The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have made significant strides, climbing to the No. 2 position in the latest women’s basketball rankings released on Monday. This marks the highest ranking for the Irish since 2019. They have now supplanted South Carolina, which fell to third place following a narrow defeat against Texas, losing 66-62 over the weekend. Despite this change, UCLA maintained its status as the unanimous favorite among the panel of 31 sports media representatives, holding onto the top spot.
Texas benefited from their recent win, moving up to the third position, while South Carolina’s fall to fourth marks the end of their impressive 57-game winning streak in regular-season conference play. Meanwhile, LSU and USC both improved their standings, occupying fifth and sixth place respectively, as UConn slipped to seventh after losing to Tennessee, previously ranked No. 19. Tennessee, having overcome LSU on Sunday, made a significant leap, moving up four spots to claim the 15th position.
Kentucky also saw progress, achieving the eighth position—their highest rank since December 8, 2015, when they were seventh. Ohio State ranks ninth, while North Carolina State experienced a noteworthy surge, jumping four spots to 10th, following victories over Duke and Florida State.
In terms of movements within the rankings, Creighton and Baylor entered the poll at the 24th and 25th slots, respectively, while Vanderbilt and California slipped out. Creighton had earlier been ranked in the pre-season poll, while Baylor’s performance has seen them bounce in and out of rankings throughout the current season.
For UConn, this week’s ranking is remarkable as it marks their 600th consecutive appearance in the poll, a record stretch that began with the pre-season rankings of 1993. South Carolina holds the second-longest active streak, with 242 weeks in the Top 25.
In a noteworthy acknowledgment, Grand Canyon University received its first-ever vote in the poll, appearing at 25th on one ballot. Having transitioned to Division I in 2013 and joining the Western Athletic Conference, the Antelopes currently hold a 22-2 record, including an impressive 20-game win streak following losses to Middle Tennessee and Oregon.
Analyzing the conference performances, the Southeastern Conference continues to dominate with seven teams ranked. The Atlantic Coast Conference boasts six ranked teams, while both the Big Ten and Big 12 feature five each. The Big East has two teams represented in the rankings.
Looking ahead to key matchups of the week, there are some exciting games. On Thursday, the top-ranked UCLA will challenge sixth-ranked USC in a pivotal game that could influence the standings. On Sunday, No. 7 UConn will take on No. 4 South Carolina, marking a crucial opportunity for UConn to secure a win against a prestigious opponent before the NCAA Tournament. Additionally, No. 5 LSU will face off against No. 3 Texas, adding another layer of excitement as two leading teams from the SEC clash in a significant conference showdown.
