South Carolina Dominates as Women’s College Basketball Rankings Shake Up

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Gamecocks continue to dominate women’s college basketball, maintaining their No. 2 spot in the Associated Press Top 25 poll after a week of decisive victories. The Gamecocks have cruised through a challenging stretch of their Southeastern Conference (SEC) schedule, defeating three ranked opponents by double-digit margins.

South Carolina’s recent wins include a 17-point victory over Texas, an 18-point triumph against Alabama, and a commanding 41-point blowout over Oklahoma on Sunday. The team now prepares for a pivotal matchup against No. 5 LSU on Thursday, followed by a game against No. 17 Tennessee on Jan. 27.

UCLA remains atop the poll, receiving 27 first-place votes, while Notre Dame secured the remaining two votes to hold the No. 3 spot. USC stayed at No. 4, with LSU rounding out the top five. The rankings saw significant movement after a week of upsets, including losses by Ohio State and Oklahoma, which allowed TCU and Kansas State to climb into the top 10.

Kansas State, now ranked 10th, awaits updates on star center Ayoka Lee, who suffered an injury during Sunday’s win over Arizona State. Meanwhile, Baylor re-entered the poll at No. 23 after a five-game winning streak, including a victory over then-No. 23 Utah.

The SEC and Big Ten lead the conference breakdown with seven ranked teams each, followed by the ACC with six. The Big 12, however, saw its representation drop to four teams after Utah and Oklahoma State fell out of the rankings.

Key matchups this week include No. 5 LSU at No. 2 South Carolina on Thursday, a clash that could significantly impact the SEC standings. Additionally, No. 8 Maryland will face No. 12 Ohio State on Thursday, followed by a showdown with No. 1 UCLA on Sunday.

Notre Dame, riding an 11-game winning streak, looks to continue its dominance in the ACC with a game against Boston College on Thursday. The Irish have been bolstered by the return of star player Hannah Hidalgo, who missed time earlier in the season.

UCLA and USC, both impacted by the recent wildfires in Los Angeles, have navigated schedule disruptions while maintaining their competitive edge. UCLA secured a win against Penn State last week, while USC triumphed over Indiana on the road.

UConn remains undefeated in Big East play, with dominant wins over St. John's and Seton Hall. The Huskies’ next challenge comes against Creighton, another unbeaten team in the conference, in a highly anticipated matchup on Saturday.

As the season progresses, the rankings are expected to see further shifts, particularly with several top-tier matchups on the horizon. Teams like South Carolina, UCLA, and LSU continue to set the standard, while others, including Baylor and Kansas State, aim to solidify their positions in the top 25.