Jason Burgos
The regular season and conference tournaments are now in the rearview, and all the focus in women’s college basketball is on seeding for the 2026 edition of the NCAA Tournament. But which teams have done the most to lock up a spot in March Madness?
Our latest college basketball rankings answer that question ahead of Selection Sunday this weekend.
25. Texas Tech (LW: 21)
In year six, Texas Tech coach Krista Gerlich may have her best team yet after the Lady Raiders began the year 19-0. That start was due to the impressive play of veteran guards Snudda Collins, Bailey Maupin, and Jalynn Bristow. The trio is posting over 40 points and 12 boards a night.
However, their once formidable defense has faltered over the last couple of months. All seven of their defeats have come during conference play, and the Lady Raiders head into Selection in a deep slump after losing four of their last six.
24. Georgia (LW: 22)
The last two seasons were tough for Georgia and head coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson. They had a pair of losing campaigns and came nowhere close to sniffing a tournament birth. However, things are looking far different in 2026 thanks to the big-time play of transfer Dani Carnegie.
The Bulldogs’ leading scorer (18.1 PPG) is a major reason why the 22-9 team is on track to reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2023. While they have been inconsistent against ranked teams this season, they are worthy of a spot in our latest top 25.
23. Princeton (LW: 25)
Like the men’s team, Princeton’s women’s squad continues to be a consistently competitive program year in and year out. However, head coach Carla Berube may have her best team yet with the Tigers posting a 24-3 record this season.
While the team lacks size, they have gotten some really good play from a bunch of talented guards. Leading the way is Madison St. Rose (16.0 points and 4.6 rebounds a night). She has her team in position to win the Ivy League title this week.
22. Ole Miss (LW: 23)
Coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin has a rock-solid Ole Miss squad on her hands in 2026 as the Rebels enter Selection Sunday with a 23-11 record. The biggest reason why they will get a spot in March Madness is the play of senior forwards Cotie McMahon and Christeen Iwuala.
Not only are they leading the team in scoring (19.9 and 12.7 PPG, respectively), but they also have been reliable on the boards, combining for over 14 a night. Yet, for as good as the duo is, the Rebels have played some of their worst ball over the last month as they lost four straight at one point. However, they did have a solid showing in the SEC tourney.
21. Notre Dame (LW: UR)
Due to the talents of Player of the Year contender Hannah Hidalgo, much was expected of Notre Dame this season. However, despite the junior posting 25.2 points a game — third best in the nation — the Fighting Irish have been up-and-down for much of the 2025-26 campaign.
But ND started to heat up at just the right time. Since mid-February, the team is 7-1 and has earned its way back into our college basketball rankings.
20. Michigan State (LW: 17)
Michigan State has been a good team all season because of a top-10-level offense that is putting up 83.0 points a night. And it has been spearheaded by star senior Grace Vanslooten. The forward is first on the team in scoring (15.0 PPG), blocks (1.0), and is second in rebounds (6.6).
She is part of a talented big and small duo with Kennedy Blair (14.4 PPG and 7.1 RPG). Unfortunately, they enter Selection Sunday in a slump after losing four of their last six. It’s why they slide toward the back half of our latest top 25.
19. Baylor (LW: 19)
Baylor has been a formidable team in the BIG 12 this season. They enter Selection Sunday with a 24-8 record and have gotten strong play from sophomore Taliah Scott (20.0 PPG) and double-double machine Darianna Littlepage-Buggs (10.7 points and 10.1 boards).
The Bears played well all the way through January. However, since the schedule hit February, they have been inconsistent. Going 5-5 since Feb. 1, including a pair of losses in their last two.
18. Kentucky (LW: 20)
Kentucky head coach Kenny Brooks has gotten solid play out of his team in 2025-26 as the team heads into Selection Sunday with a 23-10 record. Junior Clara Strack leads the Wildcats in points (17.1) and boards (10.3) this season.
However, despite her best efforts, Kentucky has struggled since the schedule hit February. Going 6-5 over the last few weeks of the regular season.
17. Maryland (LW: 11)
Maryland owns a rock-solid 23-8 record due to some great play from their trio of guards. The group features WNBA prospect Yarden Garzon, but is led by junior Oluchi Okananwa, who is posting 18.0 points and 5.5 rebounds a night.
The Big Ten squad is a top-10 level team on offense (82.3 PPG), but it wasn’t enough to avoid a four-game losing streak to end January. However, the Terrapins got hot in February. Winning six straight before a pair of bad losses to Michigan and Oregon in their last two games before the NCAA Tournament.
16. Ohio State (LW: 13)
Sophomore Jaloni Cambridge (22.8 PPG) fronts an Ohio State team that has been quite good on offense this season (81.7 PPG). It’s why the 13th-best scoring team in the country goes into Selection Sunday with a 26-7 record.
Along with the play of Cambridge, senior Chance Gray has provided a reliable secondary scoring threat (14.9 PPG), and center Elsa Lemmila has taken a nice step forward in her second season. However, they have struggled since mid-February, splitting their last eight with all of those losses against top 25 teams.
15. Minnesota (LW: 18)
Coach Dawn Plitzuweit has done an outstanding job since taking over Minnesota’s basketball program in 2023. The school won 20 or more games every season and did it again in 2026. Now they are set up to reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018.
The 22-8 team is led by strong play from guards Tori McKinney (13.1 PPG) and Grace Grocholski (12.7 PPG). While the Gophers were inconsistent over the first three months of the season, they caught fire over the final two months of the regular season. Winning 10 of their last 12, including Ws against Iowa and Ohio State.
14. Louisville (LW: 12)
Laura Ziegler and Taijiana Roberts have led the way for Louisville this season (combining for over 22 points a night), and are a major reason why the Cardinals own a notable 27-7 record heading into Selection Sunday.
While the Cardinals own three wins over ranked teams this year, they have hit some bumps in the road over the last month. They’ve split their last six games, including a close loss to Duke in the ACC tourney.
13. North Carolina (LW: 14)
In 2024-25, Courtney Banghart had her best season yet as head coach of North Carolina. The team posted 29 wins and went to the regional semis. The Tar Heels are again a force in the ACC this season due to the play of Nyla Harris, Ciera Toomey, and Indya Nivar. The trio is combining for over 30 points and close to 20 boards a night.
After losing back-to-back games in early January, UNC has played well since. Going 13-2 and developing the momentum to make some noise during March Madness.
12. TCU (LW: 10)
Seniors Marta Suarez (17.2 points and 7.3 rebounds) and Olivia Miles (19.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 6.4 assists), and a defense that is giving up 56.3 points a night, is why TCU owns a 29-5 record ahead of Selection Sunday.
After winning 34 games and reaching the regional final last year, Mark Campbell’s team is hoping for an even better showing in this year’s tournament. While all five of their losses have come since the calendar switched to 2026, they still won eight of their last nine and head into the tourney with some good momentum.
11. West Virginia (LW: 16)
Since arriving in 2023, West Virginia head coach Mark Kellogg has turned the Mountaineers into a prominent team in the Big 12, and they finalized a third straight season with 25 or more wins in March.
They worked their way into the top 25 this year due to a formidable offense that boasts four players scoring 12 or more points a night. The big knock against the Mountaineers was their record against ranked teams this season. However, they changed that narrative with a BIG 12 Conference tourney win, which included a decisive win over TCU.
10. Oklahoma (LW: 7)
Jennie Baranczyk’s Oklahoma has played good ball all season long and hit a peak with a 13-game win streak to end the 2025 part of the schedule. The Sooners did it with an offense that is scoring 86.7 PPG — third best in the nation.
The scoring has been led by freshman Aaliyah Chavez (18.4 points) and senior center Raegan Beers (15.7 points and 10.4 rebounds). While six of their seven losses have come in the new year, they got hot at the end of the regular season. Winning seven straight, including over three ranked schools.
9. Michigan (LW: 6)
Like the men’s team, Michigan’s women’s basketball program is among the nation’s elite scoring units this season (83.6 PPG). It is due to a trio of guards all averaging 12 or more points a night. The best of the bunch is uber-talented sophomore Olivia Olson, who leads the team in scoring (19.2) PPG and boards (6.2), and is chipping in with 1.8 steals a night.
The team’s six losses have come against top-25-level competition, including to Iowa to end their regular season. Nevertheless, they have six victories over ranked schools, including Ohio State and Maryland recently.
8. Duke (LW: 15)
Duke head coach Kara Lawson has done a great job of turning the program into an ACC title contender over the last six years. In 2025-26, her 24-8 team is locked in for a fourth straight trip to the tournament with an ACC Conference Title win.
A major reason for another ACC Championship run in Durham this season is the performance of sophomore Toby Fournier. The forward leads the Blue Devils in points (17.3), rebounds (8.2), and blocks (2.3). Fournier and Duke will be a problem during the NCAA Tournament.
7. Iowa (LW: 9)
Although Iowa took a step back last season — its first in four years without Caitlin Clark and legendary coach Lisa Bluder — year two for coach Jan Jensen has been better than expected as they head into the NCAA Tournament with a 26-6 record.
Leading the way are sophomore Ava Heiden (17.4 points and 7.3 boards) and senior Hannah Stuelke (13.4 points and 8.5 rebounds). Following a three-game losing skid a few weeks ago, the Hawkeyes righted the ship. Winning eight straight before falling to title contender UCLA in the Big Ten tourney.
6. Vanderbilt (LW: 5)
Led by the top scorer in the nation, Mikayla Blakes (27.0 PPG), Vanderbilt is a top team in the country as they head into the NCAA Tournament with a 27-4 record. Beyond Blakes, the Commodores are also getting a big year from freshman guard Aubrey Galvan, who is posting 13.1 points and 5.9 assists a night. The duo front an offense scoring the eighth most points in the nation (84.7 PPG).
All four of their losses have come in the new year, including an upset loss in the SEC tourney to Ole Miss last week.
5. LSU (LW: 8)
Kim Mulkey’s LSU team is three wins away from doing something it hasn’t achieved since the early 2000s by winning 30 or more games for a fourth straight year. A major reason why is the strong play of guards Milaysia Fulwiley and Flau’Jae Johnson.
The pair combines for close to 30 points a night and spearheads the No. 1 scoring team in the nation (94.5 PPG). All of the Tigers’ five losses have come in the new year, including a second L to South Carolina last week. However, they still have victories over four ranked teams in 2025-26.
4. South Carolina (LW: 3)
Dawn Staley once again has a South Carolina team that can compete for a championship again in March. While Ta’Niya Latson and Madina Okot are getting 20206 WNBA Draft buzz, sophomore Joyce Edwards has stolen the show by leading the program in scoring (19.6).
While a pair of setbacks to Texas (including in the SEC conference tourney) are among the few blemishes on their 31-3 record, the No. 4 scoring team in the nation (86.3 PPG) has victories over 11 ranked schools, including over Kentucky and LSU in the SEC tourney.
3. Texas (LW: 4)
Vic Schaefer has turned Texas into a yearly powerhouse in the SEC, and the 2026 edition extended its streak of 30 or more win seasons to three straight. It is a feat the program has not achieved since the ’80s. A major reason why is the impressive output of Player of the Year candidate Madison Booker.
The program’s top star leads the team in scoring (18.9) and rebounds (6.5), and is second in assists (3.8) and steals (2.3). She and talented point guard Rori Harmon (the team’s leader in assists and steals) lead a Longhorns squad that is seventh in the nation in scoring (85.3 PPG) and added the SEC Conference title to their resume after beating South Carolina for a second time last week.
2. UCLA (LW: 2)
Outside of a November setback to fellow top 10 program Texas, UCLA has been outstanding on its journey to posting a 31-1 record heading into the tournament. The program has several players who could be selected if there is a WNBA Draft this year, including potential No. 1 pick Lauren Betts.
Along with the strong play of Betts, senior guard Kiki Rice has also played a huge role in their success. The pair is combining for over 30 points, 15 boards, 7 assists, and 3 steals a night. The sixth-highest-scoring team in the country (85.1) showed why they are a handful by storming their way to a second straight Big Ten conference title this month.
1. UConn (LW: 1)
Geno Auriemma’s 2025-26 UConn team has been a dominant force and heads into the NCAA Tournament with an unbeaten 34-0 record. While they lost program great Paige Bueckers in the offseason, they haven’t missed a beat and remain a title contender due to the strong play of senior guard Azzi Fudd and sophomore forward Sarah Strong.
The duo is combining for close to 40 points and over 7 assists a night. They lead what is currently the second-best scoring team in women’s basketball (88.8 PPG). But the Huskies are the undisputed No.1 team in the nation because of a fantastic defense that is giving up only 50.4 PPG, which is tops in the country.
