NCAA Women's Basketball: Major Shakeups in the Top 25 Rankings Amidst a Wild Week

It was a week of high drama and significant shifts in NCAA Women's Basketball, with several top teams experiencing unexpected outcomes. The week's most notable events included UCLA's first loss of the season to rival USC, UConn's emphatic victory over South Carolina, ending their 71-game home winning streak, and Texas's comeback win against LSU in a top-5 clash.

Notable Performances and Key Stats

1. UConn Huskies: UConn's 29-point victory over South Carolina marked their 16th 20-point win against a top-5 team in the last 25 seasons. This performance solidified their status as a title contender.

2. Texas Longhorns: Texas's win over LSU was a statement victory, positioning them atop the SEC. The Longhorns joined rare company by defeating three consecutive top-10 teams, a feat matched only by Rutgers in 2004-05.

3. UCLA Bruins: Despite their first loss, UCLA still boasts an impressive resume with seven wins against Top 25 teams this season, ranking third in Division I.

4. South Carolina Gamecocks: Sunday's loss to UConn was South Carolina's largest home defeat since 2008, raising questions about their championship aspirations.

What’s Next

• Notre Dame vs. Duke: A top-tier ACC matchup that could have major implications for the conference standings.
• Texas at Georgia: The Longhorns look to continue their dominance, while Georgia aims to pull off an upset.
• UCLA vs. Illinois: A critical game for both teams as they vie for positioning in the national rankings.

Rankings Shakeup

The week's results led to significant changes in the AP Top 25. Illinois made its debut, while Florida State dropped out. South Carolina fell from No. 4 to No. 6, and UConn climbed to No. 5. Texas moved up to No. 2, just behind Notre Dame.

Looking Ahead

As the season progresses, the competition remains fierce, with several teams asserting themselves as championship contenders. Key matchups in the coming weeks will further define the landscape of women's college basketball.