Notre Dame Claims Top Spot in Women’s Basketball Rankings
In a significant move up the rankings, Notre Dame has ascended to the number one position in The Associated Press Top 25 women’s basketball poll, marking their return to the top for the first time since 2019.
The Fighting Irish took over the lead after UCLA suffered its first loss of the season, falling to their rival USC with a score of 71-60. The last time Notre Dame held the number one rank was January 21, 2019.
Current Rankings
Here’s how the top teams currently stand:
- 1. Notre Dame (16) 22-2
- 2. Texas (8) 26-2
- 3. UCLA (6) 24-1
- 4. USC 23-2
- 5. UConn 24-3
- 6. South Carolina 23-3
- 7. LSU 25-2
- 8. Ohio State 21-3
- 9. North Carolina 23-4
- 10. TCU 24-3
- 11. Duke 20-5
- 12. Kansas State 24-3
- 13. NC State 20-5
- 14. Kentucky 20-4
- 15. Tennessee 19-6
- 16. Oklahoma 19-6
- 17. West Virginia 20-5
- 18. Alabama 20-5
- 19. Baylor 22-5
- 20. Georgia Tech 21-5
- 21. Maryland 19-6
- 22. Michigan State 19-6
- 23. Creighton 21-4
- 24. Oklahoma State 20-5
- 25. Illinois 21-5
Coaching Insights
Notre Dame coach Niele Ivey expressed her pride in the team’s achievement, stating, “It’s definitely an honor to be the nation’s top team, but we are just focused on getting better every day.”
The Fighting Irish received 16 first-place votes from a 30-member national media panel, leading into their match against No. 11 Duke on Monday night.
Texas’s Rising Performance
Texas has climbed to the second position, achieving its highest ranking since 2017. The Longhorns, who received eight first-place votes, have made headlines by being the first team to defeat three consecutive top 10 teams since the 2004-05 season, notably overcoming South Carolina, Kentucky, and LSU.
The Shift in Rankings
After maintaining the top position for 12 weeks, UCLA dropped to third in the rankings, receiving the remaining six first-place votes. Meanwhile, USC advanced to fourth after a dominant victory over then-No. 4 South Carolina, which suffered its first home loss in 71 games, resulting in the Gamecocks falling to sixth place. LSU and Ohio State follow closely behind.
Key Matches Ahead
North Carolina made a noteworthy ascent to ninth place after triumphing over NC State 66-65, marking their highest ranking in three seasons. TCU rounds out the top ten.
Celebrating Returnees and Departures
This week, Illinois rejoined the rankings at No. 25 following victories against Penn State and Nebraska. Conversely, Florida State dropped out after narrow defeats to Louisville and Miami. Kentucky had a challenging week, falling six spots to 14th after losses against Ole Miss and Texas, despite a win over Georgia.
Conference Dominance
The Southeastern Conference showcases its strength with seven ranked teams, while the Big Ten follows with six. The ACC and Big 12 each have five ranked teams, and the Big East contributes two.
NCAA Tournament Preview
With the NCAA Tournament on the horizon, the selection committee recently unveiled the top 16 teams, designating UCLA, South Carolina, Texas, and Notre Dame as the top seeds. This announcement was made just prior to South Carolina’s noteworthy loss.
Upcoming High-Stakes Matches
This Sunday, Notre Dame will face No. 13 NC State, with the Fighting Irish holding a two-game lead in the ACC race over the Wolfpack. Additionally, No. 17 West Virginia will battle No. 10 TCU, as both teams vie for superiority in the Big 12 standings.
