The third week of the women’s college basketball season has come to a close, accompanied by the release of the updated AP Top 25 Poll. With ample time left before the end of the season, these rankings provide a preliminary glimpse of teams’ standings, primarily reflecting their performances in non-conference games. Following a week in which several ranked teams faced defeats, the poll serves as an important snapshot of where teams currently stand.
UConn remains at the pinnacle of the rankings, having triumphed against two Power Conference opponents, including a significant win over then No. 6 Michigan. The Huskies are enjoying a brief respite with a break over Thanksgiving, but will return to compete in Big East play against Xavier.
The South Carolina Gamecocks continue their unbeaten streak, recording decisive victories over mid-major teams by margins exceeding 50 points. Their remarkable performance has solidified their high ranking. Next up, South Carolina will face a challenge against Duke, a team they previously met in the NCAA Tournament, albeit with a current record of 3-3.
UCLA’s performance last week included a commanding 51-point victory against Southern. However, they are set to face more formidable opponents in the coming week, starting with a match against Texas, followed by a game against Tennessee, which will provide insight into UCLA’s capabilities against tougher competition.
Texas maintains its strong ranking in the AP Poll, having also achieved significant victories against mid-major teams. Their upcoming game against UCLA is expected to test their strength as it will be their most challenging non-conference match thus far.
The LSU Tigers continued to impress last week with two significant wins, though concerns linger about their lack of competition faced. The Tigers will play a relatively easy match against Marist next week, which may not provide the challenge they need to advance in the rankings.
The Michigan Wolverines are holding steady in the AP Top 10 despite having suffered a close loss to UConn. They bounced back with a solid win against Syracuse and are expected to dominate their upcoming game against Detroit Mercy.
Meanwhile, the Maryland Terrapins remain undefeated with solid wins over Bethune-Cookman and George Mason. They will encounter a real challenge next week as they face Kentucky, a formidable opponent emerging from the SEC.
The TCU Horned Frogs are on a winning streak, recently securing victories over mid-majors following their win against NC State. They will seek to reinforce their ranking with upcoming games against Richmond and UAB on Thanksgiving and Black Friday.
Oklahoma is also maintaining momentum with a four-game winning streak after a recent win over East Texas A&M. They will face Coppin State next week, another opportunity to continue their positive trajectory.
Iowa State has entered the AP Top 10 following consecutive wins over mid-major opponents. They have one game next week against Marquette, which promises to be an intriguing matchup.
The rankings also feature familiar names, with teams like Iowa, North Carolina, Ole Miss, and Tennessee making the list. Others such as Stanford and Nebraska are gaining attention, highlighting the competitive landscape of women’s college basketball as the season unfolds. The evolving standings ensure that fans can look forward to many exciting matchups in the weeks ahead.