals last year with Magnolia Basket Campobasso in Italy’s Serie A1 league, should be able to make the seamless transition to the Huskies' rotation once healthy. Standing 6’2,” Quinonez will give coach Geno Auriemma flexibility in his lineup, especially if he wants to push the pace with a smaller lineup.