The South Carolina Gamecocks are making their presence felt in the world of women’s college basketball. After cruising through a gauntlet of ranked opponents, Dawn Staley’s squad has gained ground on the top-ranked UCLA Bruins in the latest Associated Press Top 25 poll. The Gamecocks even picked up a first-place vote as they continue to prove themselves as one of the nation’s elite teams.
Dominating the SEC
South Carolina currently sits at No. 2 in the rankings, but they are making a strong case for the top spot. The Gamecocks have navigated the most challenging part of their SEC schedule with impressive victories over No. 17 Texas, No. 19 Alabama, and No. 15 Oklahoma. The margin of victory in these games speaks volumes about South Carolina’s dominance, winning by an average of over 25 points per contest.
The toughest tests are still to come, with matchups looming against No. 5 LSU and No. 17 Tennessee in the coming weeks. However, if the Gamecocks continue to showcase their balanced attack and suffocating defense, they could very well find themselves atop the rankings sooner rather than later.
Chasing Down the Bruins
While UCLA still holds the No. 1 spot, South Carolina is hot on their heels. The Bruins received 27 of the 30 first-place votes this week, with the Gamecocks snagging one and No. 3 Notre Dame claiming the other two. The gap between the top two teams is narrowing, setting the stage for a thrilling battle down the stretch.
South Carolina has so far cruised through the difficult part of its conference schedule and remained No. 2 in The Associated Press women’s basketball Top 25 on Monday, picking up a first-place vote to gain a bit of ground on top-ranked UCLA.
Shaking Up the Top 10
While the top four teams remained unchanged, there was plenty of movement in the rest of the top 10. UConn, Texas, and Maryland follow LSU, with the Longhorns and Terrapins set to square off in the Coretta Scott King Classic. TCU and Kansas State round out the top 10 after losses by Ohio State and Oklahoma.
- UConn checks in at No. 6
- Texas and Maryland land at No. 7 and No. 8
- TCU and Kansas State move up to No. 9 and No. 10
Conference Breakdown
The SEC and Big Ten lead the way with seven ranked teams apiece, followed closely by the ACC with six. The Big 12 has four representatives, while the Big East claims just one with UConn. The Pac-12’s only ranked team is No. 1 UCLA, showcasing the top-heavy nature of the conference this season.
| Conference | Number of Ranked Teams |
| SEC | 7 |
| Big Ten | 7 |
| ACC | 6 |
| Big 12 | 4 |
| Big East | 1 |
Intriguing Matchups Ahead
The coming week features several tantalizing matchups that could further shake up the rankings. No. 5 LSU travels to No. 2 South Carolina on Thursday in a battle of unbeaten SEC powers. No. 8 Maryland also has a pair of tough tests, visiting No. 12 Ohio State before hosting No. 1 UCLA over the weekend.
No. 5 LSU at No. 2 South Carolina, Thursday. The undefeated Tigers will try and knock off the Gamecocks in a matchup of two of the best teams in the SEC.
As the regular season enters its final stretch, the jockeying for position at the top of the rankings should only intensify. South Carolina has proven they belong in the conversation with the nation’s best, but can they complete their ascent to No. 1? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain – the road to the top goes through Columbia, South Carolina.
