Iowa made its debut in the top 10 for the first time in two years, while UConn retained its position as the unanimous No. 1 team in The Associated Press Top 25 women’s basketball poll released on Monday.
The Hawkeyes last achieved this ranking in the final poll of Caitlin Clark’s senior season and had hovered around the 11th spot a few times this year.
UConn secured all 30 first-place votes from a national media panel, with the top six teams remaining unchanged from the previous week. The Huskies boast a remarkable 34-game winning streak that dates back to last season. UConn hosted former Big East rival Notre Dame late on Monday; the Fighting Irish dropped out of the poll this week.
South Carolina held steady at No. 2, while UCLA maintained the No. 3 spot. Texas remained in fourth place despite their loss to South Carolina, 68-65, last week. Vanderbilt and LSU followed, with Michigan climbing to seventh. Louisville, TCU, and Iowa completed the top 10, each moving up a place after Kentucky’s drop to 11th following a loss to Mississippi State on Sunday.
Resurgent Blue Devils
Duke re-entered the poll at No. 21 after a victorious tenth consecutive game last week. Initially ranked seventh in the preseason Top 25, the team fell out after losing six of its first nine games. yet, Duke’s recent success has propelled them back into the rankings.
Advancing Tigers
Princeton rose to No. 20, marking their highest ranking since finishing 13th in the final poll of 2015. They were on a 13-game winning streak leading into Monday’s matchup against Harvard, with their only loss of the season coming against Maryland.
Declining Cyclones
Iowa State dropped out of the rankings for the first time this season after suffering their fifth consecutive loss on Sunday. The Cyclones had been ranked 10th on December 22 but have since slipped down the list.
Conference Dominance
The SEC continued its strong performance with nine teams in the Top 25 for the second consecutive week, followed by the Big Ten with seven. Washington returned to the poll while Illinois exited. The Big 12 also had five ranked teams, including West Virginia’s return to the rankings. The ACC placed two teams, while the Big East and Ivy League each had one.
Highlight Game of the Week
Vanderbilt at No. 2 South Carolina is the featured matchup on Sunday. The Commodores will defend their unbeaten SEC record against the Gamecocks in a crucial SEC clash, with Vanderbilt enjoying its best start in twenty years.
