UConn is back at the top. Honestly, it feels like a bit of time travel, doesn't it? After a few years where parity seemed to be the only constant in the sport, the Huskies are currently sitting as the unanimous number one team in the country. They’ve been winning Big East games by an average of nearly 47 points. That is not a typo. It is absolute, relentless dominance.
But if you think the rest of the women college basketball rankings are just as predictable, you haven't been paying attention this week.
Chaos. That’s the only way to describe the latest AP Top 25 shuffle. Four of the top ten teams went down in a single week. Texas lost its perfect record. Iowa State plummeted. Vanderbilt—yes, the Vanderbilt Commodores—is suddenly a top-five team. If you’re trying to make sense of the bracketology right now, good luck. It’s a total moving target.
The SEC is Basically a Gauntlet Right Now
Look at the top of the poll and you’ll see a sea of SEC jerseys. It’s kinda ridiculous. The conference currently has nine teams ranked in the Top 25. That’s nearly half the poll. South Carolina just jumped back up to number two after a brief stint lower down, and they are looking like the terrifying defensive juggernaut we expect from a Dawn Staley team.
They have a massive date with Texas this Thursday. It’s a rematch of a game from November where Texas actually pulled out a two-point win. But since then? Texas just got roughed up by LSU. Kim Mulkey’s Tigers forced 17 turnovers and basically out-muscled the Longhorns in Baton Rouge.
Texas coach Vic Schaefer was blunt about it. He said it was their "worst game of the year" and that LSU was simply tougher. Now Texas has to go on the road to Columbia to face a South Carolina team that’s been waiting for revenge.
Why Vanderbilt is the Story Nobody Expected
If you told a casual fan in November that Vanderbilt would be 17-0 and ranked fifth in January, they would’ve laughed. Yet, here we are. Shea Ralph has built something special in Nashville. They’ve matched the best start in program history, tying the 1992-93 Final Four team.
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Mikayla Blakes is the engine. She’s a sophomore who plays like a ten-year pro. She just dropped 35 on Arkansas and followed it up by taking over the fourth quarter against LSU. People used to overlook Vandy on the schedule; now, they’re the team with the target on their back. They are one of only three undefeated teams left in Division I, alongside UConn and Texas Tech.
Big Ten Parity and the "Caitlin Clark Effect" Hangover
The Big Ten is in a weird, fascinating transition period. Everyone wondered what the conference would look like post-Caitlin Clark, and the answer is: deeply competitive and very confusing.
UCLA is leading the pack at number three. They’ve played arguably the hardest schedule in the nation. They have the most Quad 1 wins, and they’ve done it while integrating Sienna Betts—the freshman sister of star Lauren Betts—into the rotation.
Then you have the mid-table chaos:
- Michigan is quietly sitting at number eight.
- Iowa is still hanging around at eleven, proving there is life after 22.
- Maryland and Ohio State are trading blows every week.
Ohio State’s Jaloni Cambridge is a name you need to know. She’s only a sophomore, but she just put up 41 points against Illinois. She’s the first Buckeye to hit the 40-point mark in a decade. When she’s on, Ohio State looks like a Final Four contender. When she’s not, they can look surprisingly vulnerable.
The Big 12’s Rollercoaster Ride
Iowa State was the darling of the early season. They started 14-0 and looked like they might cruise through the Big 12. Then the wheels hit some serious gravel. Three straight losses, and they dropped nine spots in the latest women college basketball rankings to land at 19.
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Meanwhile, TCU is the team making moves. They’ve climbed to number ten. They haven't played the toughest schedule yet, but they are winning the games they should win, and doing it convincingly. Their real test comes later this month when the schedule tightens up.
And let's not forget Texas Tech. They are 18-0. Eighteen and zero! They’re ranked 17th, which feels low for an undefeated team, but the voters are clearly waiting to see them beat a "big name" before they move them into the top ten.
Breaking Down the Top 10 (As of Mid-January)
- UConn (17-0): Unanimous for a reason. Paige Bueckers is playing at an MVP level.
- South Carolina (17-1): Their only loss was that early November stumble to Texas.
- UCLA (15-1): The "battle-tested" pick. They aren't afraid of anyone.
- Texas (18-1): Just suffered their first loss. Need to see how they rebound.
- Vanderbilt (17-0): The biggest surprise in years.
- LSU (16-2): Finding their identity again after an up-and-down start.
- Kentucky (16-2): Kenny Brooks has made an immediate impact in Lexington.
- Michigan (14-2): Efficient, disciplined, and dangerous.
- Louisville (16-3): Currently on a 9-game winning streak.
- TCU (16-1): The sleeper team that isn't a sleeper anymore.
What’s Actually Happening with the NET Rankings?
The AP Poll is what everyone talks about, but the NCAA’s NET (NCAA Evaluation Tool) is what actually decides tournament seeding. Sometimes they don't agree.
For example, UCLA is often number two in NET because the computer loves their strength of schedule. LSU actually stayed at number five in the NET even when they were losing games because their early-season margins were so high.
If you're a fan of a team like Michigan State (ranked 15th), you’re probably frustrated. The Spartans have great efficiency numbers but lack "Quad 1" wins. Until they beat a top-ten opponent, the computers—and the voters—are going to keep them at arm's length.
Keep an Eye on These "Invisibles"
Princeton is back in the rankings at 22. They are the Ivy League powerhouse that nobody wants to see in their region in March. They play a style of basketball that is basically "keep-away" combined with high-pressure defense.
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Then there’s Illinois and Notre Dame, both of whom just snuck back into the Top 25. Notre Dame has struggled with injuries, but they have enough talent to beat anyone on a given night.
Actionable Insights for Following the Season
If you want to stay ahead of the curve with women college basketball rankings, don't just look at the wins and losses.
First, watch the "Games of the Week" on the calendar. This Thursday's matchup between Texas and South Carolina is basically a preview of a potential Final Four game. The winner likely secures a number one seed in March.
Second, pay attention to the freshman and sophomore scorers. The game has changed. It's no longer just about the seniors. Players like Jaloni Cambridge and Mikayla Blakes are shifting the power balance of entire conferences.
Finally, keep an eye on the injury reports. In the modern game, the difference between a top-five team and a bubble team is often just one rolled ankle.
Track the conference standings closely over the next two weeks. The "middle class" of the SEC and Big Ten is about to beat each other up, and that's where the most significant ranking shifts will happen. Don't get too attached to the current order; by February, this list will look completely different.