The 2025-26 women’s college basketball season is well underway, and the top programs around the country are starting to separate themselves from the pack. So who are the best of the best in the game right now? We look to answer that question with our updated women’s college basketball rankings, showcasing the top 25 teams in the nation at the start of December.
25. West Virginia
West Virginia has had a rock-solid start to the 2025-26 season. They have gotten really strong play from their backcourt duo of Gia Cooke and Sydney Shaw, and senior Kierra Wheeler has offered a threat up front for Mark Kellogg’s team.
A key early-season win over Duke is why they land in our top 25. However, a pair of recent losses to Ohio State and Villanova is why they are on the cusp of falling out of our updated college basketball rankings.
24. Louisville
Laura Ziegler and Tajiana Roberts have been a nice one-two punch for Louisville so far this season. They are the main reason why the Cardinals are leading the ACC with a 7-3 record. However, those three defeats have come against ranked teams, including South Carolina. While Louisville deserves respect, they will be a borderline team in the top 25 if they can’t get some Ws against ranked squads.
23. Ohio State
Sophomore Jaloni Cambridge leads an Ohio State team with real potential. While they have a loss to UConn on their 2025-26 resume — no shame in that — they enter the weekend with a 6-1 record and own a win over West Virginia. If Kevin McGuff can develop freshman Dasha Biriuk and Bryn Martin into impact players this year, the Buckeyes will have a chance at a Big Ten title this season.
22. Oklahoma State
Jacie Hoyt’s Oklahoma State team is off to a stellar start to the 2025-26 college basketball season. They are averaging 92.7 points a game and have not one, not two, not three, not four, not five, but six players averaging double-digit points per game heading into the weekend. The only blemish on their impressive 9-1 start is a surprising loss to St. John’s earlier this season.
21. Washington
Head coach Tina Langley may have her best team yet over her five seasons overseeing the Washington women’s basketball program. A major reason is the strong play of junior Savia Sellers, who is leading the way with 19 points per game. Although the Big Ten team doesn’t own a win over a ranked squad yet, they have run through much of their competition en route to an 8-0 start this season.
20. Tennessee
After a tough loss to NC State to begin the season, Kim Caldwell’s Tennessee team quickly recovered and won five straight. They have a strong starting five that features four different players averaging 10 or more points, including junior Talaysia Cooper, posting 16 points and seven rebounds a night.
The 6-2 Lady Vols have lost both their games against ranked teams this season, but they came against elite squads in the top 10 at the time.
19. USC
Freshman Jazzy Davidson has starred for a rock-solid USC team that enters the weekend with a 6-2 record. Although they came up short in games against South Carolina and Washington this season, they do own a win over NC State. This Trojan team can make some noise in the Big Ten this season, but they have a clear ceiling with top star Juju Watkins out for the year.
18. Notre Dame
After four straight trips to the regional semifinals, Niele Ivey is hoping top star Hannah Hidalgo can take Notre Dame much further in 2025-26. The junior is off to an outstanding start and is second in the nation in scoring. They’ve also gotten strong play from senior Cassandre Prosper (13 points and five rebounds per game).
This team can be a force because of Hidalgo, but she needs help, and she didn’t get it in rough losses to Michigan and Ole Miss.
17. Kentucky
Year two for Kentucky under head coach Kenny Brooks is off to a fast start as the Wildcats have kicked off the year by winning nine of their first 10, including a W over Louisville. A big reason for the impressive start to their campaign is thanks to junior Clara Strack. The New York native is posting a 15 and 10 double-double a night for her team.
16. Michigan State
Michigan State is off to a very good start in 2025-26 due to having one of the best offenses in college basketball. The team is second in the nation in scoring (96.4 PPG) and is led by senior forward Grace Vanslooten. The 8-0 team has four players scoring 10 or more points, but they have yet to face a ranked squad this season.
15. Baylor
Baylor opened the year with a big win over Duke, and for the most part, has continued that momentum into December. They enter the weekend with an 8-1 record and a first-place spot in the Big 12 due to sophomore Taliah Scott.
She is seventh in the country in points per game (23.7) and is also chipping in with four rebounds and four assists a night. The Bears will go as far as Scott takes them this season.
14. Ole Miss
Coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin looks to have another good Ole Miss squad on her hands in 2025-26. The Rebels head into the weekend unbeaten at 8-0 and leading the SEC conference. The biggest reason for their strong start to the season is the play of their dynamic forward duo of seniors Cotie McMahon and Christeen Iwuala. Not only are they leading the team in scoring, but they also have been outstanding on the boards. Combining for close to 40 points and over 15 rebounds a night.
13. Vanderbilt
Led by sophomore Mikayla Blakes (25.7 PPG), Vanderbilt has been one of the best offenses in the country over the first month of the season. Averaging just over 86 points a night. While they don’t have a big win to hang their hat on just yet, they have dominated their foes en route to a 9-0 record and tied for first in the SEC.
12. North Carolina
North Carolina had their best season yet under coach Courtney Banghart when it posted 29 wins and went to the regional semifinals in the NCAA tournament last season. They are looking to maintain that new standard in 2025-26 and have gotten off to an 8-2 start with impactful play from guard Indya Nivar and forward Ciera Toomey. Although they already have a pair of losses, they came to top five teams at the time.
11. Iowa
Although Iowa took a step last season, its first in four years without Caitlin Clark and legendary coach Lisa Bluder, year two for current coach Jan Jensen has been far better as the Hawkeyes began the year 8-0. Leading the way this season is sophomore Ava Heiden, who is scoring 16 points and pulling in an impressive 10 boards a night from the guard spot. She is a key reason for their unbeaten start and a win over a top-10 Baylor team.
10. Oklahoma
Following an early loss to UCLA, Jennie Baranczyk’s Oklahoma team has gotten on a roll. Winning seven straight and getting near the top of the SEC standings with an 8-1 record. The Sooners have four players posting 10 or more points a game, with senior Raegan Beers and junior Sahara Williams averaging a double-double each night for the team. Oklahoma is a program to keep an eye on this season.
9. Michigan
Michigan is among the top-scoring teams in the nation (91.4 PPG) because of a quartet of guards all averaging double-digit points this season. But the best of the bunch is uber-talented sophomore Olivia Olson, who leads the team in scoring at 17.2 PPG, and is also adding 5.9 boards and 2 steals per night. Although they fell to UConn earlier this year, they have looked very good in the rest of their seven wins, including one over Notre Dame.
8. Iowa State
Legendary Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly may have his best team in his 30 years overseeing the Cyclones program. A major reason is the nation’s most dominant scorer, Audi Crooks. The junior is on the radar of WNBA Draft scouts after posting a career high 27 points a game and is shooting an astounding 73.8% from the floor. Forward Addy Brown is also playing a major role as she averages a near double-double of 12 and 9 each night.
Iowa State is a dark horse team in the sport this season.
7. Maryland
Maryland has gotten off to an impressive 10-0 start due to some very strong play from their quartet of guards. The group features big-time WNBA Draft prospect Yarden Garzon, but is led by junior Oluchi Okananwa, who is posting 13 points and 4 rebounds a night. They are averaging just over 86 points per game and own an early-season win over Kentucky.
6. TCU
TCU is off to an impressive 9-0 start due to the great play of the senior combo of Marta Suarez (19 points and six rebounds) and Olivia Miles (18 points and six rebounds). They have dominated much of their competition with an elite defense this season and hold a win over NC State. After winning 34 games and reaching the regional final last year, Mark Campbell’s team has continued that strong play in the new season.
5. LSU
Kim Mulkey has an LSU team that can match Pokey Chatman’s groups from two decades ago and win 30 or more games for a fourth straight year in 2025-26. A major reason why is the strong play of stud WNBA Draft prospect Flau’Jae Johnson. The seniors’ 17 points per game lead a group that has an absurd seven players averaging double digits and unsurprisingly leads the nation in scoring (109.9 PPG). This group is an offensive juggernaut and will be a serious problem in the tournament.
4. South Carolina
To the surprise of no one, Dawn Staley has another very good South Carolina team to lead in the 2025-26 season. Both Ta’Niya Latson and Madina Okot are getting serious WNBA Draft buzz this year, but sophomore Joyce Edwards has stolen the show so far as she leads the team in scoring (18.8 PPG) and is shooting an impressive 55% from the field. Although they have a razor-thin loss to Texas, they decisively beat USC earlier in the season.
3. UCLA
UCLA has several players who could be top 20 picks in next year’s WNBA Draft, including potential top pick Lauren Betts. However, they have had a very strong start and own wins over a pair of ranked teams because of the nasty play of senior guards Gabriela Jaquez and Kiki Rice. The duo is combining for over 30 points, 13 boards, 5 assists, and 2 steals a night for the top-five program.
2. UConn
What a shocker. Legendary college basketball coach Geno Auriemma has a UConn team that is a serious threat to win a second straight championship in March. The Big East’s greatest team has kicked off the season 8-0 and already owns wins over Louisville and Michigan. While they lost star Paige Bueckers in the WNBA Draft, they have a pair of future top 15 picks, including senior guard Azzi Fudd, who is averaging 18 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists to start the season.
1. Texas
Vic Schaefer has turned Texas into a yearly powerhouse in college basketball, and the team seems primed to win 30 or more games for a third straight season, for the first time since the 1980s. A major reason is the performance of their top star, forward Madison Booker. The junior leads the team in scoring, rebounds, and steals. The Longhorns already have wins over not one, not two, but three ranked teams, including South Carolina, after their first nine games.
