KSR's 2025-26 Kentucky Women's Basketball Staff Predictions

The 2025-26 Kentucky women’s basketball season is upon us, and the KSR crew is here to give you our predictions for the upcoming season.

We’ll provide you with our projected regular season record, where we think the Cats will finish in the NCAA Tournament, and we’ll explain our thoughts as well.

Phoenix Stevens: 23-7 — Elite Eight

Kenny Brooks had a really good first year at Kentucky, and he’s going to top in year two. Sure, he lost some talent this offseason, most notably Georgia Amoore, but he replaced one all-conference point guard with another in Tonie Morgan. Behind Morgan and the triplets of Clara Strack, Teonni Key and Amelia Hassett, the Cats are going to be knocking at the door of their first-ever Final Four appearance.

Tyler Thompson: 23-7 — Elite Eight

Kenny Brooks brought life back to the Kentucky women’s basketball program in his first season as head coach. Georgia Amoore may be gone, but the Cats have an intriguing — and extremely tall — roster for year two, anchored by Clara Strack and Teonni Key. That size will help Kentucky simply overwhelm some opponents, but the Cats’ success in SEC play will be determined by Tonie Morgan, who steps into Amoore’s shoes after three seasons at Georgia Tech. The SEC is absolutely stacked, yet again, but if Morgan is up to the challenge, the Cats could make some noise. I think she is and that they will. Kentucky will host the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament and make it to the Elite Eight before falling just short of a Final Four berth. Not bad at all for year two.

Jack Pilgrim: 24-6 — Elite Eight

Georgia Amoore is no longer Kenny Brooks’ safety net, but he responded by loading up on talent and depth while also developing from within the program. Led by Clara Strack and Teonni Key, the Wildcats return nearly half their scoring and three-quarters of their rebounding. If Tonie Morgan is a hit — and I expect her to be — this will be another top-four finish in the SEC with the pieces in place for a serious March Madness run.

Steven Peake: 24-6 — Elite Eight

In my honest opinion, Kentucky is being slept on. They bring back size and experience, plus added strong guard play. Georgia Tech transfer Tonie Morgan replaces Georgia Amoore at point — if she facilitates like she has before, the scoring options are there. I think Kentucky challenges for the SEC crown in Kenny Brooks’ second season.

Zack Geoghegan: 23-7 — Sweet 16

Losing Georgia Amoore AND Dazia Lawrence will be tough, but Tonie Morgan will be able to do enough as Amoore’s replacement to keep the offense chugging along. There is more depth on this season’s team, but will there be enough top-end talent in the backcourt? Led by arguably the best frontcourt in the SEC, Kenny Brooks will have Kentucky back in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2016.

Nick Roush: 23-7 — Sweet 16

Kentucky’s height raises the floor. Strack and Key will be an outstanding and entertaining frontcourt, but they need a quality backcourt to create offense. Unfortunately, Georgia Amoore ain’t walking through that door. Losing Dominika Paurová, again, doesn’t help matters either. The non-conference is manageable, but the SEC is loaded. There will be more fun and exciting moments in year two of the Kenny Brooks era, but this doesn’t feel like his big breakthrough team.

Jacob Polacheck: 23-7 — Elite Eight

Kenny Brooks will have this team ready to go. Clara Strack is gonna be an All-SEC First Team candidate while Teonni Key will also have a big year. Kentucky will exceed expectations as a top five SEC team and make it to the Elite Eight.

Kentucky opens up its regular season on Tuesday against in-state foe Morehead State at 6:30 p.m. ET on SEC Network+. Hopefully, that’s the start to even better, even more exciting year of Kentucky women’s basketball in Kenny Brooks’ second season at the helm.

Go prove us right (or wrong by making the Final Four).