AP women’s NCAA basketball reaction: What’s next for each Top 25 team?

On By Littum

The new AP Top 25 Women’s Basketball Poll is out.

The top teams stayed the course, with no changes in the top 10 of this week’s rankings. Further down, TCU makes its season opener at 7 p.m. The Horned Frogs are 4-0 and upset then-No. 13 NC State (which fell just below them, to No. 20) on Sunday.

What does it all mean for the AP Top 25? Let’s break down the rankings.

Statistics courtesy of ESPN Research and The Associated Press.

All times eastern

Previous location: 1

2024-25 record: 4-0

State to know: In Thursday’s 92-60 win over Coppin State (South Carolina’s third game), MiLaysia Fulwiley scored 23 points. She had just three 20-point performances last season. Fulwiley is second on the Gamecocks with 14.3 PPG, trailing Chloe Kitts’ 17.3.

What’s next: Wednesday at Clemson at 5 p.m., ESPN2

game

1:19

Paige Bueckers’ 29-point night leads UConn past UNC

Paige Bueckers’ drops a game-high 29 points in Connecticut’s 69-58 win over North Carolina.

Previous location: 2

2024-25 record: 3-0

State to know: Geno Auriemma is one win away from breaking the NCAA Division I record for coaching wins in men’s and women’s basketball. Auriemma tied Tara VanDerveer’s mark on Friday with win No. 1,216. A massive number of alumni are expected to be in Storrs, Conn., on Wednesday when he targets 1,217.

What’s next: Wednesday vs. Fairleigh Dickinson, at 19, SNY

Previous location: 3

2024-25 record: 4-0

State to know: In Friday’s 81-50 win over Santa Clara, JuJu Watkins scored his 1,000th. career points. The sophomore reached the milestone in 38 games, tying for the fourth-fewest games in NCAA Division I history. Watkins is averaging 21.5 PPG through four contests.

What’s next: Saturday against Notre Dame, at 16, NBC/Peacock

Previous location: 4

2024-25 record: 3-0

State to know: The Longhorns have scored at least 90 points in each of their first three games for the first time since 2017. Sunday’s 91-61 win over DePaul marked Texas’ first 90-point game without making a 3-pointer since December 2000.

What’s next: Wednesday vs. Tarleton State, noon, SEC Network

Previous location: 5

2024-25 record: 4-0

State to know: After sitting out the first three games with a shoulder injury, Kiki Rice made her debut in Sunday’s 101-52 rout of Arkansas. She played 11 minutes, had 2 rebounds and 1 assist, but did not score.

What’s next: Sunday vs. South Carolina, 7 p.m. 4 p.m., FS1

game

1:27

Hannah Hidalgo’s big game helps Notre Dame stay undefeated

Hannah Hidalgo lights up 29-point game as Notre Dame defeats Lafayette 91-55.

Previous location: 6

2024-25 record: 4-0

State to know: Guards Olivia Miles (20 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists) and Hannah Hidalgo (29 points, 5 steals, 5 assists) scored or assisted on 69 of Notre Dame’s points (76%) in Sunday’s 91-55 win over Lafayette. And freshman forward Kate Koval had 19 points and 7 blocks.

What’s next: Saturday at USC, 4 p.m., NBC/Peacock

Previous location: 7

2024-25 record: 4-0

State to know: The Tigers beat Murray State 74-60 on Friday, but LSU trailed 46-37 at halftime after being outscored 32-12 in the second quarter. The minus-20 differential is LSU’s worst in any quarter since teams began playing quarters instead of halves in 2015-16. But Flau’Jae Johnson scored 10 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter to help LSU win.

What’s next: Monday vs. Troy, 7 p.m. 8 p.m., SEC Network+

Previous location: 8

2024-25 record: 4-0

State to know: Emily Ryan had 13 assists in Thursday’s 80-47 win over St. Thomas-Minnesota. It was the senior guard’s 20th career game with at least 10 assists, the most by any active Division I player.

What’s next: Wednesday at Northern Iowa, 6 p.m. 19, PSN TV

Previous location: 9

2024-25 record: 3-0

State to know: Raegan Beers had 27 points on 12-for-14 shooting in Wednesday’s 122-56 rout of Western Carolina. She is the first SEC player with 25 points on 85% field goal shooting since Angel Reese against Lamar in December 2022.

What’s next: Tuesday at Wichita State at 7 p.m., ESPN+

Previous location: 10

2024-25 record: 3-0

State to know: Ayoka Lee, who had 28 points for her 53rd career game with 20 points in Thursday’s 86-68 win over Creighton, is 12 points shy of tying Nicole Ohlde (2,241) for second most points in school history (Kendra Wecker holds the record with 2,333).

What’s next: Monday vs. Little Rock, at 7:30 p.m., ESPN+

Previous location: 11

2024-25 record: 5-0

State to know: Kaylene Smikle has scored at least 20 points in four straight games for the Terps, who are off to a 5-0 start for the first time since 2021-22.

What’s next: Sunday against St. Francis (Pa.), at 1 p.m

Previous location: 12

2024-25 record: 3-0

State to know: Belmont led by nine points with 5 minutes to play Sunday, but Ohio State went on a 13-0 run to regain the lead and remain undefeated. Freshman Jaloni Cambridge gave the Buckeyes the lead for good on a 3-point play with 13 seconds left, then drew a charge on Belmont’s next possession.

What’s next: Wednesday in Ohio at 19, ESPN+

Previous location: 15

2024-25 record: 4-0

State to know: The Mountaineers may be 13-24 all-time against SEC teams, but they are 8-2 in their last 10 meetings, including an 83-62 win over Texas A&M on Friday. West Virginia has won 32 straight games at home against non-conference opponents, a streak that dates to the 2018–19 season.

What’s next: Tuesday against Bowling Green at 7 p.m., ESPN+

Previous location: 16

2024-25 record: 4-1

State to know: Sophomore Jadyn Donovan had a career-high 23 points and 15 rebounds — the third double-double of her career — in Sunday’s 75-71 win at South Dakota State.

What’s next: Thursday vs. Belmont, at 19.00 ACCN

game

1:41

Wildcats’ Key credits team effort in win over Louisville

Teonni Key credits her teammates and Big Blue Nation in the No. 20 Wildcats’ overtime win over the rival No. 18 Cardinals as she drops 17 points along with 9 rebounds and 5 blocks.

Previous location: 20

2024-25 record: 4-0

State to know: Georgia Amoore has 34 assists, the most by a Kentucky player through the first four games of a season since at least 1999-2000.

What’s next: Monday vs. Purdue Fort Wayne, at 18.00, SECN+

Previous location: 14

2024-25 record: 3-1

State to know: After missing the first three games with an injury, junior guard Indya Nivar made his debut Friday and finished with 15 points and 9 rebounds. Lexi Donarski (12.5 PPG) is the only other Tar Heel averaging in double figures.

What’s next: Saturday against Ball State at 4 p.m

Previous location: 19

2024-25 record: 2-1

State to know: Granted, she’s only attempted 20 field goals, but Starr Jacobs is shooting 70% from the field (14-for-20) through three games.

What’s next: Monday vs. Jackson State, noon, SECN+

Previous location: 17

2024-25 record: 3-1

State to know: Sarah Andrews climbs into Baylor’s career record books. She needs 13 3-pointers to break Baylor’s all-time record and is 10 assists shy of reaching 500, which would put her in the top five in program history.

What’s next: Saturday vs. Southern Miss, 1:30 p.m., FloSports

Previous location: NO

2024-25 record: 4-0

State to know: TCU snapped a 24-game losing streak to AP Top 25 teams with Sunday’s 76-73 win over NC State. Sedona Prince (31 points, 16 rebounds) and Hailey Van Lith (18 points, 10 assists) became the first TCU teammates since 2004 to have double-doubles in the same game.

What’s next: Thursday vs. Incarnate Word, at 13, ESPN+

Previous location: 13

2024-25 record: 2-2

State to know: Aziaha James has scored 47 points in her past two games, including 27 on Sunday against TCU. It’s the first time NC State has lost when she scores at least 25 points (6-1).

What’s next: Thursday vs. Coastal Carolina, 7 p.m. 17.00, ACCNX

Previous location: 21

2024-25 record: 4-0

State to know: The Cornhuskers scored 113 points in a win over South Dakota on Saturday, marking the most points scored in a game by Nebraska in 30 years.

What’s next: Tuesday vs. North Alabama, at 8 p.m., B1G+

Previous location: 23

2024-25 record: 3-0

State to know: Led by Adalia McKenzie’s team-high 14.3 PPG, six players are averaging double figures for Illinois, which is scoring 77.3 points per game. match.

What’s next: Monday against Le Moyne, noon

Previous location: 25

2024-25 record: 4-0

State to know: Oregon is 4-0 for the seventh time in coach Kelly Graves’ 11 seasons.

What’s next: Monday against the Grand Canyon at 9 p.m., B1G+

Previous location: 22

2024-25 record: 6-0

State to know: The Crimson Tide is off to a 6-0 start for the second straight season.

What’s next: November 25 vs. Alabama State, at 2:30 p.m

Previous location: 18

2024-25 record: 2-2

State to know: Freshman guard Tajianna Roberts leads the Cardinals in points (14.3 PPG) and minutes (28.2 MPG) and is shooting 50% from the field.

What’s next: Thursday vs. Morehead State, at 19.00, ACCN