1, Stanford
Coach: Tara VanDerveer, 22nd season, (547-134)
So far this season: Saturday's win over Tennessee in overtime at home stands as the signature game in women's college basketball so far this season. The Cardinal (10-1) also have wins over Rutgers and Old Dominion, and the only loss is to Connecticut.
Top returners: Candice Wiggins would be working on her fourth conference player of the year award if not for injuries last season. She could be the best player in the league. Jayne Appel continues Stanford's tradition of strong post players, and Jillian Harmon provides a measure of grit and toughness.
Top newcomers: Kayla Pedersen, a forward from Arizona, is the latest phenom on the Farm. She could keep the Pac-10 freshman of the year award in the program after Appel's win a year ago.
Outlook: The Cardinal have played in 20 straight NCAA Tournaments but haven't made a Final Four in 10 years. Wiggins will try to put an end to that in her final season, and put last season's second-round loss in the rearview mirror.
Quoting VanDerveer: "We were very disappointed with our tournament experience last year, and we hope that is something that is a stone stuck in your shoe."
2, California
Coach: Joanne Boyle, third season (50-23)
So far this season: The losses are to Baylor and Rutgers, both on the road. Those are Cal's two best opponents so far, perhaps a sign that while the Bears (9-2) are good this year, they're not yet great. A healthy Devanei Hampton could change that.
Top returners: Hampton, Ashley Walker and Alexis Gray-Lawson could be the league's best trio. With Gray-Lawson out last season, Natasha Vital gained a wealth of experience and is a tough matchup as a defender. Lauren Greif provides a three-point threat, and Rama N'Diaye adds depth to the post.
Top newcomers: Kelsey Adrian has played in every game so far and isn't afraid to shoot from long range. She's one of two freshmen on the roster, with Rachelle Federico.
Outlook: Boyle considered returning to Duke, where she played and also spent nine years as an assistant. Instead, she chose to stay at Cal. Now she just needs to get all her top players back, too.
Quoting Boyle: "We need to stay healthy, because we're not a team that can run them in and run them out."
3, Arizona State
Coach: Charli Turner Thorne, 12th season (209-139)
So far this season: Not only have the Sun Devils (6-5) played one of the nation's toughest schedules, but they've been hobbled by injuries. Arizona State is still beating everybody it's supposed to, but beating ranked teams has been another story.
Top returners: The familiar faces are all on the perimeter, where point guard Briann January is an all-conference candidate and Jill Noe is back for yet another season to cap an injury-plagued career. Kirsten Thompson is an imposing post presence.
Top newcomers: With Emily Westerberg and Aubree Johnson no longer around, the Sun Devils are leaning on a couple of transfers in the post. Lauren Lacey left Minnesota and has started every game for ASU so far, while Tennessee transplant Sybil Dosty has moved into the starting lineup after missing the preseason due to injury.
Outlook: With the two transfers transitioning into the rotation, the Sun Devils could get better as the season wears on. But they would miss Danielle Orsillo if her bone bruise forces her to redshirt.
Quoting Turner Thorne: "We are still a little hobbled ... but hopefully after Christmas we'll be back to full strength."
4, Southern California
Coach: Mark Trakh, fourth season (63-40)
So far this season: The Trojans (7-4) dropped a stunner at UC Santa Barbara in the opener, but since have lost only a squeaker to Georgia and road games at Nebraska and Michigan. Quality wins have come over Utah, Colorado and Virginia Tech.
Top returners: After a season pocked with injuries a year ago, it's more of the same, and to some of the same players: Jacki Gemelos suffered another ACL tear. Nadia Parker has stepped up and leads USC in scoring and rebounding despite playing less than 19 minutes per game.
Top newcomers: The Trojans are without freshman Stefanie Gilbreath because of another ACL injury, but Brynn Cameron is back to provide a three-point threat as a junior after taking a year off to have a baby.
Outlook: The formula for the Trojans has been pretty simple this season. When they defend, they win. All that athleticism makes them a tough matchup when they're motivated.
Quoting Trakh: "We've been kind of up and down. We've played well at times. Hopefully we can get a little more consistent."
5, Arizona
Coach: Joan Bonvicini, 17th season (283-208)
So far this season: The Wildcats (6-5) endured a tough start to the season with losses to the likes of Penn State, Pittsburgh and North Carolina State but have built some confidence with back-to-back victories over Boise State and New Mexico.
Top returners: Ashley Whisonant is playing nearly 37 minutes per game at point guard, and averaging 14.6 points per game. She and post Amina Njonkou have started every game. Rheya Neabors and Beatrice Bofia are both back after suffering major injuries last season.
Top newcomers: Freshman forward Ify Ibekwe is the team's leading rebounder and No. 2 scorer, but she had to miss two games after being poked in the eye. First-year guard Tasha Dickey is also playing a significant role early in the season for the Wildcats.
Outlook: According to Bonvicini, the black cloud that settled over the program following the death two years ago of Shawntinice Polk seems to be lifting. There's talent here, and it seems to be coming together.
Quoting Bonvicini: "We have had to go through some things that I wouldn't wish on anybody, but I think that makes you a stronger person."
6, UCLA
Coach: Kathy Olivier, 15th season (221-198)
So far this season: The Bruins (5-6) have endured two three-game losing streaks, with losses to the likes of Pepperdine and San Diego. But they've played both Maryland and Tennessee close, perhaps a sign of UCLA's potential.
Top returners: Lindsey Pluimer has been as reliable as ever, having started all 103 games for the Bruins in her career so far. She leads the team in scoring and rebounding. Juniors Tierra Henderson and Chinyere Ibekwe join Pluimer as the only upperclassmen for the Bruins.
Top newcomers: Where to start on a team playing six freshmen? Forward Nina Earl is scoring in double figures, and Doreena Campbell is playing the point. The frontcourt includes Regina Rogers and Christina Nzekwe, prep teammates of Oregon freshman Nia Jackson.
Outlook: The Bruins have always been able to recruit talented players to Westwood. They could be the class of the conference's young and rebuilding teams this season.
Quoting Olivier: "We're a young basketball team, and we're pretty much showing that right now."
7, Oregon
Coach: Bev Smith, seventh season (106-88)
So far this season: The Ducks have battled back from their defeats, only dropping consecutive games once this season. They want to prove that the one-sided loss at Baylor earlier this month was just an anomaly.
Top returners: Kaela Chapdelaine is the lone senior for the Ducks and provides energy and heart. Taylor Lilley leads the offense from the perimeter, and Micaela Cocks recently replaced Tamika Nurse at the point guard position.
Top newcomers: Nicole Canepa is a rugged rebounder and tough defender, though she sprained her ankle in the Ducks' last nonconference game, against Tulsa. Ellie Manou is also battling some injuries, but freshman Ellyce Ironmonger has proven to be a dependable post presence over the past month.
Outlook: Like UCLA and Washington, the Ducks will rely on a lot of young players this season. Oregon could just as easily end up as the best of the bunch.
Quoting Smith: "Our kids are excited about conference and have really earned some valuable experience in this nonconference season."
8, Washington
Coach: Tia Jackson, first season (5-7)
So far this season: The Huskies (5-7) have endured six surgeries since Jackson took over, and she has yet to have a full roster even for practice, much less a game. But Friday's win over Purdue was a major step.
Top returners: Andrea Plouffe is back at forward after missing 10 games with an Achilles' injury, but sophomore Laura McLellan is out after a knee scope, and Dominique Banks is redshirting due to stress fractures in both legs. Sami Whitcomb and Emily Florence have both been steady perimeter shooters for the Huskies.
Top newcomers: Katelan Redmon, a wing from Spokane, is yet another freshman being leaned on heavily. She leads the team in scoring at 13.3 points per game and is second in rebounds. Four other freshmen have played for the Huskies.
Outlook: The Huskies open the conference season at California and Stanford, a daunting task for a young team embarking on its first voyage in the Pac-10. That will set the tone for Washington's season.
Quoting Jackson: "Our record's really not indicative of how hard this team has been working. When we're at full force, we're a very, very good team."
9, Oregon State
Coach: LaVonda Wagner, third season (32-38)
So far this season: The Beavers (7-4) have won two straight entering the conference opener against Oregon in Corvallis on Saturday. But they haven't played the most daunting of early schedules.
Top returners: Mercedes Fox-Griffin is one of the Pac-10's better point guards and is one of three returning starters back for the Beavers, along with Ashley Allen and Stacey Nichols. Also, Tiffany Ducker is back with the team after sitting out last season for personal reasons.
Top newcomers: There are eight in all, led by Brittney Davis, a Portland native who first signed with Minnesota but later transferred to Oregon State. She's the second-leading scorer on the team, while freshman guard Talisa Rhea is third.
Outlook: Casey Nash is gone, but Allen is picking up the scoring slack, averaging 20.7 points per game. Still, the Beavers might struggle to improve on last year's eighth-place finish in the Pac-10.
Quoting Wagner: "Considering the new faces we have and what we're blending it with, every day we seem to get better."
10, Washington State
Coach: June Daugherty, first season (3-8)
So far this season: Daugherty is looking for a 40-minute effort in her first season since coming over from Washington, where she was fired following last season. The Cougars (3-8) have been competitive at times, but not usually on the final scoreboard.
Top returners: Katie Appleton is making better than 43 percent of her three-point shots, and averages 13.4 points per game. Heather Molzen has entered the lineup full-time for the Cougars, and Colleen Betteridge is the point guard.
Top newcomers: Kezia Kelly has started all 11 games but has yet to find her scoring touch. Three other freshmen are in the regular rotation for Washington State.
Outlook: The Cougars are learning a new system, and don't have a whole lot of veteran talent. It will be a couple of years before Daugherty gets them turned around.
Quoting Daugherty: "Not only are we a youthful group, but we're treating them all like freshmen with the coaching change."
—Rob Moseley