No. 19 TCU made a significant leap in the latest Associated Press Top 25 women's basketball poll, marking its highest ranking in 16 years. The top 12 teams, led by No. 1 South Carolina, maintained their positions in the rankings.
TCU earned its spot in the rankings after a notable victory over then-No. 13 N.C. State, securing its first win against a ranked opponent since 2021 and a top 15 team in six seasons. This achievement propelled TCU to its best ranking since 2008 when the team also held the 19th spot.
Head coach Mark Campbell expressed the importance of this ranking in the program's development, highlighting the team's remarkable progress from a challenging starting point. Last season's performance laid a strong foundation for the current success.
South Carolina maintained its dominance as the unanimous No. 1 team, receiving all 31 first-place votes from the national media panel. The Gamecocks showcased their strength by securing convincing wins over their opponents last week, with an average margin of victory of 36.5 points. They are set to face No. 5 UCLA in an anticipated matchup on Sunday.
Following South Carolina in the rankings are UConn at No. 2, USC at No. 3, and Texas at No. 4. No. 6 Notre Dame is gearing up for a top-10 showdown against USC on Saturday, while LSU, Iowa State, Oklahoma, and Kansas State complete the top 10.
West Virginia climbed to No. 13, marking its highest ranking since 2018. The Mountaineers extended their impressive streak of 32 consecutive nonconference home wins after defeating Texas A&M. They are poised to face Texas in the upcoming Gulf Coast Showcase over Thanksgiving weekend.
On the other hand, N.C. State faced setbacks early in the season, dropping to No. 20 in the rankings following losses to South Carolina and TCU. The Wolfpack, Final Four participants last season, are looking to bounce back as they potentially face LSU during Thanksgiving week.
UConn's head coach Geno Auriemma is on the verge of becoming the all-time wins leader, with the opportunity to achieve this milestone when the Huskies host Fairleigh Dickinson. Auriemma, tied with retired Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer, has 1,216 victories in his illustrious career.
The upcoming weekend features exciting matchups in Los Angeles, with Notre Dame taking on USC on Saturday and South Carolina facing UCLA on Sunday. These four teams have displayed strong performances, boasting a combined record of 16-0.
For more updates and alerts on the AP Top 25 women's college basketball poll, stay tuned to the latest news and developments in women's college basketball.
