The SEC isn't just a conference anymore; it’s basically a gauntlet. If you thought the expansion with Texas and Oklahoma was going to be a slow burn, you haven’t been watching the 2025-26 season. It’s mid-January, and the SEC basketball standings women's looks like a beautiful, high-stakes mess.
Honestly, the parity is kind of terrifying. We’re sitting here on January 17, 2026, and the traditional powers are getting pushed to the brink every single night. You’ve got Vanderbilt—yes, the Vandy team that struggled for years—sitting at the top of the mountain with a perfect record. Meanwhile, LSU and Texas are scrapping just to stay in the double-bye conversation for the tournament. It’s wild.
The Top Tier: Perfection and Power Plays
Right now, three teams are breathing the rare air of an undefeated conference record. Vanderbilt (18-0, 5-0 SEC) is the story nobody saw coming. Coach Shea Ralph has turned Nashville into a "no-fly zone." They aren't just winning; they are grinding teams down. Their recent 89-84 win over Mississippi State showed they can handle the pressure when the shots aren't falling early.
Then you have South Carolina. Death, taxes, and Dawn Staley. The Gamecocks are 18-1 overall and 5-0 in league play. Their only blemish was a two-point heartbreaker against Texas back in November, but they got their revenge just a couple of days ago on January 15. That 68-65 win over the Longhorns in Columbia was peak SEC basketball. Joyce Edwards is playing like a woman possessed, averaging over 20 points a game as a sophomore. She’s the real deal.
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Tennessee rounds out the undefeated trio at 4-0. People keep waiting for the Lady Vols to slip, but they’ve been remarkably resilient on the road.
The Middle-Class Brawl
This is where the SEC basketball standings women's gets really interesting. Look at the logjam behind the leaders:
- Kentucky (17-2, 4-1): Kenny Brooks has done a miracle job in Lexington. They beat LSU 80-78 on New Year's Day, which sent a message to the rest of the league.
- Ole Miss (16-3, 3-1): They are quietly dangerous. Their defense is physical, bordering on "how is that not a foul?" but it works.
- Texas (18-2, 3-2): Welcome to the SEC, Longhorns. After beating South Carolina in the non-conference, they’ve dropped two of their last three league games, including a tough one to LSU.
- Alabama (17-2, 3-2): Sarah Ashlee Barker is the heart of this team. They’re a nightmare to scout because they play so fast.
LSU is the big mystery. Kim Mulkey’s Tigers are 16-2 overall but just 2-2 in the SEC. They are leading the nation in scoring, putting up over 100 points a game, but they’ve had some defensive lapses that cost them against Vanderbilt and Kentucky. Watching Flau'jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams try to outscore their problems is the best entertainment in sports right now, even if it gives Tigers fans gray hairs.
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Why the Expansion Changed Everything
The addition of Texas and Oklahoma didn't just add two logos; it changed the math of the season. In the old SEC, you might have two or three "guaranteed" wins on a road trip. That's gone. Oklahoma (14-3, 2-2) is sitting in the middle of the pack, but they have the talent to beat anyone on a given Sunday.
Because the league is so deep, the SEC basketball standings women's are going to fluctuate wildly over the next three weeks. We are seeing teams that would be top-3 in the ACC or Big 12 sitting at 8th or 9th here. It’s sort of unfair, but it makes for incredible TV.
Looking Ahead: The Bracketology Impact
If the season ended today, the SEC would likely send 9 or 10 teams to the NCAA Tournament. The NET rankings love this conference because everyone is playing a Top-50 opponent every three days.
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Arkansas, Florida, and Missouri are currently winless in conference play (all 0-5). In any other year, those would be "bad" teams. In 2026? They are teams with 11 or 12 wins that just happen to be stuck in a meat grinder. Florida, for instance, has a winning overall record but hasn't been able to close out tight games against the likes of Kentucky or South Carolina.
Actionable Insights for the Second Half of the Season
If you're following the race for the regular-season title, keep an eye on these specific factors:
- The "Edwards vs. Everyone" Factor: Joyce Edwards is the frontrunner for Player of the Year. If South Carolina keeps her healthy, they are the favorites to win the regular season.
- Vanderbilt’s Depth: Can Vandy keep this up? They have a brutal stretch coming up against Oklahoma and South Carolina. If they split those, they are legitimate Final Four contenders.
- The LSU Defense: If Mulkey can get this team to stop someone—anyone—in the paint, their 100-point offense makes them the most dangerous 2-2 team in history.
- Home Court Value: Road wins are worth gold this year. Currently, home teams are winning nearly 72% of SEC matchups.
Check the schedule for February 14. LSU hosts South Carolina in Baton Rouge. That game will likely decide the top seed for the SEC Tournament in Greenville. Between now and then, expect the standings to shift every time a whistle blows.
Stay tuned to the local box scores and the NET rankings updates on Mondays. The movement in the SEC basketball standings women's is far from over, and the gap between the #1 seed and the #8 seed has never been thinner.