The new AP Top 25 women’s college basketball poll is in.
And the first ranking of 2026 came with a lot of changes lsu tigers, Maryland Terrapins And iowa state cyclone All suffered their first defeat of the season. The survey was also shaken up: teams ranked 5, 6, 7, 8 and 10 in the previous survey lost in the last four days.
On Sunday, LSU lost for the second straight game and dropped seven spots to No. 12.
kentucky wildcats (up five places), Vanderbilt Commodore (five up) and louisville cardinals (Three up) each proceeded to finish in the top 10.
What does this mean for the AP Top 25? Let’s break down the rankings.
Statistics courtesy of ESPN Research and the Associated Press.
all time eastern
Previous ranking: 1
2025-26 records: 15-0
Statistics to know: The Huskies are off to their best start since 2017-18, when they started 36-0 before losing in the Final Four.
What will happen next: Wednesday vs St. John’s, 7:30 pm, truTV
1:17
UConn Huskies vs. Providence Friars: Game Highlights
UConn Huskies vs. Providence Friars: Game Highlights
Previous ranking: 2
2025-26 records: 17-0
Statistics to know: Madison Booker has scored at least 20 points in five of her last seven games.
What will happen next: Thursday vs. Auburn, 8 p.m., SEC Network Plus
2:01
Madison Booker highlights key players behind Texas’ dominance
After a 67–64 win over Ole Miss, Booker explains how his teammates’ contributions freed him up to score and help the No. 2 Longhorns challenge opponents defensively.
Previous ranking: 3
2025-26 records: 15-1
Statistics to know: The Gamecocks’ second-leading scorer, injured Ta’Niya Latson, missed her second consecutive game on Sunday. South Carolina committed a season-high 21 turnovers in a 74–63 win over Florida.
What will happen next: Thursday at Arkansas, 7:30 p.m., SEC Network Plus
1:23
Raven Johnson praises Gamecocks’ fight against adversity vs. UF
Johnson touted No. 3 South Carolina’s balanced contributions through challenges and how she limited Florida’s Liv McGill with her defensive approach.
Previous ranking: 4
2025-26 records: 14-1
Statistics to know: The Bruins have five players averaging double-digit scoring: Lauren Bates (16.3 ppg), Kiki Rice (15.3), Gianna Neepkens (14.3), Gabriela Jacquez (14.1) and Angela Dugalic (10.3).
What will happen next: Sunday, Nebraska, 7 p.m., Big Ten Network
Previous ranking: 8
2025-26 records: 14-1
Statistics to know: The Sooners’ 13-game winning streak is the second longest in program history.
What will happen next: Thursday vs. Ole Miss, 7 p.m., SEC Network Plus
Previous ranking: 11
2025-26 records: 15-1
Statistics to know: After handing LSU their first loss on January 1, the Wildcats defeated Missouri on Sunday for their eighth consecutive win.
What will happen next:Thursday at Alabama, 7 p.m., SEC Network Plus
2:31
Teoni’s on Kentucky vs. LSU mentality: ‘We’re a good team, too’
After posting 17 points and 16 rebounds in a road win over LSU, Key explains how the Wildcats’ effort and style of play fueled the win.
Previous ranking: 12
2025-26 records: 15-0
Statistics to know: Mikayla Blakes scored 32 points on Sunday as the Commodores beat LSU 65-61 to give coach Shea Ralph her first win at a top-five program.
What will happen next: Thursday vs. Missouri, 7:30 p.m., SEC Network Plus
Previous ranking: 7
2025-26 records: 15-1
Statistics to know: Oluchi Okananwa scored a career-high 34 points in an 82-67 win over Indiana on Sunday, helping Maryland bounce back from its first loss of the season.
What will happen next: Thursday, Rutgers, 7 p.m., Big Ten Plus
Previous ranking: 6
2025-26 records: 11-2
Statistics to know: The Wolverines suffered their second loss of the season, 64–52, at the hands of Washington on January 1. He shot 33% in the loss.
What will happen next: Monday vs. Minnesota, 6:30 p.m., Big Ten Network
Previous ranking: 13
2025-26 records: 14-3
Statistics to know: The Cardinals have won seven in a row since losing to South Carolina in the ACC/SEC Women’s Challenge.
What will happen next: Thursday at Miami, 3 p.m., ACC Extra
Previous ranking: 10
2025-26 records: 14-1
Statistics to know: After five consecutive games with at least 30 points, Audie Crooks finished with 26 – including only four in the second half – on Sunday when the Cyclones lost to Baylor on their home field. Jada Williams (28 points) was the only other Iowa State player to score in double figures.
What will happen next: espn+
Previous ranking: 5
2025-26 records: 14-2
Statistics to know: The Tigers scored over 100 points in 11 of their first 14 contests – winning all – before losing back-to-back games to finish first. on Jan. 1 against No. 11 Kentucky and then-No. 12 Vanderbilt on Sunday. LSU was held to 61 points in Nashville.
What will happen next: Thursday at Georgia, 6:30 p.m., SEC Network Plus
1:08
Kim Mulkey pleads with refs after missed call late in LSU loss
Kim Mulkey expressed her displeasure to an official after Vanderbilt’s Mikayla Blakes went out of bounds at the end of the game.
Previous ranking: 8
2025-26 records: 14-1
Statistics to know: The Horned Frogs lost to Utah for the first time this season on Saturday, 87-77 in overtime. Olivia Miles had 31 points in the loss.
What will happen next: Wednesday vs. Oklahoma State, 7:30 p.m., ESPN+
Previous ranking: 14
2025-26 records: 12-2
Statistics to know: Iowa defeated then-No. 20 Nebraska improves to 3-0 in the Big Ten, where only UCLA (4-0) has a better record.
What will happen next: Monday, Northwestern, 8:30 p.m., Big Ten Network
Previous ranking: 24
2025-26 records: 14-1
Statistics to know: The Spartans snapped Illinois’ 11-game winning streak with an 81-75 victory on Sunday.
What will happen next: Thursday at Washington, 9 p.m., Big Ten Plus
Previous ranking: 22
2025-26 records: 13-3
Statistics to know: The Bears first went undefeated and then ranked no. 10 Iowa State defeated the Cyclones on Sunday in Ames.
What will happen next: Thursday vs. Colorado, 8 p.m., ESPN+
0:28
Taliyah Scott hits the game winner for Baylor on Audie Crooks
Talia Scott hit the game-winning shot as time expired, as No. 22 Baylor defeated No. 10 Iowa State in Ames.
Previous ranking: 21
2025-26 records: 16-0
Statistics to know: The Lady Raiders, the Big 12’s only undefeated team left, will play the only other undefeated team in conference play, West Virginia, this week.
What will happen next: Wednesday at West Virginia. UCF, 7 p.m., ESPN+
Previous ranking: 15
2025-26 records: 14-3
Statistics to know: Despite Texas playing as well as anyone — Coty McMahon scored 12 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter — the Rebels lost to the nation’s No. 2 team by three points on Sunday.
What will happen next: Thursday at Oklahoma, 7 p.m., SEC Network Plus
Previous ranking: 19
2025-26 records: 13-2
Statistics to know: The Buckeyes have won 11 of their last 12 games, with the only loss coming against UCLA.
What will happen next: Wednesday at Illinois, 7 p.m., Big Ten Network Plus
Previous ranking: 23
2025-26 records: 10-3
Statistics to know: The Lady Vols committed a season-high 25 turnovers in Sunday’s 17-point win over Auburn.
What will happen next: Thursday at Mississippi State, 7:30 p.m., SEC Network Plus
Previous ranking: 17
2025-26 records: 10-4
Statistics to know: Freshman Jazzy Davidson is leading the Trojans – who lost big at UCLA on Saturday – with 16.3 ppg.
What will happen next: Tuesday vs. Oregon, 10 p.m., Big Ten Plus
Previous ranking: 16
2025-26 records: 13-4
Statistics to know: The Tar Heels lost to Stanford in overtime on Sunday after shooting 3-11 from the field in the fourth quarter and 1-5 in the extra period.
What will happen next: Sunday at Notre Dame, 1 p.m., ESPN
Previous ranking: N.R.
2025-26 records: 12-2
Statistics to know: The Huskies returned to the polls as Notre Dame lost.
What will happen next: Thursday vs. Michigan State, 9 p.m., Big Ten Plus
Previous ranking: 25
2025-26 records: 13-1
Statistics to know: Princeton has won 11 consecutive games. The Tigers’ only loss was on November 16 to then-No. 9 Maryland.
What will happen next: Saturday at Yale, 2 p.m., ESPN+
Previous ranking:20
2025-26 records: 13-2
Statistics to know: The Cornhuskers lost consecutive Big Ten games (at USC and Iowa) before beating Purdue on Sunday.
What will happen next: Thursday vs. Indiana, 8 p.m., Big Ten Plus
