5 mid-major women's college basketball sleepers for the 2022-23 season

5 mid-major women’s college basketball teams that can make serious noise

Belmont forward Madison Bartley (3) attempts a shot during a second round NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship game between No. 4 Tennessee and No. 12 Belmont at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tenn. on Monday, March 21, 2022.Kns Ncaa Lady Vols Belmont /

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Belmont guard Destinee Wells (11) dribbles down the court during a second round NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship game between No. 4 Tennessee and No. 12 Belmont at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tenn. on Monday, March 21, 2022.Kns Ncaa Lady Vols Belmont /

3. Belmont (AP RV)

The Missouri Valley does their preseason poll weirdly, with a lot of people voting. So Belmont got 32 first-place votes, while second-place Illinois State got seven first-place votes.

Belmont was in the Ohio Valley Conference last year, which they won with a 16-2 conference record, advancing to the NCAA Tournament, where they beat Oregon in the first round and lost by just three to Tennessee in the second round. Now, they join a better conference and thus should end up being tested more heading into March this time around. Can they make even more noise than last year?

The Bruins will be led by Destinee Wells, who averaged 16.7 points and 4.5 assists per game last year. The team was 26th in scoring defense last season and finished 36th in Her Hoop Stats Rating.