Women’s basketball AP poll: South Carolina, UConn, USC remain in top 25

On By Littum

South Carolina guard MiLaysia Fulwiley pushes the ball upfield against East Carolina during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Columbia, SC, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

South Carolina and MiLaysia Fulwiley remained No. 1 in the AP Top 25 thanks to a pair of wins last week. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

The top 12 teams in this week’s Associated Press Top 25 women’s basketball poll remain the same with South Carolina, UConn and USC remaining in the top three spots. Texas, UCLA, Notre Dame, LSU, Iowa State, Oklahoma and Kansas State round out the top 10, all of which remain undefeated.

South Carolina is again the unanimous No. 1 selection after receiving all 31 first-place votes. The Gamecocks beat Coppin State and East Carolina this week by an average of 36.5 points. On Sunday, they face No. 5 UCLA (4 p.m. ET, FS1) and then No. 8 Iowa State on Nov. 28.

UConn does not have a ranked team on its schedule this week, while USC will host No. 6 Notre Dame on Saturday (4 p.m. ET, NBC).

Making an appearance this week is No. 19 TCU, as the Horned Frogs achieved their best ranking since 2008 after beating North Carolina State for their first ranked win since 2021 and first win over a top 15 opponent in six seasons.

“It means a lot as we build this program,” TCU coach Mark Campbell said of the team’s ranking. “We’ve come a long way. I inherited a program that was 1-17 (in the conference) and rock bottom. Last year’s group laid an incredible foundation to jump into this season.”

NC State, one of last season’s Final Four teams, dropped from No. 16 to No. 20 after the loss to TCU. Stanford, which was No. 24 last week, fell out of the rankings after losing to Indiana on Sunday.

1. South Carolina (4-0)
2. UConn (3-0)
3. USC (4-0)
4. Texas (3-0)
5. UCLA (4-0)
6. Notre Dame (6-0)
7. LSU (4-0)
8. Iowa State (4-0)
9. Oklahoma (3-0)
10. Kansas State (3-0)
11. Maryland (5-0)
12. Ohio State (3-0)
13. West Virginia (4-0)
14. Duke (4-1) 15. Kentucky (4-0)
16. North Carolina (3-1)
17. Ole Miss (2-1)
18. Baylor (3-1)
19. TCU (4-0)
20. North Carolina State (2-2)
21. Nebraska (4-0)
22. Illinois (3-0)
23. Oregon (4-0)
24. Alabama (6-0)
25. Louisville (2-2)

Others get votes: Iowa 88, Michigan 38, Michigan St. 15, Vanderbilt 14, Stanford 9, Florida St. 5, Miami 4, South Dakota St. 3, Tennessee 3, Richmond 2.