Women's Basketball: AP Poll updated after an exciting week of action
After another week of action, the latest women’s college basketball AP Poll is out. With that, the outlook for the home stretch of the season is coming into a much better and clearer view.
The biggest story of the week in women’s basketball was, of course, Iowa Hawkeyes star Caitlin Clark becoming the all-time leading scorer in the sport. That came after the Hawkeyes were upset amid their race to win the Big Ten. Meanwhile, other top teams like South Carolina, Ohio State, and Stanford solidified their position at the top.
It was an exciting week and with what promises to be an excellent final stretch of the season. With that, here is the updated AP Poll for women’s college basketball:
1. South Carolina Gamecocks
The South Carolina Gamecocks went into halftime trailing the Georgia Bulldogs. However, South Carolina managed to storm back and stay unbeaten, giving the Gamecocks their second key SEC win of the week. With that, South Carolina was also able to stay atop the AP Poll.
South Carolina has four games left this season, all of which are against SEC opponents, and while the SEC regular season title hasn’t been clinched, it looks like it will be soon. The campaign to stay unbeaten is going to continue on Thursday with a home game against Alabama.
2. Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State only had one game since the last AP Poll came out. However, it was a game where the Buckeyes took care of business, beating Nebraska by 33 points, and set themselves up for a late push to win the Big Ten in the regular season.
As of now, the Buckeyes are first in the Big Ten standings. They have a one game lead on both Iowa and Indiana, with four games left. That includes a game against Iowa that could end up deciding the regular season title, but first, Ohio State will need to deal with Penn State.
3. Stanford Cardinal
The Stanford Cardinal got a big win over Cal on Friday night, helping to further solidify the Cardinal as one of the best teams in the entire country. That win itself was the fourth in a row for Stanford and helped to solidify the Cardinal as the top team in the highly competitive Pac-12 conference.
Now with a two game lead in the Pac-12 standings, it looks like Stanford is in a good position to win the conference regular season title for the last time this league has its current structure. At the same time, the remaining schedule isn’t a cakewalk. It even includes Oregon State, one of the teams pushing Stanford in the conference.
4. Iowa Hawkeyes
The Iowa Hawkeyes had one of the most interesting weeks of any team all season long. Star Caitlin Clark was chasing history and that took up plenty of attention. After a loss the week before while chasing that mark, Clark finally managed to break it against Michigan. Now, Iowa can refocus on the final stretch.
It’s going to be a very challenging end of the season for Iowa too. Next up, the Hawkeyes have a road game against Indiana, who they’re tied with for second in the Big Ten. Winning or losing that game could dictate how likely winning the conference in the regular season is going to be.
5. Texas Longhorns
The Texas Longhorns added two more Big 12 wins since the last AP Poll came out and both of them came in convincing fashion. That made for six wins in a row for Texas. With that, the Longhorns have made it clear they’re to be taken seriously approaching the end of season tournaments.
Interestingly, Texas still is in second place in the Big 12 standings, trailing rival Oklahoma by a game. With just four left this season, now is the time to make a push. Luckily for the Longhorns, they’ll get a shot to take on those Sooners before the season comes to an end.
6. NC State Wolfpack
NC State had one of the more interesting weeks among the top teams in the women’s game. First, the Wolfpack had a tough road test against Notre Dame that they passed. They followed that up with a home scare against Georgia Tech, which they survived to move to three wins in a row.
The ACC has been incredibly competitive this season and NC State is currently stuck in third place behind Virginia Tech and Syracuse. The Wolfpack will get their shot against Syracuse later this season, but first need to set their sights on taking care of business against in-state rivals North Carolina and Duke.
7. USC Trojans
The USC Trojans have had a pair of games since the last AP Poll came out, winning both of them. That included a big game against a very talented Oregon State team and made for six straight wins for USC and seven of their last eight.
USC is also one of three teams tied for second in the conference. Winning it in the regular season, down two games with only four to play, is a stretch. However, it’s not impossible, but the schedule next week is tough, with games against Colorado and Utah.
8. Virginia Tech Hokies
Virginia Tech has now won nine straight games and has made itself one of the most intimidating teams within the conference. That stretch has also included wins over three different ranked opponents. Since the last AP Poll came out, that included games against Duke and Louisville.
With all of that, the Hokies are now first in the ACC standings, holding a one game lead over Syracuse. Now, with only three games left, Virginia Tech is in an excellent position to win it all. That starts with North Carolina on Sunday after a week off.
9. Oregon State Beavers
Oregon State was surging, winning six games in a row before falling to USC. Among those six wins in a row were wins against five different ranked teams. That put the Beavers within striking distance of the top of the conference with four games left.
The schedule is going to break rather favorably for Oregon State from here. Next week, the Beavers will play Washington and Washington State. After that, a game against Stanford could be huge for the conference standings, with the Cardinal currently leading the way.
10. Kansas State Wildcats
The Kansas State Wildcats earned two wins since the last AP Poll, but they did make things interesting. Against Iowa State and UCF respectively, Kansas State won be three and two points, needing overtime to beat the Cyclones. Still, wins are wins and that makes three in a row for Kansas State.
As of now, Kansas State is in a three-way tie for second in the Big 12. On Wednesday, the Wildcats will get a shot at one of those teams that they’re tied with when they host West Virginia. After that, the Wildcats will need to stay sharp as they move through the end of the season.
Remaining teams in AP Top 25
11. Colorado
12. UCLA
13. LSU
14. Indiana
15. UConn
16. Gonzaga
17. Syracuse
18. Utah
19. Notre Dame
20. Louisville
21. Creighton
22. West Virginia
23. Oklahoma
24. Baylor
25. Princeton
Others Receiving Votes: UNLV 41, Fairfield 29, North Carolina 4, Saint Joseph’s 4, Mississippi State 2, Tennessee 1.