The AP Top 25 rankings for women’s college basketball underwent a significant change this week as former No. 2 Texas faced its first defeat of the season against LSU. Despite losing their undefeated status, the Longhorns managed to maintain a strong position and fell only to No. 4 in the rankings. In an encouraging twist, UConn has clinched the unanimous No. 1 spot for the first time this season, underscoring their dominance in the league.
LSU made notable progress, rising to No. 6 after battling back from a rocky start to their SEC play, where they initially recorded two losses. The Tigers are eager to continue their upward momentum, with a challenging matchup against No. 13 Oklahoma on the horizon. Oklahoma is also looking to bounce back after recent defeats to Ole Miss and Kentucky.
In a competitive landscape, South Carolina has seized the No. 2 position, setting the stage for an intriguing face-off against Texas. UCLA has also climbed to No. 3, while Vanderbilt’s strong performance has earned them a place in the top 5, currently ranking at No. 5.
Notre Dame, which had previously dropped out of the rankings due to consecutive losses to Georgia Tech and Duke, demonstrated resilience by securing a convincing victory over Boston College, followed by a solid win against then-No. 22 North Carolina. This resurgence has seen the Fighting Irish re-enter the rankings at No. 23, while North Carolina has fallen out for the first time since the start of the 2023-24 season.
On the flip side, Iowa State is struggling without key player Addy Brown, resulting in three consecutive losses and a drop to No. 19. Similarly, USC has failed to find its footing, also suffering three straight defeats, which led to their removal from the Top 25.
Alabama, having received votes previously, has officially made it into the rankings at No. 21 after a strong win against Kentucky. The Illinois Fighting Illini have also managed to join the rankings at No. 25 despite recent inconsistencies, following a win against Penn State.
In the aftermath of Texas’s loss, only three teams remain undefeated: No. 1 UConn, No. 5 Vanderbilt, and No. 17 Texas Tech, promising an exciting conclusion to the season as teams vie for supremacy.
The AP Women’s Basketball Top 25 showcases the competitive nature of the sport, with teams striving for excellence while facing challenges. The coming weeks are expected to bring more thrilling matchups as teams continue to jostle for position in this highly dynamic season.