The world of women’s college basketball has been turned upside down after a wild and unpredictable week. South Carolina has claimed the top spot in The Associated Press Top 25 women’s basketball poll, leaving fans and analysts in shock. This unexpected turn of events comes after a series of stunning upsets that saw nine of the top 14 teams in the preseason poll suffer defeats. Even the defending champion and preseason No. 1, LSU, couldn’t escape the chaos.
The Gamecocks, who were initially ranked sixth in the preseason poll, have now secured the coveted No. 1 position, receiving an impressive 23 first-place votes from the 36-member national media panel. Meanwhile, Iowa claimed the second spot with the remaining 13 first-place ballots. The top five was rounded out by UCLA, Utah, and Colorado, making for an exciting and unexpected lineup.
The preseason favourite, LSU, has tumbled down to seventh place following their defeat in the season opener against then-No. 20 Colorado. This loss has propelled the Buffaloes to their highest ranking since 1995, finishing the season at No. 2. Additionally, UConn has dropped from second to eighth place after a loss to NC State, who has now entered the poll at No. 14.
Despite their recent setback, the Huskies have achieved an incredible milestone by being ranked for 566 consecutive weeks, surpassing the previous record held by Tennessee. UConn coach Geno Auriemma expressed his amazement at the team’s consistency over the years, emphasizing the remarkable nature of this achievement.
This season’s opening poll has made history, marking only the second time in the poll’s 44-year history that the preseason top two teams did not retain their positions in the first regular-season poll. The last time this occurred was in the 1998-99 season, signifying the rarity of such a phenomenon. South Carolina’s remarkable ascent to the top spot has set a new record, surpassing the previous biggest jump achieved by Purdue in 1998.
The Gamecocks have made a strong statement with impressive victories at the start of the season, notably defeating then-No. 10 Notre Dame and then-No. 14 Maryland with scores exceeding 100 points. Their 114-76 win over Maryland marked a historic triumph, solidifying their position as a force to be reckoned with in women’s college basketball. As a result of these victories, Notre Dame dropped to 16th place, while Maryland fell to 20th.
South Carolina’s reign at the top spot in the preseason poll, spanning 38 consecutive weeks, has come to an end, marking the second-longest streak in history after UConn’s 51-week run from 2008 to 2010. Meanwhile, Stanford has climbed to sixth place, Virginia Tech is ninth, and USC is 10th, with Southern Cal achieving its best ranking since 1994. This remarkable achievement has propelled the Pac-12 to have five teams in the top 10, a feat not seen since the SEC accomplished it in 1997.
The latest poll also witnessed significant changes, with Ole Miss experiencing the most dramatic fall, dropping from 12th to 23rd place after a defeat to Oklahoma, who entered the rankings at No. 25. Furthermore, Mississippi State and Illinois have dropped out of the rankings, making way for new contenders.
In a display of dominance, the Pac-12 has achieved an unprecedented 28-0 start to the season, marking the most wins without a loss by a Division I conference in the last 25 seasons. This remarkable feat has solidified the conference’s position as a powerhouse in women’s college basketball, setting the stage for an exhilarating season ahead.