Everyone recognizes UConn as the beacon for New England's college basketball scene. But recently, the region as a whole has been stepping up on local and national scales.
The Huskies were one of five Division 1 programs from New England to reach March Madness in 2023-24. That doesn't even include the two conference championship face-offs we had between Maine and Vermont, and Holy Cross and Boston University.
Last year was a statement year for local women's hoops, and it might be just the start. Most of last season's top teams are in position to contend again, with some additional schools showing breakout potential.
College hoops is still months away, but it's never too early to get excited. We know UConn will be dominant, and we know the other high-major schools — Boston College and Providence — field talented teams. Here are five Division 1 mid-majors who could go dancing next spring.
Fairfield
Last season:Â 31-2 record, won MAAC championship, lost in NCAA Tournament Round of 64 to Indiana
 The Stags' 2023-24 season was simply a movie. They built a 29-game winning streak, won their conference title in overtime, and landed on the AP Top 25 for the first time ever, prompting a SportsCenter highlight reel and nationwide recognition. Under coach Carly Thibault-DuDonis, Fairfield has created its own brand, most notably with its unique positional name for bigger guards and forwards called "Road Runners."
Nearly every impact player from that roster is back, headlined by leading Road Runner Meghan Andersen, now a sophomore. Fairfield also boasts a 5-foot-6 playmaker in grad student Janelle Brown and a local talent in Lauren Beach (Medway, Mass.). The ceiling can't go much higher with this team, but expect them to test the boundaries of their success.
Harvard
Last season: 16-12, lost in Ivy League semifinals to Columbia
I've been on the Harvard bandwagon for multiple years. Senior Harmoni Turner is one of the most electric guards in New England. She's flanked by a versatile classmate in forward Elena Rodriguez and a trio of dynamic juniors in Katie Krupa, Saniyah Glenn-Bello and Gabby Anderson. Newton, Mass. native Abigail Wright also emerged as a hard-nosed rebounder during her first year. Coach Carrie Moore has the Crimson playing inspired two-way basketball, but they've been stuck behind better, more experienced Ivy League rivals in Columbia and Princeton.
The seas could part this year. Columbia star Abbey Hsu went to the WNBA Draft, where the Connecticut Sun selected her No. 34 overall. Princeton standout Kaitlyn Chen graduated and transferred to UConn. The Lions have most of their roster back otherwise, and Princeton is a perennial power, but this is the window where Harvard can break through.
Holy Cross
Last season: 21-13 record, won Patriot League championship, lost in NCAA Tournament Round of 64 to Iowa
The Crusaders went back-to-back as Patriot League champions and had a dream close to the season that culminated in a program-altering opportunity to play Caitlin Clark and Iowa on national television. Their commitment to defense and balanced scoring has placed them among the best mid-major programs in New England, but three-peating will be a challenge.
Holy Cross graduated Bronagh Power-Cassidy, one of the best players in program history who subsequently transferred to Villanova, along with two more starters in Janelle Allen and Cara McCormack. It'll be a daunting task to replace those three while maintaining the team's identity. The Crusaders have forwards Simone Foreman and Lindsay Berger as the top returners with junior guard Kaitlyn Flanagan. I'm interested to see if transfer guard Kendall Eddy (Haverhill, Mass.), a dynamic scorer who had a tough freshman year at Providence, can make an impact.
Maine
Last season: 24-10 record, won America East championship, lost in NCAA Tournament Round of 64 to Ohio State
The Black Bears captured their first America East crown since 2019 and rolled with a 14-2 conference record. They lose leading scorer Anne Simon to graduation, but Restford, Va. native Adrianna Smith gets set for her senior season after averaging 16.4 points, 10.8 rebounds and 4.7 assists last year.
The program's recruiting approach makes me intrigued to see how the pieces fit this season. Six players are from Maine, plus Sera Hodgson (Rindge, N.H.) and Olivia Rockwood (Windsor, Vt.) — three states not considered traditional recruiting hotbeds. Then five of the remaining eight players come from abroad, with two from Spain, two from Denmark and one from Israel. Coach Amy Vachon and her staff clearly know how to find hidden gems.
Sacred Heart
Last season: 24-10 record, won Northeast Conference title, lost in NCAA Tournament First Four to Presbyterian
We'll start the pitch for Sacred Heart with one name: Ny'Ceara Pryor. The junior guard from Baltimore is listed at just 5-foot-3, but she has led the Pioneers to two March Madness appearances, averaging a combined 18.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 3.5 steals across two seasons. Pryor is a unique talent and a must-watch player.
The Pioneers went 15-1 in NEC play last season, and though they graduated a few important players, they have the pieces to chase a third straight conference title. Look for Nalyce Dudley (Norwich, Conn.) and Thai Davis (Stoughton, Mass.) as the locals on the squad.
