Five must-watch games of opening week of women's college basketball season

The start of the women's college basketball season is right around the corner and fans are in store for some marquee opening-week matchups beginning on Monday.

Here are five must-watch games for the first week of the season.

No. 7 Duke vs. No. 16 Baylor | Nov. 3

One of the biggest games of opening week just so happens to be one of the first to tip off on Monday in Paris. Coming off an Elite 8 loss to No. 1 South Carolina, the Blue Devils are led by sophomore sensation Toby Fournier, who averaged a team-high 13.2 points per game last season.

On the other side, the 16th-ranked Bears lost their leading scorer from last season, center Aaronette Vonleh (14.9 PPG), to the WNBA's Dallas Wings, but have senior Darianna Littlepage-Buggs (13.8 PPG, 10 RPG) back for another season. Both teams are looking to take that next step after last season and an opening day win in a top-25 matchup would be a major vote of confidence.

No. 8 Tennessee vs. No. 9 NC State | Nov. 4

The Lady Vols look to improve on last season's Sweet 16 run with the return of leading-scorer Talaysia Cooper (16.6 PPG) and the addition of UCLA transfer Janiah Barker to head coach Kim Caldwell's second-ranked recruiting class.

The Wolfpack lost two of their top-three scorers from last season, guards Aziaha James (17.9 PPG) and Saniya Rivers (11.9 PPG), to the Wings and Connecticut Sun, respectively, but have junior guard Zoe Brooks (14.2 PPG) returning to the fold. A win for either team would go a long way so early in the season.

No. 20 Louisville vs. No. 1 UConn | Nov. 4

The defending-champion Huskies return to the court for the first time since Paige Bueckers was selected No. 1 overall by the Wings. 

Considering guard Tajianna Roberts (12.8 PPG) is the only one of Louisville's double-digit scorers returning from last season, the Cardinals have some searching to do after failing to make it past the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament the last two seasons.

The Huskies, on the other hand, could be even better than last season led by sophomore forward Sarah Strong (16.4 PPG, 8.9 RPG) and senior guard Azzi Fudd (13.6 PPG). With the addition of Wisconsin transfer Serah Williams, who nearly averaged a double-double (19.2 PPG, 9.8 RPG) and shot 49.3 percent from the floor last season, this is a tall task for Louisville out of the gate.

No. 24 Richmond at No. 4 Texas | Nov. 7

This is a sneaky opening-week game to keep an eye on as the Spiders have gone a combined 57-13 the past two seasons and are coming off the program's first NCAA Tournament win in a first-round triumph over Georgia Tech.

The fourth-ranked Longhorns look stout once again with the return of junior forward Madison Booker, who has won back-to-back conference Player of the Year honors. Texas should win this one, but this will be a good test to see where a talented Richmond team is at.

No. 18 USC vs. No. 9 NC State | Nov. 9

The Trojans are one of the biggest unknowns in the sport with star Juju Watkins out for the season with a right ACL tear and Kiki Iriafen and Rayah Marshall gone to the WNBA.

This is the second of two massive opening-week games for the Wolfpack. This could be the more favorable matchup of the two, though, especially with the injury to Watkins and some key departures from last season on this Trojans team.