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Michael Voepel
Multiple Authors
The Big 12 women’s basketball scene has undergone a significant transformation over the last three years, adding eight new members since 2023 and witnessing the exit of strongholds Texas and Oklahoma to the SEC in 2024.
Baylor once ruled the Big 12 from 2011 to 2022, clinching or sharing every regular-season title and winning almost every conference tournament. but, the departure of coach Kim Mulkey to LSU in spring 2021 shifted this landscape.
In her fifth season at the helm in Waco, Texas, Nicki Collen has solidified her vision for the Baylor program. The Bears currently lead the Big 12 standings at 10-2, aiming to capture their first regular-season title since their twelfth consecutive victory in 2022. This week, Baylor has achieved the No. 11 spot in ESPN’s women’s college basketball Power Rankings, while fellow Big 12 teams West Virginia and Texas Tech have also made their way back into the rankings.
TCU dropped out after an upset loss to Colorado last Sunday. even so, the Horned Frogs will have an opportunity to reclaim their spot next week, provided they achieve success in two critical matchups.
The first of their two clashes with Baylor takes place Thursday (7 p.m. ET, ESPN) in Waco, while Sunday will initiate the second showdown between TCU and West Virginia in Fort Worth, Texas. TCU won the earlier encounter 51-50 with a buzzer-beater 3-pointer on January 14 in Morgantown.
This week’s outcomes could clarify the frontrunners for the Big 12 regular-season title or create further congestion at the top of the standings.
Baylor and TCU’s competition for conference dominance is no shock. Last season, TCU finished first and Baylor second, with the Frogs defeating the Bears in the Big 12 tournament final. West Virginia was also anticipated to be in the title race this season, but Texas Tech has emerged as an unexpected contender.
Previous ranking: 1
Next seven days: vs. Creighton (Feb. 11), @ Marquette (Feb. 14)
The Huskies overwhelmed DePaul with an 86-40 victory last Wednesday, led by guard Azzi Fudd’s 25 points. She also contributed 17 points in Saturday’s 80-48 triumph over Butler. UConn’s leading scorer and rebounder, Sarah Strong, rested during the Bulldogs’ game, while fellow forward Blanca Quiñonez sat out her fourth straight game due to a shoulder issue. even with these absences, UConn remains significantly ahead of other teams in the Big East.
Previous ranking: 2
Next seven days: @ Michigan State (Feb. 11), vs. Indiana (Feb. 15)
After defeating Rutgers 86-46 last Wednesday, the Bruins faced a nail-biter against Michigan on Sunday but ultimately secured a 69-66 victory, extending their winning streak to 17 games. UCLA’s first close contest since a seven-point win at Ohio State on December 28 saw guard Kiki Rice lead scoring in both matches, accumulating 37 points. They now hold a two-game lead in the Big Ten.
Previous ranking: 3
Next seven days: @ LSU (Feb. 14)
Ever since suffering their only SEC defeat against Oklahoma in overtime on January 22, the Gamecocks have dominated, winning five consecutive games by an average margin of 32 points. Last week, they crushed Mississippi State and Tennessee by 43 points each. Their 93-50 home victory over the Lady Vols marked the most significant defeat in that program’s history. plus, guard Ta’Niya Latson made her comeback, scoring a team-high 21 points after missing the previous two games due to a leg injury. Saturday’s showdown at LSU will be featured in prime time on ABC (8:30 p.m. ET).
Previous ranking: 4
Next seven days: @ Vanderbilt (Feb. 12), @ Tennessee (Feb. 15)
Similar to South Carolina, Texas has bounced back positively from recent defeats. Following road losses to LSU and South Carolina in mid-January, the Longhorns have since captured five consecutive victories, including their last three against ranked teams. This past week, Texas avenged its loss to LSU with a 77-64 win and defeated Kentucky 64-53, forcing 19 turnovers against the Tigers and 23 against the Wildcats.
Previous ranking: 5
Next seven days: vs. South Carolina (Feb. 14)
LSU’s seven-game winning streak was halted with a 77-64 defeat to Texas last Thursday, marking just the second occasion this season the Tigers have failed to score 70 points. Nevertheless, they rebounded with a strong defensive showing in their 77-44 triumph at Auburn this past Sunday. even if the SEC regular-season title may be out of reach, with three league losses already, the Tigers remain motivated for a critical clash against the Gamecocks in Baton Rouge this Saturday.
Previous ranking: 9
Next seven days: vs. Texas (Feb. 12), @ Georgia (Feb. 15)
Sophomore Mikayla Blakes continues to shine, and she is getting excellent support from freshman guard Aubrey Galvan. The Commodores narrowly edged out Kentucky 84-83 last Thursday, with Blakes scoring 37 points and Galvan adding 16, including four critical free throws in the final seconds. They showcased an outstanding performance at home, defeating Oklahoma 102-86, with Blakes (34 points) and Galvan (30) combining for an impressive 23-of-38 shooting (60.5%) from the floor.
Previous ranking: 7
Next seven days: @ Northwestern (Feb. 12), vs. Michigan State (Feb. 15)
even with what coaches often describe as a lack of moral victories, the Wolverines have shown resilience, as three of their four losses have come against top-five teams by a mere three points: 72-69 to UConn on November 21, 72-69 to Vanderbilt on January 19, and 69-66 to UCLA on Sunday. After besting Nebraska 88-76 last week, the Wolverines displayed they are competitive against the nation’s elite, a helpful trait for the NCAA tournament.
Previous ranking: 8
Next seven days: vs. Maryland (Feb. 15)
The Buckeyes have claimed 11 wins in their last 12 games, including victories on the road against Washington (70-60) and Oregon (80-64) last week. Sophomore guard Jaloni Cambridge excelled with a combined 45 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists throughout these victories. Sophomore center Elsa Lemmilä had her standout performance against the Ducks, scoring 23 points and grabbing nine boards.
Previous ranking: 12
Next seven days: vs. UNC (Feb. 15, 1 p.m. ET, ABC)
The Blue Devils triumphed in Thursday’s pivotal ACC matchup at Louisville, securing a narrow 59-58 win. They followed that with a dominant 95-36 victory over SMU, extending their winning streak to 15 games. Forward Toby Fournier led scoring in both games with a total of 41 points. At 13-0, Duke tops the ACC, one game ahead of Louisville, although they will face their Triangle rivals North Carolina (twice) and NC State soon.
Previous ranking: 6
Next seven days: vs. Wake Forest (Feb. 12), vs. Florida State (Feb. 15)
Louisville saw its 14-game winning streak come to an end at home last Thursday as the Blue Devils secured a one-point win and seized the ACC lead. Following that, Louisville bounced back with an 84-65 win at Syracuse on Sunday. The Cardinals seem to have a favorable schedule ahead, with four of their last five games at home and no currently ranked opponents left to face.
Previous ranking: 16
Next seven days: vs. TCU (Feb. 12), @ UCF (Feb. 15)
Baylor faced tough competition in two close wins last week, edging out Cincinnati 76-70 and narrowly defeating Arizona State 67-64. The Bears have won 10 of their last 11 games, with their sole defeat occurring at West Virginia on February 1. Baylor currently leads Division I in opponent’s 3-point rate (23.2%) and boasts one of the highest scorers across the Power 4 conferences in guard Taliah Scott (20.3 PPG) and a top rebounder in forward Darianna Littlepage-Buggs (10.8 RPG).
Previous ranking: 10
Next seven days: vs. Florida (Feb. 12), @ Alabama (Feb. 15)
even if the Sooners performed decently in their 78-70 loss against Texas on February 1, Monday’s 102-86 defeat to Vanderbilt was more disappointing. even with having a week to prepare, Oklahoma’s defense struggled to contain Vanderbilt’s guards, who took over the game. Positively, five of the Sooners’ six losses have come against teams ranked No. 6 or higher at the time (UCLA, Kentucky, LSU, Texas, and Vanderbilt), with their other loss against then-No. 18 Ole Miss. While there aren’t any easy matchups in the SEC, just two of Oklahoma’s final six opponents are ranked.
Previous ranking: Not ranked
Next seven days: vs. UCF (Feb. 11), @ TCU (Feb. 15)
The Mountaineers have claimed six of their last seven games, including victories last week against Colorado (61-55) and a strong showing against Arizona (87-68). Known for their tenacious defense and grind-it-out style, if West Virginia maintains their current scoring average of 76.8 PPG, it would mark the second-highest in the school’s history, only behind the 82.4 PPG from the 1991-92 season.
Previous ranking: Not ranked
Next seven days: @ Oklahoma State (Feb. 14)
Texas Tech secured victories against Houston (85-61) and Kansas (70-65) this past week. The Lady Raiders are now 10-3 in the Big 12 and remain in contention for their first regular-season league championship since 2000, when they shared the title with Iowa State and Oklahoma.
Previous ranking: 11
Next seven days: vs. Arkansas (Feb. 12), @ Kentucky (Feb. 15), vs. Tennessee (Feb. 17)
Ole Miss faced a setback last week, losing a close match 64-63 at Alabama on Thursday, despite senior star Cotie McMahon’s impressive 22 points, six rebounds, and five assists. The Rebels sit sixth in the SEC, although four of their final seven opponents are currently ranked, including South Carolina and LSU.
Previous ranking: 14
Next seven days: vs. UCLA (Feb. 11), @ Michigan (Feb. 15)
The Spartans managed to maintain their position in the Power Rankings despite suffering an 86-70 loss at home against Maryland last Wednesday. They bounced back after trailing by 16 points at Penn State on Saturday, ultimately winning 81-70. Facing two of the league’s top teams this week, Michigan State has the chance to create a significant impact in the Big Ten.
Dropped out: Iowa Hawkeyes, TCU Horned Frogs
