Women's College Basketball Rankings: 2024-25 Preseason AP Poll Top 25 released

The women’s college basketball AP Top 25 was released on Tuesday, with defending national champion South Carolina leading the way.

The Gamecocks, UConn and USC all received first-place votes as those three programs appear to have separated from the pack entering the season.

Here is the full women’s college basketball AP Top 25:

1. South Carolina (27 first-place votes)

The Gamecocks lost the Most Outstanding Player in the NCAA Women’s College Basketball Tournament in Kamilla Cardoso, but they still return a ton of production. Point guard Raven Johnson is back after averaging 8 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists per game last season.

A couple of freshman phenoms from last year in MiLaysia Fulwiley and Tessa Johnson are also primed to have even better years in 2024-25. South Carolina is clearly a serious contender to repeat after winning the women’s college basketball national title and going undefeated in 2023-24.

2. UConn (2)

UConn head coach Geno Auriemma seems to put together talented rosters every season and this year is no different. While the Huskies have numerous talented players, everything starts with superstar Paige Bueckers.

The senior averaged 22 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists per game last season, leading UConn to the women’s college basketball Final 4. Auriemma has won 11 national titles during his incredible career, but his most recent one came in 2016. He would love to change that this season.

3. USC (1)

USC brought in plenty of talent from the transfer portal to go around arguably the top player in women’s college basketball in JuJu Watkins. As a freshman last season, Watkins averaged 27 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists.

The biggest transfer addition for the Trojans was Kiki Iriafen, who came over from Stanford. Iriafen averaged 19 points and 11 rebounds per game for the Cardinal last year and should form a dynamic 1-2 punch with Watkins.

4. Texas

Texas hired Vic Schaefer to build a roster capable of competing for national titles. The former Mississippi State head coach is starting to do just that with the Longhorns.

After reaching the Elite 8 last season, Schaefer is hoping to get over the hump and help Texas to the Women’s College Basketball Final 4 in 2024-25. He has an excellent player to build around in forward Madison Booker, who averaged 16.5 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists per game last season.

5. UCLA

USC gets a lot of the attention on the West Coast, and rightfully so, but UCLA has a really good team, too. The Bruins bring back a couple of excellent players in center Lauren Betts and point guard Kiki Rice.

They also brought in several potential impact transfers this offseason, including former Pac-12 Freshman of the Year Charlisse Leger-Walker. UCLA reached the women’s college basketball Sweet 16 last season. Expectations are for the Bruins to go even further this year.

Remaining Preseason Women’s College Basketball AP Top 25

6. Notre Dame
7. LSU
8. Iowa State
9. NC State
10. Oklahoma
11. Duke
12. Baylor
13. Kansas State
14. Ohio State
15. North Carolina
16. West Virginia
17. Louisville
18. Maryland
19. Florida State
20. Ole Miss
21. Creighton
22. Kentucky
23. Nebraska
24. Alabama
25. Indiana