On3's Week Six women's basketball Top 25

We’re five weeks in to the 2024-25 women’s college basketball season and a lot has changed. Here’s On3’s updated top 25 following the fifth week of competition.

1. UCLA

UCLA had just one game this week, but the Bruins pulled out an 11-point road win against Washington. Lauren Betts scored 23 points and Gabriela Jacquez had a really well-rounded performance. UCLA still has the best resume win in the country over South Carolina.

2. South Carolina

South Carolina had a heck of a week. It took down last week’s No. 4 and No. 5 teams in the span of seven days — one of which was a complete walloping on the road. Since their loss at UCLA, the Gamecocks have been on a tear and have looked nearly unstoppable.

3. UConn

UConn had a phenomenal week, highlighted by a rout over a ranked Louisville squad on a neutral court. Sarah Strong is looking like the best freshman (and one of the best players) in the country and the Huskies stay undefeated. 

4. Duke

The Duke Blue Devils suffered their second loss of the season, falling by 11 to the defending national champion South Carolina Gamecocks. Both of their losses are to Top 15 teams, and their wins speak for themselves. Per the NET, they have three Quad 1 wins and have really challenged themselves early.

5. LSU

LSU took down Stanford at home in overtime during the ACC/SEC Challenge. They struggled for a good portion of the game, but thanks in large part to Mikaylah Williams and Kailyn Gilbert, the Tigers were able to pull out the win over one of the best 3-point shooting teams in the country and remain undefeated. 

6. TCU

TCU came into this week with a ton of momentum, but it was no match for the Gamecocks, who routed the Horned Frogs on the road. Hailey van Lith had a solid showing, but no one else even scored in double-digits.

7. Notre Dame

Notre Dame had a heck of a bounce-back week following two neutral court losses during Feast Week. The Irish took down Texas at home in overtime and Syracuse on the road. The Irish are essentially using just six players, which makes their resume wins all the more impressive. 

8. Texas

Despite a loss to Notre Dame on the road, Texas put up a fight and nearly took down the Irish at their place. Later in the week, the Longhorns beat a really solid James Madison team on the road. 

9. Oklahoma

Oklahoma notched a win at ranked Louisville during the ACC/SEC Challenge. Although it was a fight, the Sooners have proven that they show up in big moments. Payton Verhulst illustrates that perfectly. In that game, she scored 21 points, grabbed seven boards, dished out three assists and added three steals. 

10. North Carolina

North Carolina, already trending upward, earned its first ranked win of the season when they took down an impressive Kentucky team at home during the ACC/SEC Challenge – and it wasn’t a close game. The Tar Heels won by 19 points and Reniya Kelly had a phenomenal outing. She scored a team-high 18 points, was 3-of-3 from deep and dished out six assists. 

11. USC

USC went on the road and beat a solid Oregon team at their place for its first Big Ten win. Kiki Iriafen notched her fourth double-double of the season, JuJu Watkins scored 21 points, and the Trojans added a solid resume win. 

12. Maryland

Maryland struggled early in their first Big Ten matchup of the season at Purdue but was able to pull out a 9-point road win to start conference play. Saylor Poffenbarger and Christina Dalce both notched double-doubles and the Terrapins remained undefeated. 

13. Kentucky

Kentucky suffered its first loss of the season to North Carolina on the road, and it wasn’t pretty, but the Wildcats still have two solid resume wins under their belt over Illinois and Louisville. Georgia Amoore is 0-for-13 from deep over the Wildcats’ last pair of games, but Amelia Hassett has shown she’s a capable shooter through the last few matchups.

14. Ohio State

The Ohio State Buckeyes faced their first Power Four opponent, Illinois, at home on Sunday afternoon. It was the resume win the Buckeyes needed – and Cotie McMahon’s first game back from injury. She scored 25 points in the win. 

15. Tennessee

Tennessee may have had the second-most impressive week of any team. This was the Vols’ opportunity to prove themselves against high-level opponents, and they did just that. First, they took down a fringe top 25 Florida State team at home during the ACC/SEC Challenge and then defeated a ranked Iowa team on a neutral court. 

16. Kansas State

It was a fairly uneventful week for Kansas State, despite playing three games. The most notable result was an 89-50 road win over Texas A&M where Taryn Sides scored 19 points, grabbed seven rebounds and added six assists off the bench. 

17. West Virginia

West Virginia’s sole matchup this week was against ETSU at home and it won handily. This game doesn’t sway a whole lot, but they did get to showcase their depth, with 11 different players scoring in that matchup. 

18. Michigan State

Michigan State took down DePaul at home this week and the Spartans did so without any trouble. They stay undefeated as they enter Big Ten play next week against the Hawkeyes. 

19. NC State

NC State makes its return to the top 25 this week after a solid home victory over then-ranked Ole Miss. All three of their losses were to teams ranked in the Top 10, and the Wolfpack needed a good P4 win to earn their spot back. 

20. Louisville

Louisville suffered a 32-point loss to UConn on a neutral court. This is its fourth loss of the season, but all were to teams currently ranked in the top 15 and only one was at home. While the Cards haven’t notched any true resume wins, I still think this is a team that belongs in the top 25. 

21. Illinois

It’s been a tough week or so for Illinois, but you can’t blame them too much for a single-digit road loss at Ohio State to open up Big Ten play. Kendall Bostic notched a double-double, and Genesis Bryant scored 22 points, but it wasn’t enough for a win.

22. Georgia Tech

Georgia Tech earns its way into the rankings this week after remaining undefeated and earning some solid wins along the way. Tech has beaten South Dakota State, then-ranked Oregon and then-ranked Mississippi State. Freshman Dani Carnegie is the team’s leading scorer with 14.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.1 steals. 

23. Iowa

Iowa suffered its first loss of the season on a neutral court to a highly-regarded Tennessee team. While I’m not too worried about the Hawkeyes, I am worried about their 30 turnovers. They’ll have to clean that up for Big Ten play. 

24. Utah

It was a close call, but Utah stays in the top 25 after a three-point win over Princeton. The Utes made 11 3-pointers, six of which came from Gianna Kneepkens. Mayé Toure, Reese Ross and Maty Wilke all made significant contributions as well. In addition, the Utes loss at Northwestern looks a little better after the Wildcats nearly beat out Michigan on the road. 

25. Cal

Cal makes its own entrance to the top 25 after taking down then-ranked Alabama at home in the ACC/SEC Challenge. The Bears’ sole loss is to No. 18 Michigan State, and they have a couple other solid wins over Auburn and Arizona.