Kentucky WBB closes 2024-25 season ranked 16th in final AP Poll

Despite an early exit from the NCAA Tournament, Kenny Brooks‘ first season as head coach of Kentucky women’s basketball was an overall success.

The Associated Press would agree, ranking the Wildcats 16th in the final Top 25 poll update of the 2024-25 season released Monday. Brooks led Kentucky to a 23-8 overall record, finishing fourth in the SEC with an 11-5 mark against conference foes. UK earned a four-seed in the NCAA Tournament, hosting the first two rounds in Lexington for the first time since 2017 before falling to Kansas State in the Round of 32.

Led by All-American guard Georgia Amoore (a projected first-round WNBA Draft pick) and SEC Defensive Player of the Year center Clara Strack, Kentucky exceeded expectations in year one of the Brooks era. The ‘Cats will have to replace Amoore and her starting backcourt teammate, Dazia Lawrence, in the offseason, but the future of the program is certainly bright.

However, ESPN’s Charlie Creme isn’t a full believer just yet. After UConn beat South Carolina on Sunday to win the 2025 national championship, Creme released a “Way-Too-Early Top 25” for the 2025-26 season. He did not rank UK among his top 25 but did mention the ‘Cats as one of three teams being considered just outside the rankings.

Kentucky will lose Amoore and Lawrence but expects to return most of last season’s core group. Brooks brings in McDonald’s All-American freshman guard Kaelyn Carroll and will have fully healthy versions of Jordan Obi and Dominika Paurová, who were penciled in as starters last offseason before suffering season-ending injuries. UK has already added WKU’s Josie Gilvin through the portal, one of the best players in Confernce USA a season ago.

Final 2024-25 AP WBB Top 25 Poll

1. UConn (+2)
2. South Carolina
3. UCLA (-2)
4. Texas (+1)
5. Southern California (-1)
6. TCU
7. Duke
8. LSU (+2)
9. NC State
10. Notre Dame (-2)
11. Oklahoma
12. Maryland (+6)
13. Kansas State (+6)
14. North Carolina (-2)
15. Tennessee (+5)
16. Kentucky (-3)
17. Ole Miss (+8)
18. Baylor (-4)
19. Ohio State (-4)
20. Alabama (+1)
21. West Virginia (-5)
22. Florida State
23. South Dakota State (+1)
24. Oklahoma State (-7)
25. Michigan

Others receiving votes: Louisville 31, Richmond 29, Oregon 24, Indiana 21, Michigan St. 16, Iowa 13, Creighton 9, Illinois 3, Vanderbilt 3, Harvard 2, Columbia 2, Norfolk St. 1.