UConn concluded its impressive basketball season by securing the No. 1 position in the Top 25 women’s basketball poll, released just a day after clinching their 12th national championship. The Huskies, led by Geno Auriemma, dominated in their final game, defeating South Carolina 82-59 to claim the title. South Carolina, which kicked off the season holding the top spot, was unanimously voted as the second-best team.
This season was marked by an unprecedented five teams taking turns at the No. 1 position in the Top 25 rankings. Among those sharing the top spot were South Carolina, UCLA, Notre Dame, and Texas. Both UCLA and Texas showcased strong performances by reaching the Final Four, with Southern California finishing fifth.
For UConn, this marked their first return to the No. 1 ranking since 2021. It’s their 17th time finishing atop the standings, ending a notable stretch since their last top finish across consecutive years from 2003 to 2008. TCU, Duke, LSU, North Carolina State, and Notre Dame completed the top ten rankings.
This year represents the second instance that the final poll was released following the NCAA championship game. Previously, the concluding Top 25 vote was issued the day after the NCAA selection announcement.
In an impressive leap, Maryland’s team surged from 18th to 12th in the rankings after nearly ousting South Carolina in the Sweet 16 phase. Meanwhile, Ole Miss advanced eight positions to claim the 17th spot, marking their first appearance in the final poll since 1996.
Conference-wise, the Southeastern Conference (SEC) saw a strong representation with eight teams featured in the rankings. The ACC, Big Ten, and Big 12 each had five teams, while the Big East and Summit League each had one team represented.