1. Tennessee (28-4)

Southeastern Conference

Coach: Pat Summitt

Top players: G Kara Lawson, F Gwen Jackson, G Shanna Zolman

Comments: The Lady Vols have won a record six national championships and played in all 22 tournaments. They were upset by LSU in the SEC Tournament final after winning their sixth regular-season conference championship.

2. Villanova (25-5)

Big East Conference

Coach: Harry Perretta

Top players: G Trish Juhline, F Katie Davis, F Courtney Mix

Comments: The Wildcats ended UConn's winning streak at 70 games, in the Big East Tournament final. Villanova plays outstanding defense and commits few turnovers, and its deliberate style is tough to play against.

3. North Carolina (27-5)

Atlantic Coast Conference

Coach: Sylvia Hatchell

Top players: G Coretta Brown, G Nikita Bell, F La'Tangela Atkinson

Comments: North Carolina can't beat Duke, but the Tar Heels are still a solid top-10 team. Brown is a two-time ACC first-team player and Atkinson, a strong rebounder, is one of the top freshmen in the country.

4. Penn State (24-8)

Big Ten Conference

Coach: Rene Portland

Top players: G Kelly Mazzante, G Tanisha Wright, G Jessica Brungo.

Comments: Mazzante, the Big Ten Player of the Year, and Wright give Penn State a solid 1-2 offensive punch. The Lions won the Big Ten regular season but lost to Ohio State in the tournament semifinals.

5. South Carolina (22-7)

SEC

Coach: Susan Walvius

Top players: F Jocelyn Penn, F Petra Ujhelyi, G Cristina Ciocan

Comments: This is a veteran team that reached the Elite Eight a year ago. Penn ranks fourth in the nation in scoring (24.4 ppg).

6. Colorado (22-7)

Big 12 Conference

Coach: Ceal Barry

Top players: C Tera Bjorkland, F Linda Lappe, F Sabrina Scott

Comments: The Buffaloes are tall and talented. Bjorkland, a 6-foot-5 junior, has become a dominant player in the post. Lappe (6-0) and Scott (6-2) have had outstanding senior seasons after injuries slowed both last season.

7. George Washington (24-6)

Atlantic 10 Conference

Coach: Joe McKeown

Top players: G Cathy Joens, C Ugo Oha, F Anna Montanana

Comments: The Colonials, who won 21 of their last 22 games, are in the tournament for the 10th time in 13 years. Joens was the conference player of the year, and Valerie Williams was the A-10's top sixth player.

8. Virginia (16-13)

ACC

Coach: Debbie Ryan

Top players: F Brandi Teamer, G Cherrise Graham, G LaTonya Blue

Comments: Ryan, who is in her 26th season, showed patience and the Cavaliers came together in the second half and finished a strong third in the ACC. Teamer, Graham and Blue are all sophomores.

9. Illinois (17-11)

Big Ten

Coach: Theresa Grentz

Top players: F Angelina Williams, F Cindy Dallas, F Aninata Yanni

Comments: Illinois was trounced by Michigan in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament but has a top-30 RPI and top-10 schedule. Dallas was the Big Ten's top rebounder.

10. Oklahoma (19-12)

Big 12

Coach: Sherri Coale

Top players: G Dionnah Jackson, G Chelsi Welch, G Maria Villarroel

Comments: Coale lost all the key players from last year's team that lost the NCAA title game to UConn. Jackson has emerged as the Sooners' new leader, and Welch was the Big 12 co-Freshman of the Year.

11. Brigham Young (19-11)

Mountain West Conference

Coach: Jeff Judkins

Top players: G Erin Thorn, F Danielle Cheesman, G Kestlee Nelson

Comments: BYU, which lost to New Mexico in the MWC title game, returns after reaching the Sweet 16 last season. Thorn, a four-time MWC first-team selection, is one of the top 3-point shooters in the country.

12. Chattanooga (26-4)

Southern Conference

Coach: Wes Moore

Top players: F Jennifer Wilson, G Miranda Warfield, F Nneka Irons

Comments: Chattanooga is in the NCAA Tournament for the third straight year, and this time the Mocs, who tied a school record for victories, believe they can win a game. No one averages in double figures.

13. Holy Cross (24-7)

Patriot League

Coach: Bill Gibbons

Top players: C Katie O'Keefe, G Maggie Fontana, F Mary Rose Campbell

Comments: The Crusaders posted their ninth consecutive 20-win season and reclaimed the Patriot crown after losing to Bucknell in last year's final. O'Keefe has played in a school-record 122 games.

14. Austin Peay (27-3)

Ohio Valley Conference

Coach: Susie Gardner

Top players: G Brooke Armistead, F Gerlonda Hardin, F Ashley Haynes

Comments: The Lady Govs closed the regular season with 22 straight wins, the third-best streak in the nation. Armistead, a 5-9 senior, was the OVC player of the year.

15. St. Francis (Pa.) (23-7)

Northeast Conference

Coach: Myndi Hill

Top players: F Carin Cheswick, C Beth Swink, G Sami Allison

Comments: The Red Flash tied the school record for wins as they won their seventh NEC title in eight years. Swink was fifth in the nation in field goal percentage.

16. Alabama State (20-10)

Southwestern Athletic Conference

Coach: Freda Freeman-Jackson

Top players: F Shameka Jackson, C Crystal Kitt, G Chrishutta Lewis

Comments: The Hornets, opened the season 1-7 against a lineup of nonconference opponents.

South Florida Sun-Sentinel