AP Poll Top 25 Women’s College Basketball Rankings: New No. 1 Team Revealed

Shakeup in Women’s College Basketball as Top Teams Battle It Out

Big changes hit the Women’s College Basketball scene this week as multiple AP Top 25 teams clashed, leading to significant shifts in the rankings. The most impactful of these games was South Carolina’s loss to UConn, but that wasn’t the only game reshaping the AP rankings. A highly anticipated top-five matchup between Texas and LSU saw the Longhorns prove they’re a true contender. And in another surprising turn, UCLA lost its undefeated record to USC. These, along with several other key games, have sent ripples through the AP Poll.

Let’s dive into the updated AP Top 25 rankings:

1. Notre Dame
Notre Dame is on an unstoppable roll. After suffering two losses back in November, the Irish have strung together 17 consecutive wins, including notable victories over Texas, UConn, and North Carolina. This week, they added a commanding win over Pitt. Looking ahead, Notre Dame has a major challenge in Duke, who they face on Monday. With only five regular-season games left, the Irish lead the ACC, holding a 2-game advantage over Duke and 1.5 games over NC State.

2. Texas

The Longhorns have truly announced their presence. After knocking off South Carolina last week, Texas followed up with two big wins over AP Top 10 teams: a dominant victory over Kentucky, followed by a 65-58 win over LSU, marking the Tigers’ lowest point total of the season. With Texas now sitting at the top of the SEC standings, they are in prime position, though with a slight edge over South Carolina who they are tied with.

3. UCLA
The Bruins’ historic 23-game win streak came to an end when they fell to USC. It was a tough 11-point loss that shook up the AP Poll. However, UCLA rebounded with a victory over Michigan State. They’ll face Illinois next, and will have a chance at redemption when they take on USC later in the season.

4. USC
It’s been an up-and-down season for the Trojans, but Thursday’s win over UCLA proves they are a dangerous team when firing on all cylinders. After avoiding a letdown against Washington, USC now leads UCLA in the Big Ten standings. Their next challenge is a crucial game against Michigan State on Wednesday.

5. UConn
In one of the biggest shocks of the season, UConn went to South Carolina and dominated the Gamecocks with an 87-58 win. Following that, the Huskies had no trouble dispatching St. John’s. With four Big East games remaining, UConn is sitting comfortably ahead in the standings, but their lead is shrinking as Seton Hall and Creighton look to close the gap.

6. South Carolina

It was a tough loss for South Carolina when they hosted UConn. After bouncing back from a loss to Texas with a dominant win over Florida, they seemed primed to defend their home court, but UConn had other plans. That 29-point loss not only broke their 71-game home win streak, but now, head coach Dawn Staley and her team must regroup with only four games left in the regular season.

7. LSU
LSU faced a setback this past weekend when they were defeated by Texas. This marks their second loss of the season, both coming in SEC play. As time runs out in the SEC race, the Tigers will need to play near-perfect basketball to stay in contention for the title. Their next matchup is against Georgia on Thursday.

8. Ohio State

After a tough road trip out west, Ohio State bounced back with a win over Minnesota, though they were taken into overtime after a dramatic fourth-quarter comeback by the Golden Gophers. With two games trailing USC in the Big Ten standings, it’s unlikely they’ll claim the regular-season title, but Ohio State aims to finish strong with upcoming games against Iowa, Indiana, and Purdue.

9. North Carolina
The Tar Heels earned a significant win over rival NC State, along with another strong performance against Virginia Tech, which helped propel them into the AP Poll. Now, they’re just 2.5 games behind Notre Dame in the ACC. North Carolina’s next challenge will be a road game against Syracuse.

10. TCU
After a tough loss to Kansas State, TCU has been on a roll, winning three straight, including key victories over BYU and Arizona. The Horned Frogs are currently tied for first in the Big 12, so every game is crucial for them, including upcoming matchups against Arizona State and West Virginia. The regular season ends with a critical game against Baylor.

As the season heads into its final stretch, these teams will continue to jockey for position in the rankings. Stay tuned as the race for the postseason heats up!