AP Women’s College Basketball Poll Reaction: What’s Next for Top 25 Teams
The latest AP Women’s College Basketball Poll delivered significant changes after Texas Longhorns defeated South Carolina Gamecocks 66-62, handing them their first regular-season SEC loss in 57 games. This result reshuffled the rankings and sparked anticipation for the upcoming matchups.
Coach Dawn Staley: "It’s great for women’s basketball... it’s just unfortunate somebody had to lose."
Here’s a complete breakdown of the AP Top 25 and what’s next for each team.
Top 25 Teams and Key Stats
1. UCLA Bruins
Previous ranking: 1
2024-25 record: 23-0
Stat to Know: UCLA has the longest active win streak in Division I at 23 games, setting a new program record.
What’s Next: Thursday at No. 6 USC, 10 p.m., Peacock
2. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Previous ranking: 3
2024-25 record: 21-2
Stat to Know: The Irish won back-to-back games by 35+ points for the first time since 2019.
What’s Next: Thursday at Pittsburgh, 8 p.m., ACCN
3. Texas Longhorns
Previous ranking: 4
2024-25 record: 24-2
Stat to Know: Texas became the first team since 2002 to win a top-5 matchup without making a 3-pointer.
What’s Next: Thursday at No. 8 Kentucky, 7 p.m., ESPN2
4. South Carolina Gamecocks
Previous ranking: 2
2024-25 record: 22-2
Stat to Know: Both losses this season were wire-to-wire defeats, a rarity for the Gamecocks.
What’s Next: Thursday vs. Florida, 7 p.m., SECN
5. LSU Tigers
Previous ranking: 6
2024-25 record: 25-1
Stat to Know: Kailyn Gilbert scored 15 of her 23 points in the third quarter during Sunday’s win.
What’s Next: Sunday at No. 3 Texas, 3 p.m., ABC
6. USC Trojans
Previous ranking: 7
2024-25 record: 21-2
Stat to Know: Three players recorded double-doubles in USC’s win over Ohio State, a rare feat against a top-10 team.
What’s Next: Thursday vs. No. 1 UCLA, 10 p.m., Peacock
7. UConn Huskies
Previous ranking: 5
2024-25 record: 22-3
Stat to Know: UConn struggled against Tennessee, shooting just 26.7% from outside the paint.
What’s Next: Wednesday vs. St. John's, 7:30 p.m.
8. Kentucky Wildcats
Previous ranking: 11
2024-25 record: 19-2
Stat to Know: Kentucky is second in the nation with 6.7 blocks per game.
What’s Next: Feb. 10 at Ole Miss, 7 p.m., ESPN2
9. Ohio State Buckeyes
Previous ranking: 8
2024-25 record: 20-3
Stat to Know: Ohio State lost back-to-back games at UCLA and USC, exposing weaknesses in their defense.
What’s Next: Thursday vs. Minnesota, 7:30 p.m., Peacock
10. NC State Wolfpack
Previous ranking: 14
2024-25 record: 19-4
Stat to Know: NC State’s 23-point win over Florida State was their largest road victory over a ranked opponent since 1990.
What’s Next: Thursday vs. Miami, 6 p.m., ACCN
11. TCU Horned Frogs
Previous ranking: 9
2024-25 record: 22-3
Stat to Know: TCU’s 19th consecutive home win is the longest active streak in the Big 12.
What’s Next: Tuesday vs. BYU, 7:30 p.m., ESPN+
12. North Carolina Tar Heels
Previous ranking: 13
2024-25 record: 21-4
Stat to Know: North Carolina is 7-0 on the road, their best start since 2005-06.
What’s Next: Thursday vs. Virginia Tech, 7 p.m., ACCNX
13. Duke Blue Devils
Previous ranking: 10
2024-25 record: 19-5
Stat to Know: Duke forced 28 turnovers in their 90-49 win over Miami.
What’s Next: Thursday at Wake Forest, 6 p.m., ACCNX
14. Kansas State Wildcats
Previous ranking: 12
2024-25 record: 22-3
Stat to Know: Kansas State suffered a rough loss to Oklahoma State, being outscored 51-20 in the first half. They made just 7 of 31 shots and committed seven turnovers.
What’s Next: Wednesday at Cincinnati, 6:30 p.m., ESPN+
15. Tennessee Lady Vols
Previous ranking: 19
2024-25 record: 17-6
Stat to Know: All six of Tennessee’s losses this season have been by single digits, with a combined margin of just 20 points.
What’s Next: Thursday vs. Auburn, 6:30 p.m., SECN+
16. Oklahoma Sooners
Previous ranking: 15
2024-25 record: 17-6
Stat to Know: Payton Verhulst scored 10 of her game-high 19 points in the fourth quarter of Thursday’s win over Ole Miss.
What’s Next: Monday vs. Auburn, 8 p.m., SECN
17. Maryland Terrapins
Previous ranking: 16
2024-25 record: 19-5
Stat to Know: Maryland rallied from a 15-point deficit to beat Washington 81-73, shooting 61.9% from the field in the second half.
What’s Next: Thursday vs. Nebraska, 6:30 p.m., BTN
18. West Virginia Mountaineers
Previous ranking: 18
2024-25 record: 19-4
Stat to Know: West Virginia opened their game against Houston with a 20-0 run, including 13 points from JJ Quinerly, who finished with 20.
What’s Next: Tuesday at Baylor, 8 p.m., ESPN+
19. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Previous ranking: 17
2024-25 record: 20-4
Stat to Know: Georgia Tech held Boston College to just 15 points in the first half of their 71-51 victory.
What’s Next: Thursday at Clemson, 7 p.m., ACCNX
20. Oklahoma State Cowgirls
Previous ranking: 25
2024-25 record: 19-4
Stat to Know: Oklahoma State’s 30-point win over Kansas State tied for the second-largest margin of victory over an AP-ranked opponent in program history.
What’s Next: Wednesday vs. Arizona, 7:30 p.m., ESPN+
21. Alabama Crimson Tide
Previous ranking: 23
2024-25 record: 20-5
Stat to Know: Alabama beat Mississippi State by 20+ points for the first time since the 2013 SEC tournament.
What’s Next: Feb. 17 vs. Texas A&M, 8 p.m., SECN
22. Michigan State Spartans
Previous ranking: 20
2024-25 record: 18-5
Stat to Know: Michigan State shot a season-low 31.8% from the field in their 71-61 loss to Michigan.
What’s Next: Wednesday vs. Wisconsin, 6:30 p.m., B1G+
23. Florida State Seminoles
Previous ranking: 22
2024-25 record: 19-5
Stat to Know: Ta'Niya Latson, the nation’s leading scorer, had a career-high 12 assists along with 27 points in their 101-68 win over Virginia.
What’s Next: Thursday at Virginia, 7 p.m., ACCNX
24. Creighton Bluejays
Previous ranking: NR
2024-25 record: 20-4
Stat to Know: Creighton bounced back from a 1-2 start to go 19-2, with their only losses coming to top teams UCLA and UConn.
What’s Next: Saturday vs. Georgetown, 4 p.m., FS1
25. Baylor Bears
Previous ranking: NR
2024-25 record: 20-5
Stat to Know: After losing two straight to top-10 teams UCLA and TCU, Baylor rebounded with four straight wins, averaging a 26.8-point margin of victory.
What’s Next: Sunday at West Virginia, 2 p.m., ESPN+
Final Analysis: What to Watch for in the Coming Weeks
As we move deeper into the season, the battle for the top spot in the AP Women’s College Basketball Poll is heating up. UCLA continues to dominate, but teams like Texas, Notre Dame, and LSU are closing the gap. With several key matchups on the horizon, the next few weeks will be crucial for determining who enters the postseason as the clear favorite.
Key Storylines to Follow:
- Texas vs. LSU Showdown: This top-5 clash will provide insight into how these two powerhouses match up defensively.
- Can UCLA Stay Undefeated? Facing tougher competition, UCLA’s unbeaten streak will be tested in upcoming games against USC and Oregon State.
- South Carolina’s Response: After a tough loss to Texas, South Carolina must regroup quickly to maintain its position in the top 5.
Players to Watch:
- Kailyn Gilbert (LSU): Emerging as a key scorer, Gilbert’s ability to carry LSU offensively will be crucial.
- Paige Bueckers (UConn): UConn’s star guard needs to find her rhythm after recent struggles to keep the Huskies in contention.
- Ta'Niya Latson (Florida State): The nation’s leading scorer continues to dominate and could be a game-changer in close contests.
Editor’s Final Take: "The next few weeks will be a defining period for these teams. Expect surprises, standout performances, and plenty of reshuffling in the rankings before the postseason begins."
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