UCLA Tops AP Women’s Basketball Poll as USC Stumbles

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — The UCLA Bruins remain the nation’s only undefeated team in women’s college basketball, securing the top spot in The Associated Press Top 25 poll released Monday. Meanwhile, the University of Southern California (USC) Trojans dropped to seventh after a surprising 76-69 loss to Iowa on Sunday.

The Bruins (22-0) received all 32 first-place votes after a dominant 79-53 victory over Minnesota last week. USC, previously ranked fourth, suffered its second loss of the season, with its only other defeat coming against Notre Dame in November. UCLA’s upcoming schedule includes a major test against Ohio State on Wednesday, followed by two games against USC later in the season.

South Carolina, ranked second, continues to dominate the Southeastern Conference (SEC) with a 20-1 record. The Gamecocks’ only loss this season came against UCLA in non-conference play. Last week, South Carolina secured wins against Tennessee and Auburn, setting up a crucial matchup against No. 4 Texas on Sunday.

Notre Dame, ranked third, has been a powerhouse in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), winning 12 consecutive games since a late-November stumble. The Fighting Irish recently defeated Virginia Tech and Louisville by double digits. Their upcoming schedule includes home games against Stanford and California.

Texas, ranked fourth, has won six straight games since a mid-January loss to South Carolina. The Longhorns face a challenging week, starting with a Thursday game against Vanderbilt before hosting South Carolina on Sunday in a highly anticipated rematch.

In the Big East, UConn remains a force, winning its last two games by double digits. The Huskies face a significant non-conference test against Tennessee on Thursday before returning to conference play against Providence.

LSU, ranked sixth, has bounced back from its loss to South Carolina with three consecutive wins, including a high-scoring 107-100 victory over Oklahoma. The Tigers face a tough stretch ahead, with four of their next five games against ranked opponents.

USC’s loss to Iowa highlighted a challenging week for the Trojans, who now face a critical stretch in Big Ten play. They will take on Wisconsin and Ohio State next week before a pivotal matchup against UCLA.

Ohio State, ranked ninth, has rebounded from an upset loss to Penn State with three straight wins. The Buckeyes face a make-or-break week with road games against UCLA and USC.

TCU, ranked 12th, has surged to the top of the Big 12 standings with recent wins over Baylor and Iowa State. The Horned Frogs face a crucial game against Kansas State on Wednesday, which could determine the conference’s front-runner.

Duke, ranked 10th, returns to action Monday night against rival NC State after a week off. The Blue Devils will play three games in seven days, including matchups against Clemson and Miami.

Conference breakdowns show the SEC leading with eight ranked teams, followed by the ACC with seven, the Big Ten with five, the Big 12 with four, and the Big East with one. Key games this week include No. 9 TCU at No. 12 Kansas State, No. 5 UConn at No. 19 Tennessee, and No. 2 South Carolina at No. 4 Texas.