AP Top 25 poll reaction: LSU moves into top five

3 hours ago 3

ESPN staffFeb 2, 2026, 12:17 PM ET

The new AP Top 25 women's college basketball poll is out.

The LSU Tigers moved up one spot to break into the top five. The Ole Miss Rebels (up four spots) were the week's biggest climber, though the Duke Blue Devils, Texas Tech Lady Raiders and Alabama Crimson Tide each moved up three spots.

What does it all mean for the AP Top 25? Let's break down the rankings.

Stats courtesy of ESPN Research and The Associated Press.

All times Eastern

1. UConn Huskies

Previous ranking: 1

2025-26 record: 23-0

Stat to know: Sarah Strong recorded her ninth 20-plus-point game against an AP-ranked opponent on Sunday, placing her in third place for the most such outings during a UConn player's first two seasons. Ahead of Strong is Maya Moore with 11 and Breanna Stewart with 13.

What's next: Wednesday at DePaul, 8 p.m., truTV

2. UCLA Bruins

Previous ranking: 2

2025-26 record: 21-1

Stat to know: UCLA becomes the seventh Big Ten team to start 10-0 in conference play this century.

What's next: Wednesday vs. Rutgers, 10 p.m., Big Ten Plus

3. South Carolina Gamecocks

Previous ranking: 3

2025-26 record: 21-2

Stat to know: South Carolina is averaging 88.7 points per game, which is on pace for the highest-scoring season in program history. (The current record is 85.4 PPG in 2023-24.)

What's next: Monday at Texas A&M, 8 p.m., ESPN2

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1:03

Highlight: No. 3 South Carolina bounces back with 30-point win over Auburn

Joyce Edwards pours in 20 points as the Gamecocks' defense holds the Tigers to 30% shooting from the floor in the 81-51 blowout win.

4. Texas Longhorns

Previous ranking: 4

2025-26 record: 20-2

Stat to know: Texas notched its 38th straight home victory, tying TCU for the longest active streak in Division I.

What's next: Thursday vs. LSU, 9 p.m., ESPN

5. LSU Tigers

Previous ranking: 6

2025-26 record: 21-2

Stat to know: LSU scored 100-plus points for the 12th time this campaign, extending its SEC single-season record (a mark previously held by Alabama with 10 in 1991-92).

What's next: Thursday at Texas, 9 p.m., ESPN

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1:19

LSU dominates Alabama in 40-point win

Check out the highlights from LSU's 103-63 victory over Alabama.

6. Louisville Cardinals

Previous ranking: 7

2025-26 record: 21-3

Stat to know: Louisville improved to 11-0 in ACC play on Sunday, tying the best start in program history.

What's next: Thursday vs. Duke, 7 p.m., ESPN

7. Vanderbilt Commodores

Previous ranking: 5

2025-26 record: 21-2

Stat to know: Mikayla Blakes recorded her 11th career 30-point game, tied with Hannah Hidalgo for the third-most such games in Division I since the start of last season.

What's next: Thursday at Kentucky, 7 p.m., SEC Network+

8. Michigan Wolverines

Previous ranking: 9

2025-26 record: 19-3

Stat to know: Michigan recorded consecutive road victories over Michigan State for the first time since the 1999-2000 and 2000-01 seasons.

What's next: Wednesday vs. Nebraska, 7 p.m., Big Ten Plus

9. Ohio State Buckeyes

Previous ranking: 11

2025-26 record: 20-3

Stat to know: The Buckeyes have won nine of their last 10 games.

What's next: Thursday at Washington, 9 p.m., Peacock

10. Iowa Hawkeyes

Previous ranking: 8

2025-26 record: 18-4

Stat to know: Iowa recorded its third straight loss against an AP top-five opponent.

What's next: Thursday vs. Minnesota, 7 p.m., Big Ten Network

11. Oklahoma Sooners

Previous ranking: 10

2025-26 record: 17-5

Stat to know: Raegan Beers put up her 16th double-double this season, tying her for the most in Division I.

What's next: Monday (Feb. 9) at Vanderbilt, 9 p.m., ESPN2

12. Michigan State Spartans

Previous ranking: 13

2025-26 record: 19-3

Stat to know: Michigan State recorded its 10th straight loss against a top-10 opponent on Sunday. The last time the Spartans beat a top-10 foe was on Dec. 29, 2022, against then-No. 4 Indiana.

What's next: Wednesday vs. Maryland, 6:30 p.m., Big Ten Plus

13. Ole Miss Rebels

Previous ranking: 17

2025-26 record: 18-4

Stat to know: The Rebels are 14-1 when leading at the half this season.

What's next: Monday vs. Auburn, 7 p.m., SEC Network+

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0:14

Cotie McMahon drills shot vs. Vanderbilt Commodores

14. TCU Horned Frogs

Previous ranking: 12

2025-26 record: 20-3

Stat to know: Marta Suarez logged her sixth double-double this season, matching her total from last season.

What's next: Wednesday vs. Houston, 7:30 p.m., ESPN+

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0:24

Olivia Miles draws the and-1 for TCU

Olivia Miles hits a midrange jumper and draws an and-1 for TCU.

15. Baylor Bears

Previous ranking: 14

2025-26 record: 19-4

Stat to know: In a loss at West Virginia, the Bears committed 30 turnovers, which is tied for the program's most in a game over the past 25 seasons.

What's next: Wednesday at Cincinnati, 6:30 p.m., ESPN+

16. Kentucky Wildcats

Previous ranking: 18

2025-26 record: 18-5

Stat to know: Clara Strack is the first Kentucky player to put up 30 points and 15 rebounds in a conference matchup over the past 25 seasons.

What's next: Thursday vs. Vanderbilt, 7 p.m., SEC Network+

17. Duke Blue Devils

Previous ranking: 20

2025-26 record: 16-6

Stat to know: The Blue Devils improved to 11-0 in ACC play, extending their longest winning streak to start conference play since 2012-13.

What's next: Thursday at Louisville, 7 p.m., ESPN

18. Texas Tech Lady Raiders

Previous ranking: 21

2025-26 record: 21-3

Stat to know: Texas Tech on Sunday racked up its 21st win of the season, the most since 2012-13, when the Lady Raiders finished 21-11.

What's next: Saturday at Houston, 6 p.m., ESPN+

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0:20

Snudda Collins' clutch trey gives Texas Tech a late lead

19. Tennessee Lady Vols

Previous ranking: 15

2025-26 record: 14-5

Stat to know: Tennessee recorded its fourth 30-point loss in program history -- and first since 1984 -- on Sunday.

What's next: Thursday at Georgia, 6:30 p.m., SEC Network+

20. West Virginia Mountaineers

Previous ranking: 22

2025-26 record: 18-5

Stat to know: West Virginia's Kierra Wheeler recorded her seventh career game with 15-plus points and 15-plus rebounds in a home win over Baylor on Sunday. Wheeler, whose first three seasons were with Norfolk State, is the first West Virginia player with 15-15 in a game since Esmery Martinez in 2022.

What's next: Wednesday at Colorado, 9 p.m., ESPN+

21. Alabama Crimson Tide

Previous ranking: 24

2025-26 record: 19-4

Stat to know: In Sunday's loss at LSU, the Tide allowed 103 points, tied for the third-most points given up during an SEC game in program history.

What's next: Thursday vs. Ole Miss, 9 p.m., SEC Network

22. Maryland Terrapins

Previous ranking: 16

2025-26 record: 17-6

Stat to know: The Terrapins suffered their fourth straight defeat, tying their longest losing streak over the past 20 campaigns.

What's next: Wednesday at Michigan State, 6:30 p.m., Big Ten Plus

23. Princeton Tigers

Previous ranking: 19

2025-26 record: 18-2

Stat to know: Princeton scored 19 points off of 13 Cornell turnovers.

What's next: Friday vs. Penn, 7 p.m., ESPN+

24. Washington Huskies

Previous ranking: 25

2025-26 record: 17-5

Stat to know: Despite Sunday's loss to Illinois, the Huskies likely stayed in the poll on the strength of Wednesday's 83-80 double-overtime victory over then-No. 16 Maryland.

What's next: Thursday vs. Ohio State, 9 p.m., Peacock