South Carolina has navigated through a challenging stretch in its conference schedule, holding steady at No. 2 in the latest women’s basketball rankings. The Gamecocks gained a first-place vote, narrowing the gap with the top-ranked UCLA Bruins.
Currently, South Carolina is engaged in a five-game series against ranked opponents, obtaining victories over Texas by 17 points, Alabama by 18 points, and most impressively, defeating Oklahoma by 41 points on Sunday. Upcoming challenges include a matchup against No. 5 LSU this Thursday and a game against No. 17 Tennessee later this month on January 27.
UCLA continues to dominate the poll with 27 first-place votes, while No. 3 Notre Dame secured the remaining two. Meanwhile, USC held its place at No. 4.
Following LSU in the rankings are UConn, Texas, and Maryland. Interestingly, the Longhorns delivered a crushing defeat to the Terrapins, winning 89-51 in Monday’s Coretta Scott King Classic. Additionally, TCU and Kansas State saw a boost in their rankings, moving up to ninth and tenth positions, respectively, as Ohio State and Oklahoma faced setbacks.
The Kansas State Wildcats reported on Monday that player Ayoka Lee will be out indefinitely due to a fractured foot, a setback sustained during their victory over Arizona State.
In other notable news, Tennessee experienced its first loss to Vanderbilt since 2014. Additionally, Penn State secured a victory over Ohio State, marking its first triumph against a ranked opponent since February 2021. Michigan made a return to the rankings, placing at No. 24.
The rankings highlight the Southeastern Conference and Big Ten each hosting seven teams this week, with the ACC close behind at six. With recent drops from the poll, the Big 12 has reduced its representation to four teams, while the Big East has one.
Baylor has finally made its way back into the rankings this week for the first time since the season’s third week. The Bears are on a five-game winning streak, including a victory over former No. 23 Utah last week. However, they faced a tough test against No. 1 UCLA, losing 72-57 in the Coretta Scott King Classic, before their next challenge against No. 9 TCU this Sunday.
This week holds significant games, including the No. 5 LSU visiting No. 2 South Carolina on Thursday, where both teams will aim for supremacy in the SEC. Also on Thursday, No. 8 Maryland will meet No. 12 Ohio State, with the Buckeyes hoping to rebound from their first loss of the season as they host the Terrapins. Maryland has a high-stakes match of its own scheduled against No. 1 UCLA on Sunday.
