The women’s college basketball season continues to deliver intrigue and upsets, as reflected in the latest AP Top 25 rankings. The most notable development saw the TCU Horned Frogs make an impressive eight-spot leap to crack the top 10, landing at No. 9 after a signature win over the previously third-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
TCU’s Triumph Shakes Up the Rankings
TCU’s 76-68 victory over Notre Dame at the Cayman Islands Classic turned heads across the women’s basketball landscape. Led by a historic performance from Sedona Prince, who became the first player to record 20 points and 20 rebounds against an AP top-three opponent in over a decade, the Horned Frogs announced their presence as a force to be reckoned with this season.
This win shows that we can compete with anyone in the country. We’re not satisfied, though – we’re just getting started.
– TCU head coach Clark Kirkpatrick
The victory propelled TCU up the rankings, from No. 17 to their current spot at No. 9. It marks the program’s first appearance in the top 10 since 2008, reflecting the team’s remarkable progress under third-year head coach Clark Kirkpatrick.
Irish Stumble, Fall to No. 10
For Notre Dame, the loss to TCU kicked off a disappointing week that saw them drop two straight games for the first time in over two years. After falling to the Horned Frogs, the Irish were upset again by Utah, 78-67, in their final game at the Cayman Islands Classic.
As a result, Notre Dame tumbled seven spots in the poll, from No. 3 down to No. 10. It’s a significant setback for a team with national title aspirations, but head coach Bailey O’Connor expressed confidence in her squad’s ability to bounce back.
Every team faces adversity at some point in the season. What matters is how we respond and learn from these experiences. We’ll be better because of this.
– Notre Dame head coach Bailey O’Connor
UCLA Remains Atop the Poll
Amidst the shuffling beneath them, the UCLA Bruins held steady at No. 1 for the second straight week. UCLA improved to 8-0 on the season with a win in the Rainbow Wahine Showdown championship game, powered by Kiki Rice’s 21-point performance.
Rice has emerged as an early frontrunner for National Player of the Year honors, averaging over 20 points per game while shooting an ultra-efficient 52% from the field and 46% from three-point range. Her stellar play has the Bruins looking like the team to beat as the calendar turns to December.
Risers and Fallers
Beyond TCU’s ascent and Notre Dame’s slide, several other teams saw their fortunes change in this week’s poll:
- The Duke Blue Devils climbed five spots to No. 8 after extending their winning streak to seven games. Freshman phenom Riley Watson continues to shine, leading the team in scoring and rebounding.
- The Iowa Hawkeyes also jumped five places, from No. 22 to No. 17. Iowa’s balanced attack has powered them to an 8-0 start, with four players averaging double-digit points per game.
- The West Virginia Mountaineers dropped three spots to No. 15 after suffering their first loss of the season against Texas. They’ll look to regroup with upcoming games versus non-conference foes.
Key Matchups Loom
As the intensity ratchets up and conference play draws nearer, several tantalizing matchups dot the schedule, offering highly-ranked teams a chance to prove their mettle or risk sliding down the poll:
- No. 4 South Carolina hosts No. 8 Duke in an early-season ACC/SEC clash. It’s a measuring stick game for both squads with major rankings implications.
- No. 10 Notre Dame looks to rebound against No. 4 Texas in a made-for-TV non-conference showdown. The Irish need a signature win to right the ship.
- No. 17 Iowa aims to keep rolling against Tennessee. A win could vault the Hawkeyes into the top 15.
With fierce competitors fighting for position and March Madness looming on the horizon, the coming weeks will reveal which contenders have what it takes to climb the rankings and establish themselves as legitimate threats to cut down the nets in 2025. The only certainty? Expect the unexpected in this wild, wonderful world of women’s college hoops.
