On3's week five women's basketball Top 25

We’re one month in to the 2024-25 women’s college basketball season and a lot has changed. Here’s On3’s updated Top 25 following the fourth week of competition.

1. UCLA

UCLA remains atop the Top 25 after staying undefeated with a Sunday victory over Big West favorite Hawai’i on the road. The Bruins still have the best resume in the country, as of now, and took care of business this week.

2. UConn

UConn faced a tough Ole Miss team on a neutral court and was able to pull out a 13-point win despite a near-comeback from the Rebels in the second half. That, coupled with the rise of North Carolina in the rankings and Notre Dame’s losses, pushes the Huskies up a couple of spots. 

3. South Carolina

South Carolina vs. Iowa State was expected to be one of the best matchups of the year, but Iowa State has had a slow start to its season. Regardless, South Carolina dominated a then-top 25 team along with Purdue on the road. It was a good week for the Gamecocks. 

4. Duke

Duke was one of the biggest risers of the week, and it made their way into a top-five spot after a phenomenal week in Las Vegas. The Blue Devils faced two formidable opponents in Kansas State and Oklahoma and pulled out victories against each. They looked dominant against the Wildcats and pushed through some adversity to earn the win over the Sooners. Duke looked like one of the best perimeter teams in the country last week. The Blue Devils also added a quality win over Columbia to cap it off. 

5. TCU

It was a heck of a week for TCU, who was already nearing a top 10 spot. They took down then-No. 2 Notre Dame and South Florida on a neutral court. Sedona Prince and Hailey van Lith have looked incredible so far, and Mark Campbell has the Horned Frogs undefeated heading into December. 

6. Texas

The Texas Longhorns will technically stay at the same spot this week, but they managed a big resume-boosting win over West Virginia. It was their first P4 opponent this season, and the Mountaineers kept it close until the final seconds, but Aaliyah Moore made a huge impact on Sunday evening with 20 points, five rebounds and three assists. Their matchup against Notre Dame this week will be important.

7. LSU

LSU faced their first two P4 opponents last week and notched wins over both Washington and then-ranked NC State. The Tigers’ win over Washington, though, was by just one point. Against NC State, the Tigers looked at their best and won by nearly 20 points on a neutral court. Aneesah Morrow scored 20 points, grabbed 15 boards and added three steals in the win. 

8. Notre Dame

This was a rough week for Notre Dame, as the Fighting Irish fell six spots after two neutral court losses. On the plus side, both falters were against teams that are now ranked (with TCU cracking the top five), but consecutive losses to the Horned Frogs and Utah proved there are some issues to work out for the Irish. They’re still not healthy and when Maddy Westbeld returns, I think their biggest problem should be solved. 

9. USC

USC had a solid week with wins over Seton Hall and Saint Louis on a neutral court. They moved down a smidge due to Notre Dame’s losses and other teams’ quality wins, but they dominated during Feast Week. 

10. Maryland

Maryland hasn’t faced a P4 opponent since the second week of the season, but the Terps have been quietly earning wins over a couple of the best mid-majors in the country. This week, they took down George Mason and Toledo. 

11. Kentucky

Kentucky was another big riser of the week after earning a ranked win over Illinois on a neutral court. Not only did the Wildcats win, but they also won by 23 points and Clara Strack was unstoppable. She scored 25 points, grabbed 15 rebounds, dished out four assists and added a steal and a block to her stat line. Georgia Amoore had an off game, but they didn’t need her at her best to dominate. 

12. Oklahoma

Oklahoma took Duke to overtime in Las Vegas and pummeled DePaul in the same tournament. The Sooners weren’t able to pull off the win over the Blue Devils, but Payton Verhulst and Raegan Beers looked more than solid through the week. 

13. Kansas State

Kansas State also lost to Duke in Vegas and also pummeled DePaul in Vegas last week. They didn’t keep up with the Blue Devils quite as well, but Ayoka Lee and Serena Sundell are the veteran core that this team needs. The Wildcats struggled from 3-point range last week, but they have capable shooters who can get it going when needed. 

14. North Carolina

North Carolina won their Feast Week tournament in the Bahamas and took down three solid opponents to do so. Villanova and Ball State were both impressive victories, but it was the Tar Heels’ 30-point victory over the Indiana Hoosiers (who had just beaten Baylor) that impressed me the most. 

15. Louisville

Louisville had two sneaky tough road games last week, but managed wins in both. South Florida kept it close against the Cardinals, but Louisville’s veterans were crucial in earning the four-point win. The Cardinals then went on the road and beat out a solid Colorado team by eight points. 

16. West Virginia

West Virginia looked really solid against Texas on Sunday and was in it until the final seconds of the game. Jordan Harrison and JJ Quinerly both put on a show to keep it as close as it was, but the Mountaineers eventually fell to the Longhorns in their first real test of the season.

17. Ohio State

Ohio State is a team that I think will rise dramatically pretty soon, but a close win over Belmont was the Buckeyes’ toughest game yet. Beating up lower-level opponents, while a very good thing, hasn’t quite convinced me to move them up much. Regardless, they had a good week and stayed undefeated. OSU’s matchup against Illinois this week will be telling. 

18. Alabama

Alabama sits undefeated at 8-0 and faced their first P4 team last week on a neutral court. The Crimson Tide absolutely dominated Clemson in a 73-39 result and all of their starters performed well. 

19. Ole Miss

Ole Miss has kept it close with both top-10 opponents they’ve faced, and I applaud them for that. The Rebels didn’t look great in their first half against UConn, but they cut it down to a couple of possessions in the second half against one of the best teams in the country on a neutral court. The Rebels don’t have any resume wins yet, but they have two opportunities against Tennessee and NC State this week. 

20. Iowa

Iowa had a solid Feast Week, with wins over Rhode Island and BYU without Lucy Olsen. Luckily, Olsen is expected to return soon, but the Hawkeyes notched stayed undefeated without her on the court this week. 

21. Michigan State

Michigan State was in a Feast Week tournament with two other programs that were nearing a Top 25 appearance. The Spartans took down both of them. They beat both Cal and Vanderbilt on a neutral court and remain undefeated at 7-0. 

22. Illinois

Illinois suffered a neutral court loss to a higher-ranked Kentucky squad, so I won’t dock the Illini too much for that – although it was an ugly loss. We’ll see how they fare against Ohio State on the road this week. 

23. Mississippi State

Mississippi State earns a top 25 spot this week after a pair of solid wins over now-ranked Utah and South Florida on a neutral court. Utah was their first P4 opponent this season, but the Bulldogs now sit at 8-0 after an impressive Feast Week. 

24. Tennessee

Tennessee’s tough matchups have yet to come, but the Vols had a dominant 52-point victory over Western Carolina last week. They’ll face Florida State and Iowa soon, and each of those matchups will be crucial for the Volunteers. 

25. Utah

Utah is one of the more confusing teams so far. The Utes suffered a tough road loss to Northwestern early in the month, and then head coach Lynne Roberts took the LA Sparks head coaching job. They kept it close with Mississippi State this week but ultimately lost and then notched a major upset win over Notre Dame on a neutral court. I’m not quite sure what to make of the Utes yet, but the resume win earns them a spot at the tail end of the Top 25 this week.

New teams in: Michigan State, Mississippi State, Utah

Teams knocked out: Iowa State, NC State, Oregon