Key games in the 2010-11 women's college basketball season:
Baylor-Connecticut
A rematch of last season's national semifinal, Baylor hopes to end Connecticut's record winning streak. Sophomore Brittney Griner developed throughout her freshman year and has gotten stronger over the summer. The 6-foot-8 phenom had a dominant game against UConn in the Final Four last season and that's with AP player of the year Tina Charles still a Husky. It's the earliest 1 vs. 2 showdown in women's basketball history.
Paradise Jam
This annual tournament in the Virgin Islands has a loaded field that includes Tennessee, Georgetown, West Virginia, Georgia Tech, Iowa State and TCU. The Lady Vols will play a talented Hoyas team on the final day of the tournament in what should be a matchup of size against speed. West Virginia point guard Sarah Miles hurt her wrist in the preseason and may be back in time for these games. The Mountaineers, who were picked to finish second in the Big East conference, will have their hands full with Top 25 teams Iowa State and TCU.
Maggie Dixon Classic
If Connecticut is unbeaten at this point, it would match the vaunted UCLA men's basketball winning streak with a victory over Jim Foster and Ohio State at Madison Square Garden. Then it would get a chance to break the record two days later against Florida State. This is the fourth straight season that the Maggie Dixon Classic women's doubleheader will be played in ''The World's Most Famous Arena.'' The other contest features Rutgers against Texas A&M.
Connecticut-Stanford
A championship rematch. Connecticut has knocked Stanford out of the NCAA tournament the last two seasons, including rallying from a brutal first half in April's title game. The Cardinal lost center Jayne Appel to graduation, but return a very talented group led by All-American junior Nnemkadi Ogwumike.
Kentucky-Duke
The Wildcats, led by talented center Victoria Dunlap, head into Cameron Indoor Stadium to face Jasmine Thomas and the Blue Devils. Kentucky was one of the surprise teams last season, reaching the NCAA tournament regional final before falling to Oklahoma. Duke's senior point guard is hoping to get the Blue Devils past the regional final for the first time in her career.
Purdue-Michigan State
Two of the top teams in the Big Ten square off in a key conference matchup. Michigan State, led by senior forward Kalisha Keane, should be able to recover from the loss of talented freshman Madison Williams by this point. The 6-foot-7 center tore an anterior cruciate ligament in the preseason. The Boilermakers have talented transfer Drey Mingo, who left Maryland two years ago, to go with junior guard Brittany Rayburn.
North Carolina-Duke
No matter how good or bad these two squads are, it's always a battle between the Tobacco Road rivals. North Carolina benefits from the return of senior Jessica Breland. The talented forward sat out last year while battling Hodgkin's lymphoma.
National Championship
Indianapolis will host the Final Four this year. The last time that Indy hosted in 2005, Baylor won the title, topping Michigan State.
