South Carolina extends lead over UConn in latest AP women's basketball poll
The Gamecocks' 45-point margin over North Carolina solidifies their top spot, while a new team enters the bottom of the rankings.
By Mariam Saleh ·
South Carolina sits at No. 1 in the 2026 Associated Press women's college basketball poll, following a 84-39 victory over North Carolina on Sunday. The 45-point margin represents the largest win the Gamecocks have recorded against an AP Top 25 opponent. With two wins in the season, South Carolina maintains a perfect record.
UConn remains in second place despite a 2-1 season mark. The Huskies dropped a recent contest to Michigan but rebounded with a win against also-ranked Iowa. Iowa now holds a 2-1 record and has lost five straight games to AP top-two teams. UConn travels to Ohio State on Thursday.
USC ranks third in the poll. The Trojans are 2-0, and JuJu Watkins made history by becoming the first Big Ten player in 25 years to record at least 30 points, 15 rebounds, five assists, and five steals in a single game. USC faces Charleston on Wednesday night.
Michigan sits at No. 4 with a 2-0 record. The Wolverines have scored at least 100 points in six games since the start of last season, a total that leads the Big Ten conference. Michigan plays at Columbia on Thursday.
Duke holds the No. 5 spot after a 2-0 start. The Blue Devils are 8-0 against current Horizon League opponents this season. Duke is scheduled to play at Norfolk State on Thursday evening.
Texas A&M is ranked No. 6 and has won two straight games. Madison Booker scored 30 points against Northern Colorado, moving her into third place on the program's all-time scoring list. The Aggies face South Dakota State on Wednesday.
Louisville sits at No. 7 with a 3-0 record. The Cardinals recorded consecutive wins by at least 50 points for the first time since December 2013. Louisville hosts Lindenwood on Tuesday.
Vanderbilt is at No. 8 and has outscored opponents by 117 points over its first two games. That differential is the largest two-game span for the Commodores since January 1993. Vanderbilt plays Morehead State on Monday.
LSU ranks No. 9 with a 2-0 record. The Tigers' 109-point win over Texas Southern is the largest victory in Division I history against a Division I opponent. LSU hosts McNeese on Tuesday.
UCLA and Iowa share the No. 10 ranking. UCLA is 2-0, and Sienna Betts had a career-high 15 points against Lehigh. UCLA plays Arizona on Thursday. Iowa is 2-1 and faces Northern Iowa on Thursday.
Kentucky is at No. 11 with a 3-0 record. Ajsa Sivka became the first Kentucky player to score 30-plus points against an AP-ranked team in her first collegiate season this century. Kentucky plays Evansville on Wednesday.
Notre Dame ranks No. 12 and is 2-0. The Fighting Irish posted an 83-point win over Stonehill, which stands as the second-largest victory in program history. Notre Dame hosts Detroit Mercy on Tuesday.
