Notre Dame has surged to the No. 1 position in The Associated Press Top 25 women's basketball poll, marking their first time at the top since 2019. The Fighting Irish's rise came after UCLA suffered its first defeat of the season against USC, resulting in Notre Dame taking over the top spot. Notre Dame's head coach, Niele Ivey, expressed gratitude for the honor but emphasized the team's focus on continuous improvement.
With 16 first-place votes from a 30-member national media panel, Notre Dame faced off against No. 11 Duke in a highly anticipated matchup. Meanwhile, Texas climbed to the second spot, their best ranking since 2017, following impressive victories over South Carolina, Kentucky, and LSU.
UCLA, previously holding the top rank for 12 consecutive weeks, slipped to third place after their recent loss. USC and UConn secured the fourth and fifth positions, respectively, with UConn showcasing dominance in a resounding victory over South Carolina.
North Carolina made a notable jump to ninth place after a thrilling one-point win against N.C. State, marking their highest ranking in three seasons. Illinois re-entered the poll at No. 25, while Florida State dropped out following defeats to Louisville and Miami.
Despite a challenging week for Kentucky, the Wildcats managed to retain the 14th spot after losses to Ole Miss and Texas. The Southeastern Conference continues to lead with seven ranked teams, followed by the Big Ten, ACC, and Big 12 with six, five, and five ranked teams, respectively.
Looking ahead to the NCAA Tournament, the selection committee unveiled the top 16 teams, including UCLA, South Carolina, Texas, and Notre Dame as the top seeds. Notable upcoming games include Notre Dame facing North Carolina State and West Virginia taking on TCU in a crucial Big 12 matchup.
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Sources: AP women’s college basketball and AP women’s college basketball poll
