There is a new team atop the rankings in the latest Associated Press Top 25 women’s basketball poll, which was released Monday.
Here are five takeaways from the poll:
UCLA ascends to No. 1 after taking down South Carolina
After knocking off previous No. 1 South Carolina on Sunday 77-62, the Bruins (5-0) are ranked No. 1 for the first time in program history.
Coming into the game, UCLA was 0-20 against No. 1 teams.
The Bruins took a 43-22 halftime lead and never looked back. UCLA held South Carolina to 36.4 percent shooting and made 47.5 percent of its shots.
If the Bruins continue to get consistent production from Lauren Betts (19.4 PPG, 12 RPG) and shoot a good percentrage from the field (currently 48.2 percent), they may not give up the No. 1 ranking anytime soon.
UCLA is not scheduled to play another team currently ranked in the Top 25 until its faces 25th-ranked Nebraska on Dec. 29.
Notre Dame rises to No. 3 after impressive win over USC
In the other marquee matchup over the weekend, the Fighting Irish (5-0) took care of business against then-No. 6 USC, winning 74-61. The teams swapped spots in this week’s poll, with Notre Dame rising to No. 3 and USC falling to No. 6.
USC’s JuJu Watkins scored 24 points, but Notre Dame’s defense took over, forcing 21 turnovers and holding the Trojans to an abysmal 1-for-13 from three-point range (7.7 percent).
Hannah Hidalgo (24 points, eight assists, six rebounds and five steals) and Olivia Miles (20 points, eight rebounds and seven assists) became the second pair of teammates in the past 25 years to each post 20 points, five rebounds and five assists against an AP top-10 opponent.
With Hidalgo scoring the sixth-most points per game in the country (24.8) and Miles shooting a career-best 54.2 percent from behind the arc, the Fighting Irish look dangerous.
South Carolina, USC fall after weekend losses
After losing 77-62 to UCLA on Sunday, the Gamecocks (5-1) fell from No. 1 to No. 4 in this week’s rankings. The loss was South Carolina’s first since March 31, 2023, and ended its 43-game winning streak.
According to NCAA.com, South Carolina is ranked 99th in the country in field-goal percentage (43.9 percent). The Gamecocks got outrebounded by UCLA 41-34.
While South Carolina improved on its 36.1 percent three-point shooting by going 8-for-12 on Sunday, the Gamecocks have some areas they must clean up to repeat as champions.
Much of the same can be said for USC after its 74-61 loss to Notre Dame. The Trojans never led, mostly due to poor three-point shooting. USC is shooting an atrocious 26.7 percent from three-point range, 269th in the country, per NCAA.com.
The Trojans have the star power in Watkins (22 PPG) and Kiki Iriafen (16.8 PPG, 7.8 RPG). But that may not be enough if they cannot knock down long-range shots.
Iowa State drops seven spots after eventful week
The Cyclones (5-1) fell from No. 8 to No. 15 after being upset by Northern Iowa, 87-75, and escaping an upset bid from Drake, 80-78.
Iowa State is led by Audi Crooks, who on Sunday scored 33 points — her second career 30-points-plus game. Crooks is shooting a ridiculous 56 percent from the floor since the start of last season’s Big 12 tournament.
The concern for Iowa State is its lack of competition so far. When the Cyclones face No. 4 South Carolina on Thanksgiving Day, it will mark the first ranked opponent Iowa State has played this season. The Gamecocks should provide a better indication of where this team stands early in the season.
Iowa returns to the poll
Despite Caitlin Clark’s departure to the Indiana Fever of the WNBA and head coach Lisa Bluder’s retirement, the Hawkeyes are 6-0 and ranked 22nd. It is the first time the program has started 6-0 since 2017-18, before Clark arrived on campus.
Much like their in-state rival Iowa State, Iowa has not had a difficult schedule to start the season. Overall, the Hawkeyes — led by Lucy Olsen (17.3 PPG). — are shooting 49.1 percent from the field.
If Iowa can make a high percentage of its shots against stiffer competition, its return to the poll may not be temporary.