The women’s college basketball season is getting ready to tip off for the 2025-26 season. Ahead of that, the AP Top 25 preseason poll rankings have now been revealed, sharing some general consensus on where everyone stands going into the season.
There are, of course, a few different challenges that come with putting together an AP ranking in the preseason. The Transfer Portal has, as it does in every college sport, reshaped women’s basketball rosters. There are times when those teams take off. At the same time, transfers don’t always immediately equate to success. Add in some massive names like Paige Bueckers and Sonia Citron moving to the WNBA, and there are questions that also won’t be answered until games begin.
Games begin on November 3rd. Ahead of that, here’s how the AP voters thought the best teams in the sport shook out.
UConn is looking to defend their national championship this season. So, perhaps it’s not a surprise they’re ranked so highly in the Preseason AP Poll. Legendary head coach Geno Auriemma returns for his 41st season at the program, where he’s now won 12 national championships. So, there’s no reason he can’t bounce back.
Of course, the Huskies will be without Paige Bueckers. However, with Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd returning, the expectation is UConn will be right there at the end of the season.
It was a frustrating end to the season last year for South Carolina, falling to UConn in what could have been their third national championship in three seasons. Instead, head Dawn Staley had to settle for a fifth-straight Final Four. Now, they’ll want to find even more success.
South Carolina does return several stars too, including Veteran Raven Johnson. Then, the hope is that transfer Ta’Niya Latson can provide some much needed scoring. However, Chloe Kitts was lost to a torn ACL and that will be a massive hit in its own right.
There are massive expectations on UCLA in the 2025-26 season. So, perhaps it shouldn’t be a surprise how highly the AP Poll has the Bruins ranked. Cori Close is back for a 15th season with the program. Coming off her first Final Four last season, now UCLA wants to build on it.
Much of UCLA’s success is expected to fall on guard Kiki Rice and center Lauren Betts. That combination has been phenomenal in the past. There’s no reason it can’t be again.
Since head coach Vic Schaefer got to Texas ahead of the 2020-21 season, he’s sparked the program. That seemed to culminate with a Final Four run last season. Now, he wants a national championship.
With seven players from last year’s team moving on, Schaefer added four transfers and just one incoming high school recruit. The hope is that those were the right moves and now they’ll compete for a national championship.
The LSU Tigers are going into their fifth season under Kim Mulkey. After winning a national championship in her second season there, Mulkey hasn’t been able to get past the Elite Eight in the past two seasons. Now, there are again high expectations in Baton Rouge.
Star Flau’Jae Johnson returns. At this point, LSU knows what to expect from her. The question is whether or not incoming transfers and returning Tigers around her can step up to elevate the Tigers.
The 2025-26 season will be the fifth for Jennie Baranczyk as the head coach at Oklahoma. It’s also the second for the program in the SEC. Last season, that amounted to a Sweet Sixteen run.
The Sooners are coming in highly ranked in the AP Poll. However, it’s going to be a completely flipped roster too. Oklahoma lost eight players from last season’s roster, including three to transfer. In response, they brought in a high school recruiting class highlighted by Gatorade National Player of the Year Aaliyah Chavez.
Kara Lawson is back for her sixth season at Duke. In each of the previous three seasons, Duke has finished a little deeper in the Women’s NCAA Tournament. Now, coming into the season ranked highly in the AP Poll, expectations are through the roof.
Duke lost five players from last year’s roster, including four to transfer. The Blue Devils responded by only adding one player from the portal and two players from the recruiting class. So, much is going to be expected on the developmental side.
In their first season under head coach Kim Caldwell, the Lady Vols made it to the Sweet Sixteen. If the Preseason AP Poll is to be believed, the expectation is now that they’ll build on that.
Tennessee features three incoming transfers, all of whom are coming in from Power Four programs. That group includes last season’s Big Ten Sixth Player of the Year Award winner Janiah Barker. Still, after nine players from last year’s team moved on, the Lady Vols will look completely different.
In years when the Women’s NCAA Tournament has been held, NC State has made it to at least the Sweet Sixteen in seven straight seasons. Now, they want to break through in a highly competitive ACC. Certainly, head coach Wes Moore believes they’re ready to do so.
Still, NC State has to replace a lot of talent. That includes multiple players selected by the WNBA and three others who hit the Transfer Portal. Add two incoming portal players and a pair of incoming freshmen, and this team should have restocked.
Going into her 24th season at Maryland, Brenda Frese does have a national championship there. Now, she wants another. Based on their preseason AP ranking, that’s not impossible, either.
Coming off three Sweet Sixteen appearances in the last five seasons, Maryland has found success across multiple eras under Frese. So, there’s no reason she can’t continue to succeed.
Rest of AP Top 25 Poll
11. North Carolina
12. Ole Miss
13. Michigan
14. Iowa State
15. Notre Dame
16. Baylor
17. TCU
18. USC
19. Vanderbilt
20. Louisville
21. Iowa
22. Oklahoma State
23. Michigan State
24. Kentucky
25. Richmond
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