January basketball is a different kind of animal. Honestly, if you blinked over the last seven days, you probably missed a total overhaul of the ap women's basketball rankings. We’ve officially hit that point in the season where "safe" isn't a word in anyone's vocabulary.
UConn is back on top. For some, that feels like nature is healing, but the way they’ve done it this season—unanimous and absolutely dominant—is a far cry from the injury-riddled squads of the last few years. As of the Week 11 update, the Huskies are sitting at a perfect 18-0. They aren't just winning; they are overwhelming opponents.
But the real story? It’s the SEC. The conference is currently a meat grinder.
The LSU Surge and the Texas Slide
If you want to understand why the ap women's basketball rankings shifted so violently this week, look no further than Baton Rouge. Kim Mulkey’s LSU squad just pulled off a massive statement win over Texas. It was a game that felt more like a heavyweight fight than a basketball matchup.
Texas came in at No. 2, looking nearly invincible with Madison Booker running the show. Then LSU happened.
LSU jumped six spots this week, landing at No. 6. It’s the kind of leap that makes voters look smart for believing in the talent, even when the early-season chemistry was a bit "kinda" shaky. Texas, meanwhile, slid down to No. 4. Is it a crisis? Probably not. Texas is still 18-2 and remarkably deep, but the SEC schedule is unforgiving.
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South Carolina is right there in the mix, too. Dawn Staley has the Gamecocks back at No. 2 after Texas dropped. They’re 18-1 and waiting for that inevitable rematch with the Huskies. It’s basically the rivalry that keeps the sport’s heart beating right now.
Small Schools and Big Surprises
Let's talk about Vanderbilt for a second. Yes, you read that right. Vanderbilt is 18-0 and sitting at No. 5 in the nation.
Most people didn't see this coming.
The Commodores are the "forgotten" undefeated team because they don’t have the same flashy branding as UConn or South Carolina, but their defense is legitimate. They moved up two spots this week, and honestly, they might be the most disciplined group in the country right now.
Then you have Texas Tech. They are 19-0. Nineteen and zero! Yet, they are sitting at No. 17.
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The voters are clearly taking a "prove it" approach with the Lady Raiders. They have a veteran-heavy guard rotation with Snudda Collins and Bailey Maupin, and they’ve been grinding out wins. But in the eyes of the AP voters, strength of schedule still matters more than a clean record. It’s sort of a "wait and see" situation until they hit the heart of Big 12 play.
The Brutal Reality of the Big Ten
The Big Ten is having a weird year. UCLA is the standard-bearer at No. 3, but the rest of the pack is in a constant state of flux.
- Michigan moved up to No. 8.
- Iowa is still hanging around at No. 11, which is impressive considering life after Caitlin Clark was supposed to be a total rebuild.
- Maryland took a hit, dropping to No. 12 after a tough week.
Hannah Stuelke has been carrying a massive load for Iowa, but the Big Ten is so deep that any night off results in a loss. Michigan State is another one to watch; they're at No. 15 and have one of the most efficient offenses in the country. They’re shooting over 50% as a team, which is just absurd at this level.
Why the Rankings Still Matter (And Where They Fail)
Polls are subjective. We know this.
Voters often reward teams for who they were last year rather than who they are today. Take USC, for example. They just snapped a 51-week streak of being ranked. Without JuJu Watkins in the lineup due to injury, the Trojans have struggled to find an identity, and the AP voters finally pulled the plug, dropping them out of the Top 25 entirely.
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It’s harsh. But it’s fair.
The ap women's basketball rankings are a snapshot, not a crystal ball. They tell us who is hot right now, but they don't always account for injuries or "look-ahead" games. Oklahoma is a prime example of this. They plummeted eight spots to No. 13 after a two-loss week. One week you’re a title contender; the next, you’re fighting to stay in the Top 15.
Key Teams Breaking Back In
- Alabama: They’re at No. 21 after a huge win over Kentucky. They play with a grit that’s hard to ignore.
- Notre Dame: Back at No. 23. It’s been a rollercoaster for the Irish, but they’re starting to get healthy at the right time.
- Illinois: Creeping in at No. 25. Shauna Green has that program heading in the right direction, led by sophomore standout Berry Wallace.
What to Watch Moving Forward
If you’re trying to keep up with the chaos, keep an eye on TCU and Oklahoma. Olivia Miles has been a revelation for TCU since transferring, putting up near triple-double numbers. They are sitting at No. 10 and look like a team that could easily make a Final Four run if the bracket breaks their way.
The next few weeks are critical.
We have UConn vs. Notre Dame coming up, and South Carolina is heading into a brutal stretch against ranked SEC opponents. The "unbeaten" status of Vanderbilt and Texas Tech will be tested almost daily.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
- Watch the NET Rankings: The AP Poll is great for storylines, but the NCAA Selection Committee cares way more about NET. If a team is ranked high in the AP but low in NET (like Iowa State right now), be wary.
- Injury Reports are Key: As we saw with USC and Iowa State (losing Addy Brown), a single injury can tank a Top 10 team in days.
- Check the "Others Receiving Votes": This is where the future Top 25 teams live. Duke and North Carolina are currently on the outside looking in, but they have the talent to jump back in with one good weekend.
The road to the Final Four is starting to take shape, but if this week's ap women's basketball rankings taught us anything, it's that nothing is settled. Teams that look like locks in January often evaporate by March. Stay tuned, because the movement isn't stopping anytime soon.