(Photo credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images)

Interest around collegiate women's basketball continues to rise.

The last three national championship games have averaged over 9 million viewers -- including 18.9 million for Iowa-South Carolina in 2024 -- and 20 regular-season games this season had more than 500,000 viewers, the most in history.

For those who may be turning more attention to this year's NCAA Tournament, which begins Wednesday with the First Four, here are 12 players to watch in this year's event.

Sarah Strong, UConn

The Huskies enter as the No. 1 overall seed and on a 50-game winning streak, looking to repeat as national champs. Strong is a big part of that, shooting 60.1% from the floor, 42.7% from 3 and in the top 50 nationally in steals and blocks per game.

Lauren Betts, UCLA

After leading the Bruins to their first Final Four last season, Betts is looking for more this season. They've won 25 straight games and beat Iowa by 51 points in the Big Ten championship game 16.4 points and 8.6 rebounds from Betts are a big reason behind the domination.

Joyce Edwards, South Carolina

Despite having won two of the last four national titles, South Carolina is a No. 1 seed that is a bit of an afterthought entering the tourney. Edwards (19.6 ppg, 58.7% shooting) leads five scorers averaging double figures for the still-very-dangerous Gamecocks.

Madison Booker, Texas

Booker led the Longhorns to their third No. 1 seed in as many seasons with the program, knocking off South Carolina in the Southeastern Conference title game. She averaged 20 points and 8.3 rebounds in the tournament and has Texas dreaming of its first national championship since 1986.

Mikayla Blakes, Vanderbilt

Blakes is the nation's leading scorer (27.0 points per game), helping the Commodores win their most regular-season games in program history and earn a No. 2 seed. If they make their first Final Four since 1992-93, she'll be why.

Aaliyah Chavez, Oklahoma

The only freshman to lead one of the top 16 seeded teams in scoring, Chavez has made an immediate impact in Norman. She averaged 18.0 points in SEC play and scored 26 in the upset of South Carolina on Jan. 22, adding to a roster which last season made its first Sweet 16 since 2013.

Jaloni Cambridge, Ohio State

A three-level scorer who put up six 30-plus-point games this season (including a 41-pointer vs. Illinois), few teams rely on one scorer as much as the Buckeyes do Cambridge. Her sister Kennedy sets the tone defensively for Ohio State with a Big Ten-best 3.9 steals per game.

MiLaysia Fulwiley, LSU

A transfer from conference rival South Carolina, Fulwiley (14.6 ppg) is leading LSU's offense, which is best in the country in scoring (94.5 ppg). The second-seeded Tigers haven't been back to the Final Four since they won the 2023 national title.

Clara Strack, Kentucky

A double-double machine with 14 of them this season, Strack is also averaging 2.6 blocks per game. She'll need to rise to the occasion if No. 5 seed Kentucky is going to reach its first Sweet 16 since 2015-16.

Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame

An elite defender, Hidalgo averages 5.4 steals per game, over one more than anyone else in the country and had an NCAA-record 16-steal game this season. Oh, and she also ranks third in the country in scoring (25.2 ppg) for the No. 6 seed Fighting Irish.

Olivia Miles, TCU

A Notre Dame transfer who landed in Fort Worth, Miles has made a somewhat rare women's basketball occurrence (triple-doubles) commonplace. She has five this season -- three more than anyone else -- and 11 in her career, leading the Horned Frogs to a Big 12 regular-season title and a No. 3 seed.

Audi Crooks, Iowa State

The Cyclones battled injuries and had a nasty fall from top-10 team in December to No. 8 seed in the NCAA Tournament. But they still have one of the nation's best post players in Crooks. She's second nationally in scoring (25.5 ppg) and shooting percentage (64.7).

--Field Level Media