Look, if you’re trying to make sense of the top 25 women's basketball rankings this week, you might as well try to fold a fitted sheet in the dark. It’s chaos. Absolute, high-level, beautiful chaos.
UConn is still sitting at the top, which feels like the only thing we can rely on in this world anymore. They are 18-0, unanimous, and frankly, they’re playing like they’re from a different planet. But behind them? It’s a total street fight.
The SEC is basically a buzzsaw
You can’t look at the rankings without talking about the SEC. It’s heavy. South Carolina just jumped back to No. 2, and honestly, they deserve it. They handled that loss earlier in the year and just kept moving.
But have you seen Vanderbilt? 18-0. They are off to their best start since 2002. They’re sitting at No. 5 in the AP Poll, and people are still calling them a "dark horse." How do you win 18 straight games and still get called a dark horse? It’s wild.
LSU is the other big story. They fell off a cliff a couple of weeks ago, dropping seven spots to No. 12 after getting stunned by Kentucky and Vanderbilt. But they’ve clawed back. As of the Jan 12 update, they’re back at No. 6. Kim Mulkey has them playing angry again, which is usually when they’re most dangerous.
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Big Ten and Big 12 are eating their own
The Big Ten is a nightmare for anyone trying to stay ranked. UCLA is the class of the field at No. 3, but after that, it's a toss-up. Michigan and Michigan State are both in the top 15, and they are basically trading blows every other night.
Then you have the Big 12. Texas was cruising at No. 2 until they hit a snag. They’re at No. 4 now. And keep an eye on TCU. They are 18-1 and sitting at No. 10. They’ve won 37 straight home games. That’s not a typo. 37. If you have to go play in Fort Worth, you're probably leaving with an L.
- UConn (18-0): Unanimous No. 1. Sarah Strong is living up to every bit of the hype.
- South Carolina (18-1): Back at No. 2. Their depth is just unfair.
- UCLA (16-1): Leading the Big Ten charge at No. 3.
- Vanderbilt (18-0): The most disrespected undefeated team in the country at No. 5.
- Texas Tech (19-1): They finally lost to Kansas State, but they're still a top 20 lock.
The Mid-Major Heartbreak and the Rise of the Ivies
We have to talk about Princeton. Carla Berube has the Tigers at 15-1 and No. 22 in the nation. They don’t have the 6-foot-5 giants that the Blue Bloods have, but they play defense like their lives depend on it. Junior guard Fadima Tall is putting up 13.8 points and nearly 8 rebounds a game.
It sucks for teams like North Carolina and Notre Dame. The Irish actually dropped out of the poll entirely for a minute—snapping an 85-week streak—before clawing their way back to No. 23. That shows you how thin the margin for error is this year. One bad weekend against a team like Georgia Tech or Duke and you’re gone.
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What the NET doesn’t tell you
If you look at the NET rankings versus the AP Poll, it’s like two different sports. The NET loves Michigan State (No. 8) way more than the human voters do (No. 15). Why? Because the computer cares about efficiency and margin of victory. The humans care about "who did you beat lately?"
Honestly, the humans are probably right this time. The eye test matters. When you watch a team like Kentucky (No. 7) play, you see the grit. They might not have the "efficiency" of a computer darling, but they win the games they're supposed to win.
Key Matchups That Will Break the Rankings
This coming week is a minefield.
- No. 1 UConn vs. No. 23 Notre Dame: This is personal for the Irish. If they pull the upset, the top 25 women's basketball rankings will look like a Jackson Pollock painting by Monday.
- No. 5 Vanderbilt vs. No. 8 Michigan: This is the "prove it" game for Vandy. If they win this on the road, nobody can call them a dark horse anymore.
- No. 3 UCLA vs. No. 12 Maryland: A huge Big Ten showdown that could decide the regular-season title race.
Stop sleeping on the "New" Powers
The landscape has shifted. We're used to seeing Stanford and Tennessee dominate. Stanford is currently "receiving votes" but isn't in the top 25. Tennessee is hanging on at No. 20.
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Instead, we’re seeing Texas Tech (19-1) and Alabama (17-2) take up that space. It’s a transition of power. The transfer portal has leveled the playing field, and the "old guard" is finding out that a storied history doesn't win you games in 2026.
If you’re looking for a bet or a team to follow, look at the Big Ten's assist leaders. UCLA and Iowa are both in the top five nationally for assists per game. They share the rock. That kind of basketball wins in March.
Don't just look at the records. Look at the schedule strength. South Carolina’s only loss was a three-point heartbreaker. They’ve played a schedule that would break most teams. Meanwhile, some of these 17-win teams have played a lot of "cupcake" non-conference games.
Next Steps for Fans:
Keep a close eye on the mid-week box scores, specifically for the Big Ten and SEC clashes. If you’re filling out a bracket early, prioritize teams with veteran backcourts like Princeton and Ohio State over teams relying solely on freshman talent. Also, check the NET rankings every Tuesday morning; that's where the NCAA selection committee starts their conversations, even if the AP Poll gets all the headlines.