Baylor's Top-10 Upset Kicks Off Women's 2025-26 Season

The Opening Day of the 2025-26 Women's College Basketball Season

The 2025-26 women's college basketball season kicked off with a few surprises and promising performances. One of the most notable upsets came when the No. 7 Duke Blue Devils, who made it to the Elite Eight last spring, fell to the No. 16 Baylor Bears in the Oui-Play doubleheader in Paris. The final score was 58-52, marking a strong start for Baylor.

Another standout performance came from Mikayla Blakes, one of the brightest stars of last year’s freshman class. She led the No. 19 Vanderbilt Commodores to a 75-65 victory over the California Golden Bears. Blakes scored 27 points in the game, which marked her 11th career game with 25 or more points. This includes two games where she scored over 50 points last season.

Taliah Scott's Debut with Baylor

Taliah Scott, a transfer from Auburn, made an immediate impact in her Baylor debut. She led the Bears in scoring with 24 points, including half of those in the fourth quarter. Her free throw shooting (8-of-10) was crucial in preventing a comeback by the Blue Devils.

Baylor coach Nicki Collen praised Scott, comparing her to professional scorers like Courtney Williams and Renee Montgomery. Scott has the ability to find space, attack the rim, and hit jump shots and 3-pointers. However, her history of injuries at Arkansas and Auburn remains a concern. If she can stay healthy, she could become one of the top scorers in the Big 12.

Duke's Performance and Offense

Duke struggled offensively against Baylor, echoing their issues in the Birmingham 2 Regional last season. They scored 47 points against North Carolina and 50 against South Carolina. While the defense looked strong, similar to last year, the team needs to improve on the offensive end.

Toby Fournier, a sophomore, showed promise but wasn't efficient. She averaged 13.2 PPG and 5.3 RPG last season but shot only 5-of-15 from the field against Baylor. With a challenging nonconference schedule and the ACC gauntlet, Duke will need more from Fournier.

Vanderbilt's Blakes

Mikayla Blakes is expected to carry more responsibility this season after Khamil Pierre transferred to NC State. She had a strong summer, leading Team USA to the AmeriCup title. In the game against Cal, she led the Commodores with 27 points, despite a low shooting percentage.

UConn's Debut Against Louisville

UConn, the defending national champion, will open its season against Louisville on Tuesday. There are several questions about how Geno Auriemma will use his deep roster. Key players like Serah Williams and Kayleigh Heckell will have bigger roles, and the team will be looking to see how they adapt.

Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd are also under scrutiny. Strong showed promise as a freshman, and Fudd, the reigning Final Four Most Outstanding Player, will be expected to perform consistently. Serah Williams, coming from Wisconsin, will face new challenges at UConn, including increased publicity and a larger role.

Looking Ahead

As the season progresses, fans will be watching how these teams adjust and develop. The opening day provided some exciting moments and set the stage for what promises to be an intense and competitive season.