Notre Dame has climbed to the top spot in the women’s basketball rankings, marking the third team to achieve this milestone in the current season according to the latest poll released on Monday. This season is particularly noteworthy as it reflects a surge in competitive play, with more teams contending for the top rank; it’s the first time since the 2020-21 season that we’ve seen so many teams hold the No. 1 position in a single year. South Carolina started the season as the top pick, while UCLA previously held that rank for 12 weeks before suffering its first loss of the season in a matchup against USC last week.
The Fighting Irish are now in the No. 1 position for the first time since 2019 after their recent victory over Duke, which ended with a score of 64-49. Notre Dame has a packed schedule ahead, facing Miami on Thursday and N.C. State on Sunday, both of which will be crucial for maintaining their top ranking.
In the first NCAA Top 16 reveal this season, Notre Dame was placed fourth. This positioning would lead them to play in the Spokane Regional instead of the Birmingham Regional. A game in Birmingham would be easier for fans and the team alike, as it’s about 1,200 miles closer for a potential journey to the NCAA Tournament. The Fighting Irish have their sights set on the championship, and a shorter travel route from Alabama to Tampa could be beneficial should they advance to the Final Four.
The current No. 1 seeds alongside Notre Dame include UCLA, South Carolina, and Texas—with South Carolina’s recent defeat to UConn underscoring the unpredictability of the rankings.
UConn’s victory over South Carolina marked their first significant win against a top-tier team this season, bouncing back from earlier losses to both USC and Notre Dame. In an impressive performance, the Huskies managed to defeat the Gamecocks by over 20 points, a feat they accomplished for the 16th time—far surpassing any other program, as Duke and Notre Dame have only achieved this three times each.
In another standout performance, Vanderbilt’s freshman talent Mikayla Blakes made headlines by scoring a remarkable 55 points in an overtime triumph over Auburn. This accomplishment is especially impressive, as it sets a new NCAA Division I record for freshmen and is her second outing this season with over 50 points. The Commodores face a challenging week ahead against Oklahoma on Thursday and a highly anticipated home game against South Carolina on Sunday.
According to recent NET rankings, which are crucial for the NCAA Tournament selection process, UConn has ascended to the top after their decisive win over South Carolina. Consequently, the Gamecocks have slipped to the second position, with Texas, Notre Dame, and UCLA filling out the top five spots of the rankings.
