The South Carolina Gamecocks have burst out of the gates in their quest to defend their NCAA women’s basketball championship, and the rest of the nation is taking notice. After a pair of statement victories to open the season, including a gritty win over a tough Michigan squad and a decisive triumph against a ranked NC State team, the Gamecocks find themselves perched atop the first regular-season Associated Press Top 25 women’s basketball poll.
Unanimous Choice for No. 1
In a show of respect for their early-season dominance, South Carolina was the unanimous No. 1 choice in the AP poll, garnering all 31 first-place votes from the national media panel. This marks a departure from the preseason rankings, where UConn and USC managed to snag a few first-place nods. But after watching the Gamecocks in action, the voters were left with no doubt about who deserves the top spot.
Impressive Victories Set the Tone
South Carolina’s rise to No. 1 was fueled by a pair of impressive wins against quality opponents. In their season opener in Las Vegas, the Gamecocks had to dig deep to pull out a six-point victory over a feisty Michigan team. Then, just a few days later, they made a resounding statement by thrashing No. 9 NC State by 14 points. These early tests have shown that South Carolina is more than ready to defend its title.
Familiar Faces Round Out the Top 10
While South Carolina sits alone at the top, the rest of the AP Top 10 features many of the usual suspects. UConn, USC, Texas, and UCLA round out the top five, followed by Notre Dame, LSU, Iowa State, Oklahoma, and Kansas State. The Wildcats are the lone newcomer to the top 10, cracking the upper echelon after a 2-0 start to the season.
Pac-12 Powers Make Their Debut
A pair of Pac-12 heavyweights, Stanford and Oregon, made their first appearances in the regular-season rankings after strong starts. The No. 24 Cardinal, under the guidance of new coach Kate Paye, won their first three games by an average of 41 points. Meanwhile, the No. 25 Ducks earned their spot by knocking off then-No. 12 Baylor in a thrilling two-point win at home, snapping a 13-game losing streak against ranked foes.
Maryland on the Rise, Duke Slips
One of the biggest movers in the poll was Maryland, which climbed seven spots to No. 11 after a hard-fought 85-80 win over Duke. The victory was especially sweet for the Terrapins, as it marked their first meeting with their former ACC rival since ousting the Blue Devils in the 2015 Sweet 16. Duke, meanwhile, fell to No. 16 following the loss.
Auriemma Chasing History
UConn coach Geno Auriemma finds himself on the cusp of a milestone, as he sits just one win shy of tying retired Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer for the most victories in women’s college basketball history. Auriemma, who has guided the Huskies to a record 11 national championships, could match VanDerveer’s mark of 1,216 wins when UConn faces No. 15 North Carolina on Friday night.
According to a source close to the UConn program, Auriemma has downplayed the significance of the record, preferring to keep the focus on his team’s performance on the court. However, there’s no denying the historic nature of the achievement.
As the women’s college basketball season kicks into high gear, the South Carolina Gamecocks have firmly established themselves as the team to beat. With a mix of talent, tenacity, and championship experience, they look poised to make a serious run at a repeat title. But with a host of challengers nipping at their heels, the road ahead won’t be easy. One thing’s for sure: it’s shaping up to be another exhilarating year in women’s hoops.
