UCLA Women’s Basketball Reigns at No. 1 in AP Poll
UCLA has ascended to the top position in The Associated Press Top 25 women’s basketball rankings, marking a historic milestone as the program’s first-ever appearance in the No. 1 spot.
The Bruins achieved this remarkable feat by defeating South Carolina, the reigning national champions who had dominated the rankings for 23 consecutive polls, with an impressive 77-62 victory on Sunday. This win also ended UCLA’s 0-20 record against teams ranked No. 1, all while performing in front of an enthusiastic audience filled with stars.
“What strikes me the most is that we are achieving something unprecedented in our school’s history, and we get to share it with generations of alumni,” expressed UCLA head coach Cori Close on Monday after the rankings were announced. “It was heartwarming to have so many alumni in our locker room. The pioneers who paved the way for us were truly honored.”
UCLA’s Rise to the Top
Previously ranked No. 5, UCLA collected 20 first-place votes from the 32-member national media panel. UConn maintained its position at No. 2, receiving nine first-place votes following a historic week where head coach Geno Auriemma broke the NCAA all-time victories record.
Notre Dame climbed to the third spot after securing an upset victory against then-No. 3 USC in Los Angeles over the weekend, garnering the remaining three first-place votes. Only four teams maintained their previous rankings from last week’s poll.
South Carolina fell to fourth after witnessing an end to its 43-game winning streak, while Texas landed at fifth. USC dropped to sixth place, with LSU, Oklahoma, Kansas State, and Maryland rounding out the top 10. Iowa State dropped from eighth to 15th following a disappointing 12-point loss to Northern Iowa.
With this achievement, UCLA becomes the 26th school to ever hold the top ranking in the history of the women’s Top 25, a list that began in the 1976-77 season.
“Our goal was to establish ourselves as an elite basketball program, and to be recognized as the 26th program ever to reach No. 1 is profoundly meaningful,” Close stated. “I am truly grateful.”
Iowa Makes Its Entrance
Meanwhile, Iowa celebrated its entrance into the Top 25 this season, debuting at No. 22. Last season, the Hawkeyes soared as high as No. 2, thanks to star guard Caitlin Clark, who is now thriving in the WNBA. Currently, Iowa stands undefeated at 6-0, showcasing stellar defensive play by limiting four of six opponents to under 60 points. Baylor, however, exited the poll following a loss to Indiana.
Illinois on the Rise
Illinois has also made waves by climbing to No. 19 this week, achieving its best ranking since it was 13th on January 17, 2000. Following South Carolina’s loss, the Illini hold the longest active winning streak in the country with 10 straight victories. After winning the inaugural WBIT last season, they are now off to a perfect 5-0 start this year.
South Carolina’s Dominance Comes to an End
South Carolina, which had been ranked No. 1 in 61 of the past 62 polls, saw its streak interrupted. The only previous instance where they hadn’t been at the top was in the preseason poll on October 17, 2023, when defending champions LSU occupied the first spot. Following that, South Carolina surged back to No. 1, marking the biggest poll leap from No. 6 in history.
The last time the Gamecocks were not ranked No. 1 was on March 15, 2021, during the final poll of that season. Their loss to UCLA marked their largest defeat margin since the 2019 Sweet 16 and their first road loss since December 2021.
Despite the setback, Coach Dawn Staley emphasized the importance of learning from adversity, stating, “Taking a loss will help us focus on every opponent we face moving forward.”
