3 Key Insights from the NCAA Committee’s Top 16 Women’s Basketball Rankings

The NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball scene, the committee has just revealed their early Top 16 rankings, making waves this Sunday afternoon. Let’s dive into three key takeaways from this intriguing update.

Note: These rankings were released before Sunday’s games took place.

1. UCLA
2. South Carolina
3. Texas
4. Notre Dame
5. Southern California
6. LSU
7. UConn 
8. NC State
9. TCU
10. Duke
11. North Carolina
12. Kansas State
13. Kentucky
14. Ohio State
15. Oklahoma
16. Tennessee

1. SEC Dominates the Rankings

The Southeastern Conference (SEC) has once again proven its dominance, with six teams making the cut in the Top 16—outpacing all other conferences. While South Carolina and Texas were almost guaranteed No. 1 seeds, it was Oklahoma and Tennessee that surprisingly clinched the last two spots.

The SEC has stood as the most competitive league this season, and the committee’s rankings reflect that. Despite Kentucky, Oklahoma, and Tennessee enduring some tough losses, all three have secured hosting rights for now.

However, South Carolina’s ranking could change after suffering a surprising home defeat to UConn on Sunday. Still, barring an unexpected turn of events, they’re likely to stay in the top half of the rankings throughout the season.

As for Tennessee, despite their six losses, each defeat came by seven points or fewer against teams currently in On3’s Top 25, including three in the Top 10. The committee seems to have factored in these narrow margins, giving Tennessee the No. 16 seed, allowing them to host the first two rounds of the tournament.

2. NC State: The Big Winner

When it comes to rising stars, NC State is undoubtedly the biggest winner here. The committee has ranked the Wolfpack at No. 8—higher than many, including the AP Poll at No. 10 and On3’s No. 14. With a 20-5 record this season and an impressive 16-2 run since a setback against LSU in November, NC State has been making waves.

Notable wins over teams like Ole Miss, Duke, Louisville, and Florida State bolster their resume, and all of their losses have come at the hands of ranked opponents. Sitting at No. 19 in the NET, with a 4-5 record in Quadrant 1 games, their strong performance has caught the committee’s attention.

3. Head-to-Head Results: Important, But Not Decisive

The committee has considered some head-to-head matchups, but it’s clear that they’re not the final word in the rankings. UCLA holds its spot ahead of South Carolina, thanks to a victory in their non-conference meeting. Notre Dame remains ahead of USC for the same reason, while UConn is ranked lower than both USC and Notre Dame, despite losses to them early in the season. Similarly, Oklahoma edges out Tennessee, having beaten them in a nail-biting one-possession game.

However, in other cases, head-to-head results don’t seem to carry as much weight. Duke is ranked just above UNC, while Kansas State falls behind TCU and Notre Dame is ranked lower than Texas. These rankings suggest that while head-to-head matchups matter, they don’t always determine the final order.

That’s the scoop from the latest NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Committee rankings—stay tuned as the season unfolds!