Women's College Basketball Rankings: AP Poll Top 25 shaken up heading into Christmas

Now late in the month of December, the women’s college basketball season is in full swing. With that, the AP Poll is continuing to update its Top 25 rankings weekly, with teams continuing to march through their non-conference slates.

The biggest game last week ended up being an AP Top 10 thriller between USC and UConn, with the Trojans coming out on top in a one-score game. That game should lead to a shakeup in the Top 10, but it will be interesting to see how large the shakeup is. Then, Duke also suffered an upset loss, leaving room for a new team to jump forward in the rankings.

With all of that context in mind, here’s a look at how the latest Women’s AP Poll has shaken out.

1. UCLA

UCLA continued to dominate last week, adding two more double-digit score wins in non-conference play. That makes 11 games in a row won by double digits. With that, the Bruins have continued to hold steady atop the AP rankings. 

After beating Creighton last Friday, UCLA will have more than a week off. During that stretch, they’ll be able to celebrate the Christmas holiday and recharge for Big Ten play on the other side of things. That consistent run of conference play starts next Sunday against a talented Nebraska team.

2. South Carolina

South Carolina proved it was mortal this season by losing to UCLA. Since then, however, it’s been six straight non-conference wins, all of which were by double digits and four of which were against power conference opponents. 

Next week, South Carolina will get some time off to enjoy the holiday. Then, it’s a final non-conference game for several weeks against Wofford on Sunday. That will be the only game they’re judged on before next week’s AP Poll comes out.

3. Notre Dame

While the focus on campus at Notre Dame may have been the College Football Playoff, the women’s basketball team has continued to roll. Last week, that included a blowout non-conference win over Loyola Maryland. Now, the Irish have even further solidified themselves at the top of the AP Poll.

Like a lot of other teams, Notre Dame will have some time off next week for Christmas. After that, the Irish will have an ACC matchup against Virginia on Sunday. That begins the run of ACC play for the rest of the season for the Irish.

4. USC

USC just had one game last week but it was a major one. The Trojans hit the road to go across the country to play an AP Top 10 UConn team. They walked away the winner in a 72-70 thriller. With that, USC reestablished itself as a force in women’s college basketball.

Big Ten play is now around the corner. That means playing a pair of tough games against Michigan and Nebraska to get going after getting back into action after Christmas. The schedule doesn’t get easier from there.

5. Texas

The Texas Longhorns didn’t just get a win in the College Football Playoff, the women’s basketball team also kept on rolling as one of the best teams in the country and as a highly ranked team in the AP Poll. That included wins over La Salle and South Dakota State last week. 

For Christmas, after taking some time off, the Longhorns return on Sunday to play Texas-Rio Grande Valley. After that, the Longhorns will begin SEC play in their first season in the conference.

6. LSU

The LSU Tigers are now sitting at 14-0 on the season, having thoroughly dominated their non-conference opponents this season. That continued last week against Seton Hall and UIC. Now, the Tigers are holding up among the top teams in the AP Poll.

After taking time off for Christmas, LSU will wrap up non-conference play against Albany. After that, the SEC slate and the tougher stretch of LSU’s schedule begins with Arkansas in January. By the end of the month of January, LSU will have run into three currently AP ranked teams. 

7. UConn

While UConn lost its game to USC, the Huskies acquitted themselves well and showed up to make it a thriller. On another day, UConn could have won and they weren’t overly harshly punished in the AP Poll over the loss. Still, with the exception of a pair of games against SEC teams, it was a frustrating non-conference loss.

Similar to everyone else, UConn won’t play again until the Sunday after Christmas. When they do come back, the Huskies will be in the midst of Big East play with a game against rival Providence that they’d love to win.

8. Maryland

After a longer layoff than most teams had in early December, Maryland was back in action last week with a 50-point win against William & Mary. That left the Terrapins at 11-0 to open the season, including a win in Big Ten play.

Now, Maryland has another layoff of more than a week before they’ll get set to take on the Big Ten schedule. That will kick off with some more consistency against Michigan State on the Sunday following Christmas.

9. Oklahoma

The Oklahoma Sooners added a pair of non-conference wins last week. That included beating a then-AP ranked Michigan team by double digits. So, it’s no surprise to see where the Sooners are ranked heading into Christmas.

Again, there’s a bit of a break in Oklahoma’s schedule for the holiday. When the Sooners come back on Sunday, it will be to end non-conference play against New Mexico State. From there, the SEC schedule begins in their first season in the conference.

10. Ohio State

Ohio State added a pair of non-conference wins last week. Their 25-point win over Stanford was particularly impressive. With that, the Buckeyes moved to 12-0 overall and 1-0 in conference play and look poised to be a threat this season.

After Christmas, Big Ten play is going to be the focus and really anything could happen during that run. After all, it’s a highly competitive women’s basketball conference. So, the focus will be on each game, starting with Rutgers.

Rest of AP Top 25 Poll

11. TCU
12. Kansas State
13. Georgia Tech
14. Duke
15. Tennessee
16. Kentucky
17. North Carolina
18. West Virginia
19. Michigan State
20. Alabama
21. California
22. NC State
23. Michigan
24. Iowa
25. Ole Miss