Honestly, if you haven’t been watching women's college hoops lately, you’re missing the most chaotic season in years. The latest AP Top 25 women's basketball poll just dropped, and it’s a total mess in the best way possible. Four of the top ten teams went down last week. Four! That kind of carnage doesn't happen often in January.
UConn is Finally Back on Top Alone
For the first time all season, the Huskies aren't sharing the spotlight. UConn grabbed all 32 first-place votes this Monday. They are the unanimous No. 1. Geno Auriemma’s squad is currently playing like they're in a video game, winning Big East games by an average of about 47 points. It’s almost unfair. Sarah Strong, their freshman sensation, just put up 24 points and five blocks against Villanova. She’s basically a cheat code at this point.
While UConn stayed put, everything below them shifted.
South Carolina climbed up to No. 2, which feels right given how Dawn Staley has them locked in defensively. They just handled Georgia with ease, and Ta’Niya Latson is fitting into that system like she’s been there for years. But they can’t get comfortable. Why? Because UCLA is right on their heels at No. 3.
The Bruins are legit. Kiki Rice just celebrated her birthday by dropping 25 points on Minnesota while shooting a ridiculous 89% from the floor. When your star player is that efficient on the road, you’re going to win a lot of games.
The LSU and Texas Shakeup
The biggest reason for the top-five shuffle was LSU's massive win over Texas. Before that game, Texas looked nearly invincible, but Kim Mulkey’s Tigers reminded everyone why they’re the defending-ish heavyweights of the SEC. LSU jumped six spots all the way to No. 6. They had a rough start to conference play with two losses, but beating the Longhorns 70-65 changed the narrative instantly.
Texas, meanwhile, slid down to No. 4. It’s not a disaster, but it proves that the Big 12 (and their future SEC life) is going to be a grind.
Vanderbilt is the Story Nobody Expected
Can we talk about Vanderbilt for a second? They are No. 5. Yes, the Vanderbilt Commodores. This is their highest ranking since 2002. They are one of only three undefeated teams left in the country, alongside UConn and a surprisingly resilient Texas Tech team. People keep waiting for the Commodores to stumble, but they just keep winning.
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Winners and Losers of the Week
The poll wasn't kind to everyone.
- Iowa State: They were rolling with 14 straight wins, then hit a brick wall. Three straight losses sent them tumbling nine spots down to No. 20.
- Notre Dame: This one hurts. After losing to unranked Georgia Tech and Duke, the Irish fell out of the AP Top 25 women's basketball rankings entirely. This snapped an 85-week streak.
- The Newcomers: Alabama (21st), Notre Dame (re-entered later/borderline), and Illinois (25th) are the fresh faces this week.
- TCU: They’ve sneaked into the top 10 at No. 10. Quietly, they are becoming one of the most dangerous teams in the country.
Why the SEC is Dominating the Conversation
If you look at the board, the SEC has nine teams in the Top 25. Nine! That is nearly 40% of the entire poll. Five of the top seven teams are SEC schools. It’s a gauntlet. Every Thursday and Sunday in that conference is basically a playoff game.
The Big Ten is trying to keep pace with eight ranked teams, but the depth in the South is just different right now. Even a team like Kentucky, sitting at No. 7, feels like they could beat anyone on a neutral court.
The Mid-Major Silence
It’s a bit of a bummer that the poll is so power-conference heavy right now. Usually, we have a Gonzaga or a Princeton making more noise, but the "Big Five" schools are hoarding all the talent and the votes. Texas Tech at No. 17 is the "surprise" team, but even they are in a major conference.
What to Watch Next
If you want to see if these rankings hold up, mark your calendar for the Texas vs. South Carolina rematch. They played earlier this season—Texas won by two—and the Round 2 is going to be high-level basketball.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Watch the "Unbeatens": Keep a close eye on Vanderbilt and Texas Tech. Their schedules are about to get significantly harder, and the "fraud alert" or "contender" tag will be decided in the next ten days.
- Monitor the Bubble: Teams like USC and North Carolina just fell out. They’re going to be playing with a lot of desperation to get back in the committee's good graces.
- Betting Value: If you’re into that sort of thing, UConn is the heavy favorite at -200, but UCLA at +700 feels like much better value given how Kiki Rice and Lauren Betts are playing together.
- Follow the Freshmen: This isn't just about the seniors. Sarah Strong (UConn) and the Betts sisters (UCLA) are genuinely shifting the power balance of the top ten.
The AP Top 25 women's basketball poll is going to look completely different by next Monday. That’s the beauty of this season—nobody is safe, and the gap between No. 1 and No. 15 is smaller than it has been in a decade. Keep your eyes on the SEC standings; that’s where the real movement is happening.