Impact newcomers: Freshmen and transfers to watch in the women's NCAAA tournament

Are you ready? The women’s NCAA Tournament tips off Wednesday night with the first-ever women’s First Four, and hopefully, you are working on filling out your bracket right now.

But if you’re unfamiliar with rosters, or looking for a not-as-obvious player to watch or follow, we’ve got you covered.

These are the newcomers in women’s basketball — some freshmen, some transfers — who are likely to have an impact over the next three weeks. Some of them might be names you know from other programs, and some of them might be brand new. All of them are ballers.

Angel Baker, Ole Miss, 5-foot-8 senior guard: It took Baker, twice First-Team All-Horizon League honoree while at Wright State, almost no time to adjust to Power Five basketball. The SEC’s Sixth Woman of the Year, she averages 10.7 points and 3.1 rebounds.

Emily Engstler, Louisville, 6-foot-1 senior forward: A former McDonald’s All-American, Engstler figured to be a good pick up for the Cardinals when she transferred from Syracuse. One of the most versatile players in the country, the All-ACC First Teamer fit in seamlessly on both ends of the floor. Engstler averages 11.5 points and 9.1 rebounds and is one of the best defensive players in women’s basketball.

Azzi Fudd, UConn, 5-foot-11 freshman guard: The No. 1 ranked recruit in the country spent part of her season on the bench nursing an injury, but she’s healthy now, which is bad news for everyone else. Fudd can score at-will when she’s in the zone, evidenced by her 82 points in a four-game stretch in early February. She averages 12.4 points and shoots 43.7% from 3.

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Rori Harmon, Texas, 5-foot-6 freshman guard: The No. 10 prospect in the country, according to ESPN, Harmon made an instant impact in Austin. She scored 21 points in an upset at defending national champion Stanford in just her second college basketball game, and the Big 12 Freshman of the Year has been a consistent contributor all season, with 11.5 ppg, 4.8 apg and 4.6 rpg.

Diamond Johnson, NC State, 5-foot-5 sophomore guard: After a stellar freshman campaign at Rutgers, Johnson went south. An explosive scorer, she’s added to the Wolfpack’s depth, averaging 10.9 points and 4.2 rebounds, en route to earning ACC Sixth Player of the Year honors.

Gianna Kneepkens, Utah, 5-foot-11 guard: The best word to describe the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year: fearless. Kneepkens, who averages 12 points, 4.4 rebounds and shoots 44.3% from the field, thinks nothing of driving against bigger, stronger, faster players — and usually, she finds a way to score.

Koi Love, Arizona, 6-foot junior forward: It took Love about half the season to get comfortable in Tucson, but the transfer from Vanderbilt has proven she can be a game-changer off the bench. She can score in bunches and has recorded three steals or more in six different games this season.

Olivia Miles, Notre Dame, 5-foot-10 freshman guard: Don’t let the glasses fool you: This young woman is cold-blooded. The six extra games she got last year as an early enrollee has undoubtedly helped her be a consistent contributor this year. Miles, an All-ACC First Team selection, averaged 13.7 points, and her 7.2 assist are fourth-most in the nation.

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Alexis Morris, LSU, 5-foot-6 senior guard: Morris, who is on her fourth school in five years after stops at Baylor, Rutgers and Texas A&M, has found a fit in Baton Rouge under first-year coach Kim Mulkey, who she’s familiar with. Morris averages 9.8 points and 4.2 rebounds and in just one season, has helped make the Tigers legit Final Four contenders.

Aneesah Morrow, DePaul, 6-foot-1 freshman forward: The country’s leader in double-doubles with 26 in (in 31 games), Morrow’s stats are eye-popping for someone in her first year of college basketball. The true freshman is averaging 21.3 points, 13.7 rebounds and 2.6 steals.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: March Madness: Freshmen, transfers to watch in women's NCAA Tournament