February has a different sound in women’s college basketball. The crowds grow louder, the possessions feel heavier, and the margin for error shrinks by the night.
The Rankings Meet Reality
The new Associated Press Top 25 reflected that tension, keeping UConn as the unanimous No. 1 while revealing just how crowded the chase has become behind the Huskies. Stability at the top does not mean calm across the landscape.
Huskies Still Setting the Tone
UConn remained the lone undefeated team in the sport after a commanding win over Tennessee, collecting all 31 first-place votes once again. Geno Auriemma’s group has now won 39 straight games dating back to last season, blending veteran poise with the kind of defensive intensity that travels anywhere.
UCLA held firm at No. 2 following a statement victory at Iowa, stretching its winning streak to 15 games. South Carolina and Texas stayed third and fourth, each continuing to handle business in conference play. The top tier looks familiar, yet the gap to the rest of the field is narrowing with every week.
Louisville Rising, LSU Reloading
The biggest mover near the top was Louisville. The Cardinals climbed to sixth, their best position in four years, after impressive road wins at Stanford and Cal. Jeff Walz has quietly built a team that looks built for March.
LSU returned to the top five, moving to No. 5 on the strength of another efficient stretch in the SEC. Vanderbilt slipped two spots to seventh after a loss to Ole Miss, while Michigan and Ohio State pushed into the top 10 with steady play. Iowa dropped from eighth to 10th after running into the UCLA wave.
The SEC again placed nine teams in the poll, matching a record for the second straight week. The Big Ten followed with seven ranked programs, the Big 12 with four, and the ACC with three. Princeton slid to No. 23 after its 15 game winning streak ended, yet the Tigers quickly responded to avoid a deeper tumble.
A Week Loaded With Answers
The schedule ahead feels like a collection of early tournament auditions. Monday opens with No. 25 North Carolina visiting NC State in an ACC rivalry that always brings emotion. Auburn meets No. 13 Ole Miss in Birmingham, and South Carolina travels to Texas A&M looking to continue its march.
Wednesday features a Big Ten spotlight as No. 22 Maryland heads to No. 12 Michigan State, while Nebraska visits No. 8 Michigan. UConn takes its unbeaten record to DePaul, and No. 14 TCU hosts Houston in Fort Worth. West Virginia and Colorado meet in a critical Big 12 test.
Thursday might be the centerpiece of the week. No. 17 Duke travels to No. 6 Louisville with first place in the ACC on the line. Later that night No. 5 LSU visits No. 4 Texas in a heavyweight SEC showdown that could reshape the top five. Vanderbilt faces Kentucky in Lexington, Iowa hosts Minnesota, and Ole Miss meets Alabama in another league grinder.
The weekend keeps the pressure high. Saturday sees UConn welcome Butler in Hartford, Baylor host Arizona State, and Texas Tech visit Houston. Sunday delivers the headline event as No. 2 UCLA travels to No. 8 Michigan in a game that could decide the Big Ten race. Tennessee heads to South Carolina, Ohio State visits Oregon, and LSU battles Auburn on the road.
More Than Just Numbers
Rankings in February are part resume and part projection. They honor what teams have done while hinting at what they might become. Louisville’s surge, LSU’s consistency, and the depth of the SEC and Big Ten suggest the tournament picture will be crowded and unpredictable.
Moving Forward in Women's Basketball
UConn still owns the top spot, yet the sports beneath the Huskies are starting to move. The coming days are filled with matchups that could flip the rankings in a hurry. By the time the next poll arrives, the season may have a new look and a few new contenders ready to dream bigger.
AP Women’s Top 25 Poll
- UConn 23-0
- UCLA 21-1
- South Carolina 21-2
- Texas 21-2
- LSU 21-2
- Louisville 21-3
- Vanderbilt 21-2
- Michigan 19-3
- Ohio State 20-3
- Iowa 18-4
- Oklahoma 17-5
- Michigan State 19-3
- Ole Miss 18-4
- TCU 20-3
- Baylor 19-4
- Kentucky 18-5
- Duke 16-6
- Texas Tech 21-3
- Tennessee 14-5
- West Virginia 18-5
- Alabama 19-4
- Maryland 17-6
- Princeton 18-2
- Washington 17-5
- North Carolina 17-5