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ESPN staffNov 18, 2024, 12:15 PM ET
The new AP Top 25 women’s college basketball poll is out.
The top teams stayed the course, with no changes in the top 10 in this week’s rankings. Farther down, TCU makes its season debut at 19: The Horned Frogs are 4-0 and upset then-No. 13 NC State (who fell just below them, to No. 20) on Sunday.
What does it all mean for the AP Top 25? Let’s break down the rankings.
Stats courtesy of ESPN Research and The Associated Press.
All times Eastern
1. South Carolina Gamecocks
Previous ranking: 1
2024-25 record: 4-0
Stat to know: In Thursday’s 92-60 win over Coppin State (South Carolina’s third game), MiLaysia Fulwiley scored 23 points. She had just three 20-point performances last season. Fulwiley ranks second on the Gamecocks with 14.3 PPG, trailing Chloe Kitts‘ 17.3.
What’s next: Wednesday at Clemson, 5 p.m., ESPN2
1:19
Paige Bueckers’ 29-point night leads UConn past UNC
Paige Bueckers’ drops a game-high 29 points in Connecticut’s 69-58 win over North Carolina.
2. UConn Huskies
Previous ranking: 2
2024-25 record: 3-0
Stat to know: Geno Auriemma is one win from breaking the NCAA Division I record for coaching victories in men’s and women’s basketball. Auriemma tied Tara VanDerveer’s mark Friday with win No. 1,216. A massive number of alumni are expected to be in Storrs, Connecticut, Wednesday when he takes aim at 1,217.
What’s next: Wednesday vs. Fairleigh Dickinson, 7 p.m., SNY
3. USC Trojans
Previous ranking: 3
2024-25 record: 4-0
Stat to know: In Friday’s 81-50 victory over Santa Clara, JuJu Watkins scored her 1,000th career point. The sophomore reached the milestone in 38 games, tying the fourth-fewest games in NCAA Division I history. Watkins is averaging 21.5 PPG through four contests.
What’s next: Saturday vs. Notre Dame, 4 p.m., NBC/Peacock
4. Texas Longhorns
Previous ranking: 4
2024-25 record: 3-0
Stat to know: The Longhorns have scored at least 90 points in each of their first three games for the first time since 2017. Sunday’s 91-61 win over DePaul marked Texas’ first 90-point game without making a 3-pointer since December 2000.
What’s next: Wednesday vs. Tarleton State, noon, SEC Network
5. UCLA Bruins
Previous ranking: 5
2024-25 record: 4-0
Stat to know: After sitting out the first three games with a shoulder injury, Kiki Rice made her debut in Sunday’s 101-52 trouncing of Arkansas. She played 11 minutes, had 2 rebounds and 1 assist but didn’t score.
What’s next: Sunday vs. South Carolina, 4 p.m., FS1
1:27
Hannah Hidalgo’s big game helps Notre Dame stay undefeated
Hannah Hidalgo lights it up with a 29-point game as Notre Dame defeats Lafayette 91-55.
6. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Previous ranking: 6
2024-25 record: 4-0
Stat to know: Guards Olivia Miles (20 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists) and Hannah Hidalgo (29 points, 5 steals, 5 assists) scored or assisted on 69 of Notre Dame’s points (76%) in Sunday’s 91-55 victory over Lafayette. And freshman forward Kate Koval had 19 points and 7 blocks.
What’s next: Saturday at USC, 4 p.m., NBC/Peacock
7. LSU Tigers
Previous ranking: 7
2024-25 record: 4-0
Stat to know: The Tigers beat Murray State 74-60 on Friday, but LSU trailed 46-37 at halftime after being outscored 32-12 in the second quarter. The minus-20 differential is LSU’s worst in any quarter since teams started playing quarters instead of halves in 2015-16. But Flau’Jae Johnson scored 10 of her 25 points in the fourth quarter to help LSU win.
What’s next: Monday vs. Troy, 8 p.m., SEC Network+
8. Iowa State Cyclones
Previous ranking: 8
2024-25 record: 4-0
Stat to know: Emily Ryan had 13 assists in Thursday’s 80-47 victory over St. Thomas-Minnesota. It was the senior guard’s 20th career game with at least 10 assists, the most by any active Division I player.
What’s next: Wednesday at Northern Iowa, 7 p.m., PSN TV
9. Oklahoma Sooners
Previous ranking: 9
2024-25 record: 3-0
Stat to know: Raegan Beers had 27 points on 12-for-14 shooting in Wednesday’s 122-56 thrashing of Western Carolina. She is the first SEC player with 25 points on 85% field goal shooting since Angel Reese against Lamar in December 2022.
What’s next: Tuesday at Wichita State, 7 p.m., ESPN+
10. Kansas State Wildcats
Previous ranking: 10
2024-25 record: 3-0
Stat to know: Ayoka Lee, who had 28 points for her 53rd career 20-point game in Thursday’s 86-68 win over Creighton, is 12 points shy of tying Nicole Ohlde (2,241) for second-most points in school history (Kendra Wecker holds the record with 2,333).
What’s next: Monday vs. Little Rock, 7:30 p.m., ESPN+
11. Maryland Terrapins
Previous ranking: 11
2024-25 record: 5-0
Stat to know: Kaylene Smikle has scored at least 20 points in four consecutive games for the Terps, who have started 5-0 for the first time since 2021-22.
What’s next: Sunday vs. St. Francis (Pa.), 1 p.m.
12. Ohio State Buckeyes
Previous ranking: 12
2024-25 record: 3-0
Stat to know: Belmont led by nine points with 5 minutes to play Sunday, but Ohio State had a 13-0 run to regain the lead and remain undefeated. Freshman Jaloni Cambridge gave the Buckeyes the lead for good on a 3-point play with 13 seconds remaining, then drew a charge on Belmont’s next possession.
What’s next: Wednesday at Ohio, 7 p.m., ESPN+
13. West Virginia Mountaineers
Previous ranking: 15
2024-25 record: 4-0
Stat to know: The Mountaineers might be 13-24 all time against SEC teams, but they’re 8-2 in their past 10 meetings, including a 83-62 win over Texas A&M on Friday. West Virginia has won 32 consecutive games at home against nonconference opponents, a streak that dates to the 2018-19 season.
What’s next: Tuesday vs. Bowling Green, 7 p.m., ESPN+
14. Duke Blue Devils
Previous ranking: 16
2024-25 record: 4-1
Stat to know: Sophomore Jadyn Donovan had career highs of 23 points and 15 rebounds — the third double-double of her career — in Sunday’s 75-71 victory at South Dakota State.
What’s next: Thursday vs. Belmont, 7 p.m. ACCN
1:41
Wildcats’ Key credits team effort in win over Louisville
Teonni Key credits her teammates and Big Blue Nation in the No. 20 Wildcats’ overtime win over rival No. 18 Cardinals, as she drops 17 points along with 9 rebounds and 5 blocks.
15. Kentucky Wildcats
Previous ranking: 20
2024-25 record: 4-0
Stat to know: Georgia Amoore has 34 assists, the most by a Kentucky player through the first four games of a season since at least 1999-2000.
What’s next: Monday vs. Purdue Fort Wayne, 6 p.m., SECN+
16. North Carolina Tar Heels
Previous ranking: 14
2024-25 record: 3-1
Stat to know: After missing the first three games with an injury, junior guard Indya Nivar made her debut Friday and finished with 15 points and 9 rebounds. Lexi Donarski (12.5 PPG) is the only other Tar Heel averaging double-digit scoring.
What’s next: Saturday vs. Ball State, 4 p.m.
17. Ole Miss Rebels
Previous ranking: 19
2024-25 record: 2-1
Stat to know: Granted, she has attempted only 20 field goals, but Starr Jacobs is shooting 70% from the field (14-for-20) through three games.
What’s next: Monday vs. Jackson State, noon, SECN+
18. Baylor Bears
Previous ranking: 17
2024-25 record: 3-1
Stat to know: Sarah Andrews is climbing up the Baylor career record books. She needs 13 3-pointers to break Baylor’s all-time record, and is 10 assists shy of reaching 500, which would put her in the top five in program history.
What’s next: Saturday vs. Southern Miss, 1:30 p.m., FloSports
19. TCU Horned Frogs
Previous ranking: NR
2024-25 record: 4-0
Stat to know: TCU snapped a 24-game losing streak to AP Top 25 teams with Sunday’s 76-73 win over NC State. Sedona Prince (31 points, 16 rebounds) and Hailey Van Lith (18 points, 10 assists) became the first TCU teammates since 2004 to have double-doubles in the same game.
What’s next: Thursday vs. Incarnate Word, 1 p.m., ESPN+
20. NC State Wolfpack
Previous ranking: 13
2024-25 record: 2-2
Stat to know: Aziaha James has scored 47 points in her past two games, including 27 on Sunday against TCU. It’s the first time NC State has lost when she scores at least 25 points (6-1).
What’s next: Thursday vs. Coastal Carolina, 5 p.m., ACCNX
21. Nebraska Cornhuskers
Previous ranking: 21
2024-25 record: 4-0
Stat to know: The Cornhuskers scored 113 points in a win over South Dakota on Saturday, tying the most points in a game for Nebraska in the last 30 years.
What’s next: Tuesday vs. North Alabama, 8 p.m., B1G+
22. Illinois Fighting Illini
Previous ranking: 23
2024-25 record: 3-0
Stat to know: Led by Adalia McKenzie‘s team-high 14.3 PPG, six players are averaging double-figure scoring for Illinois, which scores 77.3 points per game.
What’s next: Monday vs. Le Moyne, noon
23. Oregon Ducks
Previous ranking: 25
2024-25 record: 4-0
Stat to know: Oregon is 4-0 for the seventh time in coach Kelly Graves’ 11 seasons.
What’s next: Monday vs. Grand Canyon, 9 p.m., B1G+
24. Alabama Crimson Tide
Previous ranking: 22
2024-25 record: 6-0
Stat to know: The Crimson Tide have started 6-0 for the second consecutive season.
What’s next: Nov. 25 vs. Alabama State, 2:30 p.m.
25. Louisville Cardinals
Previous ranking: 18
2024-25 record: 2-2
Stat to know: Freshman guard Tajianna Roberts leads the Cardinals in points (14.3 PPG) and minutes (28.2 MPG) and is shooting 50% from the field.
What’s next: Thursday vs. Morehead State, 7 p.m., ACCN
