AP Top 25 Released: Women’s Basketball’s Top 10 and the Teams Closing the Gap
The latest AP Top 25 reveals a women’s college basketball landscape dominated by both tradition and emerging power, with UConn ranked first, thanks to an undefeated start and a rugged schedule that includes a decisive win over USC. Texas sits second with its own perfect early season, riding a defensive intensity and offensive balance that has overwhelmed opponents. Behind them, perennial contenders South Carolina ranked third, and UCLA anchors the next tier, each blending elite talent with the championship-winning culture expected of their respective programs. LSU rounds out the top five, while Michigan, Maryland, TCU, Oklahoma, and Iowa State complete this week’s top 10; a group with three unbeaten squads and a mix of conference titans and rising contenders.
Grit vs. Glory: What Being Top 10 Means This Season
For UConn, Texas, and South Carolina, holding a top-tier ranking isn’t new; it’s expected. UConn’s long history of championship success lends patience to even its closest losses, while Texas’ current surge signals a program ready to reclaim national supremacy after years in the shadows. South Carolina’s consistency under Dawn Staley underscores how elite coaching and defensive identity can keep a team in title conversations even when the roster evolves year to year. Yet depth remains a key differentiator: teams like UCLA and LSU are proving that a deep bench, not just a top scorer, keeps them in the hunt through the grind of non-conference play and early league testing. For programs like Michigan and TCU, top 10 status is both reward and pressure, thrusting them into national games that will define mid-season narratives and March positioning.
On the Rise: Programs Poised to Break the Top 10
Just outside the current top tier, several programs are threatening to crash the top 10 as January approaches. Oklahoma State and Nebraska, though ranked just outside the top 10, have shown they can compete with major foes and could move up with signature wins in Big 12 play. North Carolina, buoyed by a strong early record and a rigorous ACC schedule, has the talent and schedule to make noise once it begins key conference battles. Meanwhile, teams like Princeton and Georgia, though not in the rankings yet, have garnered votes and could enter the top 10 with a marquee non-conference upset, a trend we’ve seen spawn surprising midseason climbs in recent years.
What to Watch: Conference Play, Key Matchups, and Momentum
As winter settles in, conference play will separate contenders from pretenders. The SEC and Big Ten boast deep-ranked pools, forcing early-season scheduling that tests endurance and depth. Head-to-head battles among the top 10, especially UConn vs. South Carolina or Texas vs. UCLA, could redefine the national pecking order before January ends. For mid-tier teams pushing up, a few statement wins could vault them into the top 10 and reshape bracket outlooks for March. With so many undefeated squads and tightly packed talent, this season’s AP Poll isn’t just a snapshot of current excellence; it’s a living, breathing storyline with twists still to come.
