Notre Dame is the new No. 1 in The Associated Press Top 25 women’s basketball poll, ascending to the top spot Monday for the first time since 2019.
The Irish replaced UCLA, which lost its first game of the season last week, falling to rival USC 71-60. Notre Dame was last No. 1 on Jan. 21, 2019.
“It’s definitely an honor to be the nation’s top team, but we are just focused on getting better every day,“ Notre Dame coach Niele Ivey said.
The Irish, who received 16 first-place votes from a 30-member national media panel, face No. 11 Duke on Monday night.
Texas moved up to second for its best ranking since 2017. The Longhorns, who garnered eight first-place votes, became the first team to beat three straight top-10 teams since 2004-05, according to ESPN, topping South Carolina, Kentucky and LSU.
The Bruins had been No. 1 for 12 straight weeks after beating South Carolina in late November. UCLA fell to third and received the other six first-place votes.
USC moved up to fourth and Connecticut was fifth after routing then-No. 4 South Carolina 87-58 on Sunday. The Gamecocks, who saw their 71-game home winning streak end, fell to sixth. LSU and Ohio State were next.
North Carolina climbed three spots to ninth for its highest ranking in three seasons after beating N.C. State 66-65 on Sunday. TCU was 10th.
Ins and outs
Illinois reentered the poll this week at No. 25 after beating Penn State and Nebraska. The Illini spent the first few weeks of the season ranked. Florida State fell out after losing to Louisville and edging Miami.
Falling Wildcats
It was a rough week for Kentucky. One week after earning their best ranking in a decade, the Wildcats fell six spots to 14th. They lost to Mississippi and Texas before beating Georgia.
Conference breakdown
The SEC still reigns with seven ranked teams. The Big Ten has six and the ACC and Big 12 each have five. The Big East has two.
NCAA reveal
With a month left before the NCAA Tournament starts, the selection committee revealed the top 16 teams to that point Sunday. UCLA, South Carolina, Texas and Notre Dame were the No. 1 seeds. The reveal came before South Carolina’s loss to UConn.
Games of the week
- No. 1 Notre Dame at No. 13 North Carolina State, Sunday. The Irish have a two-game lead in the ACC race over the Wolfpack. Five teams are within two games of second place.
- No. 17 West Virginia at No. 10 TCU, Sunday. Two of the top teams in the Big 12 square off as the Horned Frogs hope to remain atop the conference standings.