One week into the season, the women’s AP poll already has a new No. 2. South Carolina is still on top, but Michigan made the biggest statement of the week. If you missed it, my opening night recap covers how the season started.
The New AP Top 10
| Rank | Team | Record | Last week |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Carolina | 2-0 | 1 |
| 2 | Michigan | 2-0 | 5 |
| 3 | USC | 2-0 | 3 |
| 4 | UConn | 2-1 | 2 |
| 5 | Duke | 2-0 | 4 |
| 6 | Texas | 2-0 | 6 |
| 7 | Louisville | 2-0 | 7 |
| 8 | Vanderbilt | 2-0 | 8 |
| 9 | LSU | 2-0 | 9 |
| T10 | UCLA | 2-0 | 11 |
| T10 | Iowa | 2-1 | 10 |
Nebraska entered the poll at No. 25, and N.C. State dropped out. Oklahoma jumped seven spots to No. 14, while North Carolina fell from No. 12 to No. 23 after an 0-2 start. The Big Ten has a record 10 ranked teams.
Michigan Ends UConn’s Streak
Michigan beat then-No. 2 UConn 77-66 on Thursday, ending the Huskies’ 39-game regular-season winning streak that dated back to Feb. 6, 2025. Te’Yala Delfosse scored a career-high 22 points. The AP called it the biggest regular-season win in program history, and the Wolverines’ new No. 2 ranking is their highest ever. Their previous best was No. 4 in February 2022.
Sarah Strong Answers Back
UConn did not stay down long. On Sunday, the Huskies beat then-No. 10 Iowa behind a career-high 39 points from Sarah Strong.
South Carolina Rolls in Charlotte
South Carolina followed its win over Maryland in Paris with a 45-point win over North Carolina on Sunday, and Chloe Kitts had a double-double. Oklahoma, which beat North Carolina in Paris on opening night, added a 57-point win over Morgan State.
Player of the Week (My Pick): Sarah Strong, UConn
Strong had 19 points and eight steals in UConn’s opener against Cornell, then scored a career-high 39 against a ranked Iowa team two days after the Michigan loss.
HBCU Watch
Alabama State: The Lady Hornets are 0-2. They opened with an 84-35 loss at Auburn on Nov. 2, then lost 80-78 in overtime at West Georgia on Saturday, when McClendon pulled down 19 rebounds. Alabama State plays its home opener on Tuesday against Talladega, then visits UTEP on Saturday.
- Talladega 59, Alabama A&M 53: The NAIA Tornadoes beat the defending SWAC regular-season champs on opening night, outscoring them 15-10 in the fourth quarter. That is the same Talladega team Alabama State hosts on Tuesday.
- Hampton: Kiki McElrath scored a career-high 33 points and passed 1,000 for her career in a 73-65 loss to Houston. Hampton trailed by as many as 20 before rallying in the fourth quarter.
- Howard: The Bison led Missouri by as many as 19 before losing 91-88.
- Tennessee State 95, Toccoa Falls 46: S. Kamara scored 24 points with five steals.
- South Carolina State 112, Trinity College of Jacksonville 42: A. Webster had 23 points and 10 rebounds.
- Division II: CIAA member Virginia State beat Division I Norfolk State 63-62 in an exhibition, with Taylor Ragland scoring 14 points.
Looking Ahead
- USC vs. South Carolina (Sunday): No. 3 against No. 1, with JuJu Watkins back for the Trojans.
- Alabama State vs. Talladega (Tuesday): The Lady Hornets’ home opener.
My next women’s weekly post comes next Monday, right after the new AP poll.
Featured photo: Kim Barnes Arico, Michigan Wolverines women’s basketball, 2021 by MGoBlog, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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