In a significant achievement, TCU earned its highest-ever position in The Associated Press Top 25 women’s basketball poll on Monday. This rise followed their impressive victory over Notre Dame, which contributed to a major reshuffling of the rankings after a holiday tournament week filled with notable defeats.
The Horned Frogs surged up eight spots to secure the No. 9 position, marking the first time the university has broken into the top 10. Prior to this, TCU’s best rank had been 13th back in 2004.
Meanwhile, Notre Dame, which held the third spot last week, experienced a drop of seven places to No. 10 following losses to both TCU and Utah during their tournament in the Cayman Islands.
UCLA continues to dominate the poll, remaining at No. 1, with UConn closely following in second. The Bruins received 25 first-place votes from a national media panel, while the Huskies managed to claim the other seven spots. UCLA showcased their prowess by winning three consecutive games during a Thanksgiving tournament in Hawaii, and UConn secured two victories in a holiday event held in the Bahamas.
South Carolina, Texas, and LSU round out the top five, with LSU jumping into the fifth slot, surpassing USC. The top 10 is completed by the Trojans, Duke, TCU, and Notre Dame.
Notably, Duke made a remarkable leap of five positions to No. 8, following victories over then-No. 9 Kansas State and No. 8 Oklahoma in a tournament in Las Vegas. This marks Duke’s highest ranking in a decade, equalling their No. 8 status last achieved on November 24, 2014. Kansas State has now dropped to No. 13, while Oklahoma sits at No. 11.
New Entrants
Both Michigan and Michigan State have entered the rankings for the first time this season. The last occasion both programs were rated together was January 4, 2021, when the Spartans were at No. 24. The 23rd-ranked Wolverines were also a part of the final poll from the 2023 season.
Dropping Out
N.C. State fell out of the poll for the first time in 24 weeks, ending a streak that was the 10th longest active record. The Wolfpack stands at 4-3, with all losses suffered against current top 10 teams (South Carolina, TCU, and LSU). Wes Moore’s team is set to face No. 18 Ole Miss on Thursday during the SEC/ACC challenge. Oregon similarly dropped out of the rankings.
Positive Momentum
Alabama improved by four spots, reaching No. 19, which represents the school’s best ranking in 25 years. The Crimson Tide boasts an 8-0 record prior to their Monday game against Georgia State, matching their best start since the 2020-21 season.
Conference Overview
The Big Ten leads with nine teams ranked in the poll, the highest of any conference. Following closely is the SEC with seven representatives. The ACC and Big 12 each have four teams in the Top 25, while the Big East features one squad.
Featured Matchup
This week’s highlight is the game between No. 4 Texas and No. 10 Notre Dame, scheduled for Thursday. This SEC/ACC challenge showcases premier talent, with Texas stars Madison Booker and Rori Harmon facing off against Notre Dame’s Olivia Miles and Hannah Hidalgo. The Irish are eager to halt a two-game losing streak.
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