Robyn Fralick Michigan State Women's Head Basketball Coach watches her team during the UofM game Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. Robert Killips | Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Report: Spartans Deemed Top-15 Team in 'Way-Too-Early' Rankings

Originally posted on Michigan State Spartans on SI
By Aidan Champion | Last updated May 19, 2025 3:00 PM ET

Michigan State women's basketball has only made one Final Four appearance in the program's history and has never won a national title.

Going into last season, the Spartans hadn't advanced past the first round of the NCAA Tournament since 2019. But head coach Robyn Fralick is on a mission, having led her team to The Big Dance in her first two years at the helm after the program had failed to reach the tournament the two years prior. Michigan State earned a 7-seed, its highest since 2016.

The outlook for next season is the best it has looked in a very long time. Fralick attacked the transfer portal and landed three great transfers, two of whom averaged double digits in scoring last season, including Jayln Brown, who averaged 18 points per game for Arizona State last season.

On top of those additions, Michigan State is returning Grace VanSlooten and Theryn Hallock, two of the team's top three leading scorers from last season.

The program also has two incoming four-star prospects in Jordan Ode and Amy Terrian.

High expectations surround the Spartans, as Michigan State was ranked 12th in On3's Talia Goodman's "way-too-early" 2025-26 rankings.

Here was Goodman's entire Top 25 rankings:

1. South Carolina

2. UConn

3. Texas

4. UCLA

5. LSU

6. Duke

7. Tennessee

8. Oklahoma

9. North Carolina

10. Michigan

11. NC State

12. Michigan State

13. Iowa State

14. Vanderbilt

15. Washington

16. Iowa

17. Minnesota

18. Kentucky

19. Louisville

20. TCU

21. Ohio State

22. Ole Miss

23. Kansas State

24. Maryland

25. Notre Dame

The Big Ten is once again expected to be a gauntlet, but per these rankings, Michigan State is anticipated to be the third-best team in the conference, trailing only bitter rival Michigan and UCLA, which got even better this offseason after making a Final Four appearance.

Michigan State was in the AP rankings for 14 straight weeks last season, its highest ranking having been the week of Dec. 16 when it came in at 15th in the nation.

A memorable year is within reach next season. The Spartans have a special opportunity to make some noise in the Big Ten and put together a deep postseason run with what will be a very deep roster.

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This article first appeared on Michigan State Spartans on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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