Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, Angel Reese impact Player of the Year, Women's National Championship odds

In arguably the most anticipated women's college basketball season of all-time, three superstars -- Iowa's Caitlin Clark, UConn's Paige Bueckers, and LSU's Angel Reese -- sit as the betting favorites to win the 2024 National Player of the Year, and their respective teams have the shortest odds to win the National Championship. 

Clark, the reigning National Player of the Year, has the best odds to repeat, entering the season at +100, which translates to an implied probability of 50 percent.

Bueckers, who took home 2021 NPOY honors as a freshman, owns the second-best odds (+300) to claim her second NPOY award despite missing all of 2022-23 recovering from a torn ACL.  

Not far behind sits Angel Reese (+350), who helped her school win the 2023 National Championship, a 102-85 win over Clark's Hawkeyes. LSU currently owns the No. 1 spot in the preseason AP rankings, but a season-opening 92-78 loss to 20th-ranked Colorado could result in a mini-slide in next week's poll. Regardless, a season-opening loss is nothing to panic over, as Kim Mulkey's crew is still one of the teams to beat this season.

In conjunction, their respective schools own the top three odds to cut down the nets this season, as these superstars play a significant role in the betting market's assessment of the 2024 National Championship odds.

How should bettors approach the women's NPOY and National Championship odds markets? Below, we'll break down the top three contenders for each market and dish out our prediction on how we think this season will shake out.

Women's College Basketball Odds: 2023-24 National Player of the Year

Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook

Caitlin Clark, Iowa (+100). The reigning NPOY is warranted as the odds-on favorite, as Clark's high-volume workload gives her every opportunity to improve her scoring and assist totals from her dominant 2022-23 campaign. Clark got her senior season off on the right foot, dropping 28 points on 11-of-17 shooting (four-of-nine 3PT) with 10 assists and seven rebounds in 24 minutes of action. 

Clark's lethal floor spacing abilities (38.9 3PT% in '22-23) coupled with her strong court vision make the Hawkeyes one of the toughest teams to contain over 40 minutes. It will be challenging for Clark to maintain her double-double average come season's end, but don't put it past the reigning NPOY to continue to stuff the stat sheet. As Iowa's unquestioned No. 1 option, her reliable usage makes her the frontrunner to repeat as the NPOY.

Paige Bueckers, UConn (+300). Bueckers makes her long-awaited return to the floor on Wednesday night when the second-ranked Huskies take on Dayton. Relative to betting Clark to win NPOY honors, there's a bit more uncertainty for Bueckers, and while the buzz is that she's stronger and better than ever, can she put up NPOY-worthy numbers on a loaded Connecticut squad that sits as the odds-on favorite to win it all?

Talent's not the issue with Bueckers, but with so many mouths to feed on her squad, she likely won't be as heavily used as Clark. Fellow backcourt mate Nika Muhl stepped up admirably in Buecker's absence as UConn's floor general last season, while Azzi Fudd's a lethal shooter who will command a high volume of shots.

Additionally, forward Aaliyah Edwards was the team's leading scorer last season (16.6 ppg; .589 FG%) and will remain a key component of Geno Auriemma's offense. As a result, we're not quite sure Bueckers will put up the numbers necessary to take home NPOY honors, but she's a good bet to continue her efficient play and give the Huskies every chance to claim their 12th National Championship in school history.

Angel Reese, LSU (+350). Reese is in a similar boat to Bueckers, as she's the most prominent player on a stacked team. The top-ranked Tigers are loaded just about everywhere, with guard depth for days and reliable frontcourt pieces, too. 

LSU added guards Hailey Van Lith (Louisville) and Aneesah Morrow (DePaul) via the transfer portal, while highly touted freshman guard Mikayla Williams already looks like the best guard on the team. Reese is a double-double machine, already notching her first one of the young season on Monday night (15 points, 12 rebounds) and could improve her rebounding numbers from a season ago (15.4 rebs).

However, with LSU looking more like a perimeter-oriented team with several guards profiling as three-level scorers, it could result in Reese's scoring number (23.0 ppg in 22-23) taking a hit. Therefore, we're hesitant to back Reese to win NPOY this season, as the ball might not be in her hands enough to have another elite scoring year.

Prediction: Caitlin Clark (+100) repeats thanks to her consistent high-volume workload

Women's College Basketball Odds: 2023-24 National Champion

UConn (+400). Considering Auriemma's won 11 National Championships, it's only fitting to see the Huskies atop the 2024 odds board. A healthy Bueckers and Fudd likely lead to the Huskies running through the Big East en route to a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. While winning six games in a single-elimination format is as tough as it gets, Auriemma's track record proves otherwise. Betting on UConn to win their first National Championship since 2016 is never a bad move.

LSU (+450). While the top-ranked Tigers allowed Colorado to sink over 53 percent of their shots in a shocking season-opening loss, a couple of defensive tweaks from Kim Mulkey's squad will result in the Tigers living up to their preseason billing. Colorado shot the three-ball at an elite level, and as long as LSU shores up their perimeter defense, another dominant regular season finish is in store.

We're in awe of LSU's guard depth, and having several reliable options who can break defenses down off the dribble opens things up for Reese and her frontcourt mates.

We also think freshman guard Mikayla Williams soars up the NPOY odds board, as the five-star freshman looks like she could hold her own at the pro level right now. LSU has the highest offensive ceiling in this group of three, so a bet on the Lady Tigers to repeat despite a tough first loss is an appealing one in our eyes.

Iowa (+900). Seeing Iowa at +900 might look like a misprice, but frankly, the Hawkeyes are a step below the Huskies and Tigers. While Iowa has the best player in the nation in Clark, we're not sure they have the depth necessary to potentially have to beat either the Tigers or Huskies on a neutral floor. 

Sophomore forward Hannah Stuekle is a nice second option, as she's capable of putting the ball on the floor and dominating the low block, while also having a knack for finding her open teammates on the perimeter. However, after Stuelke and Clark can an elite third option emerge? 

Of course, Clark's proven she can go nuclear in March to help her team cut down the nets, but the Hawkeyes still feel like a distant No. 3 behind UConn and LSU.

Prediction: LSU (+400) overcomes a season-opening loss, winning their second-ever National Championship in school history.