As we near the final week of the regular season, talk of March Madness is getting louder. With conference rivals going to war over the last couple of weeks, teams around the nation are jockeying to improve their place among the top 25 ahead of selection night.
But who are the best women’s teams in the country right now? Our new college basketball rankings look to answer that question, as of Feb. 19, 2026.
25. Tennessee (LW: 25)
Kim Caldwell’s Tennessee squad boasts a crew that features four different players averaging 10 or more points per night, including junior Talaysia Cooper. The talented guard leads the team in scoring (16.0), assists (3.8), and steals (2.9)
The 16-8 Lady Vols took a seven-game win streak through January. However, February has been a rough month after they’ve lost four of their last six, including to Texas and Ole Miss recently.
24. Alabama (LW: 18)
Head coach Kristy Curry has her Alabama team off to a rock-solid 20-6 start and in position for a fourth straight trip to the tournament next month. And it is mostly due to great play from the duo of Jessica Timmons and Essence Cody. The pair leads the team in scoring (16.2 and 11.9 points, respectively), and are chipping in with 9 combined rebounds a night.
Yet, for as good as the Crimson Tide can be, they have struggled against ranked teams this season. It’s why they land in the back of our new college basketball rankings, especially after losing three of their last four.
23. Georgia (LW: UR)
The last two seasons were tough for Georgia and head coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson. They had losing seasons 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 leader in scoring (18.5 PPG) is a major reason why the team heads into the final week of the season with a 20-6 record. Their recent win over Vanderbilt is why they land a spot in our new college basketball rankings.
22. Minnesota (LW: UR)
Coach Dawn Plitzuweit has done an outstanding job since taking over Minnesota’s basketball program in 2023. The school has won 20 or more every year and is on the verge of doing it again and reaching the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018.
The 21-6 team is led by strong play from guards Tori McKinney (13.0 PPG) and Grace Grocholski (12.9 PPG). While the Gophers were inconsistent over the first three months of the season, they have caught fire of late. Winning nine straight, including over ranked conference rivals Iowa and Ohio State.
21. Texas Tech (LW: 11)
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 14 boards a night. However, their once formidable defense has faltered in the new year, leading to all four of their losses coming since the calendar switched to 2026. Their inconsistent play in the new year is why they drop to the back half of our latest top 25.
20. North Carolina (LW: 20)
In 2024-25, North Carolina had their best year yet under coach Courtney Banghart, when it 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.
While UNC hit some bumps in the road in December and early January, they have gotten on a roll of late, eight of their last nine.
19. West Virginia (LW: 19)
Since arriving in 2023, West Virginia head coach Mark Kellogg has turned the Mountaineers into a prominent team in the Big 12. They have back-to-back 25-win seasons and are in position to do it for a third straight year as they head into the weekend with a 21-6 record.
They have worked their way into the top 25 due to a formidable offense that boasts four players scoring 11 or more points a night. The big knock against the Mountaineers is their record against ranked teams. They have split their six matchups against top 25 teams this season.
18. Michigan State (LW: 14)
Michigan State has been a good team all season because of a top 10 offense that is putting up 83.7 points a night. And it has been spearheaded by star senior Grace Vanslooten. The forward is first on the team in scoring (15.2 PPG) and blocks (1.0) and is second in rebounds (6.6).
She is part of a talented big and small duo with Kennedy Blair (14.0 PPG and 5.4 APG). However, the team has struggled in recent weeks, losing five of its last nine, including to conference rivals Michigan and UCLA.
17. Kentucky (LW: 23)
Year two for Kentucky head coach Kenny Brooks is off to a rock-solid start, with the Wildcats owning a 20-7 record as we head into the weekend. Junior Clara Strack leads the team with 16.5 points and 10.5 boards nightly.
However, despite her best efforts, Kentucky has been in a slump since early January, losing six of its last 11. Their next three games will decide if they remain in our top 25.
16. Ole Miss (LW: 17)
Coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin looks to have another good Ole Miss squad on her hands in 2026 as the Rebels head into the weekend with a 21-6 record. The biggest reason for their positive start is the dynamic play of senior forwards Cotie McMahon and Christeen Iwuala.
Not only are they leading the team in scoring (20.5 and 13.4 PPG, respectively), but they also have been reliable on the boards, combining for over 16 a night. Yet, for as good as the duo is, the Rebels have been an inconsistent group over the last month and a half, going 7-4 since Jan. 4.
15. Iowa (LW: 15)
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 some expected as they head into the weekend with a 20-5 record.
Leading the way are sophomore Ava Heiden (16.8 points and 7.3 boards) and senior Hannah Stuelke (13.8 points and 8.8 rebounds). However, the Hawkeyes fell in our recent college basketball rankings after losing three straight to begin February.
14. Baylor (LW: 10)
Baylor opened the year with a big win over Duke and has, for the most part, continued that momentum into the final month of the regular season. They enter the weekend with a 22-5 record and have gotten strong play from sophomore Taliah Scott (20.6 PPG) and senior forward Darianna Littlepage-Buggs (10.8 points and 10.5 boards a night).
The Bears recently won eight straight, including a key victory over Iowa State in early January. But recent setbacks to West Virginia and TCU knocked them out of our latest top 10.
13. Oklahoma (LW: 16)
Following an early-season loss to UCLA, Jennie Baranczyk’s Oklahoma team got on a roll and won 13 straight. The Sooners did it with an offense that is scoring 87.3 PPG — fourth in the nation. The Sooners’ offense has been led by freshman Aaliyah Chavez (18.1 points) and senior center Raegan Beers (16.1 points and 10.r rebounds).
However, they have been an inconsistent group since conference play started in the new year. Suffering five of their six losses in January and February.
12. Maryland (LW: 21)
Maryland owns a rock-solid 21-6 record due to some great play from a trio of guards. The group features WNBA Draft prospect Yarden Garzon, but is led by junior Oluchi Okananwa, who is posting 17.1 points and 5.6 rebounds a night.
The Big Ten squad is a force on offense (82.8 PPG). However, it wasn’t enough to avoid a four-game losing streak in January. However, the Terrapins have bounced back this month. Winning four straight, including big Ws over conference rivals Michigan State and Ohio State.
11. Ohio State (LW: 7)
Sophomore Jaloni Cambridge (22.8 PPG) leads an Ohio State team that has been quite good on offense this season (83.4 PPG). While they have a loss to UConn on their resume, the 12th-best scoring team in the country enters the weekend with a 22-4 record.
Along with the play of Cambridge, senior Chance Gray has provided a reliable secondary scoring threat (14.1 PPG), and Kylee Kitts has emerged as a nightly double-double threat. They have evolved into a legit top-10 team this season, due to big wins over Maryland and TCU. However, the Terrapins avenged that January defeat this week.
10. TCU (LW: 13)
TCU is off to a 24-4 start, partially from what seniors Marta Suarez (16.4 points and 6.8 rebounds) and Olivia Miles (20.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 6.5 assists) are doing on offense. However, the Horned Frogs’ defense, which is giving up 55.3 points a night, is why they have been a top 25 team all season.
After winning 34 games and reaching the regional final last year, Mark Campbell’s team is hoping for an even better showing next month. However, all four of their losses this season have come since the calendar switched to 2026. But it looks like they may have righted the ship and posted a pair of big wins over Baylor and West Virginia recently.
9. Louisville (LW: 9)
Laura Ziegler and Taijiana Roberts have been leading the way for Louisville this season (combining for over 23 points a night), and the duo is a major reason why the Cardinals own a very nice 24-4 record heading into the weekend.
While the Cardinals have four losses, they have all come against ranked teams, including Duke earlier this month. However, they also have victories over four ranked programs, and it’s why they are among the top 10 teams in the country.
8. Duke (LW: 8)
Duke head coach Kara Lawson has done a great job of turning the program into a conference title contender over the last six years. And she has her 19-6 team in position for a fourth straight trip to the tournament next month. A major reason for another good season in Durham is the performance of sophomore Toby Fournier.
The forward leads the Blue Devils in points (17.5), rebounds (8.0), and blocks (2.2). After some early-season struggles, including a four-game losing skid, Duke has caught fire in recent weeks, winning 16-straight, including big wins over Louisville and North Carolina this month.
7. LSU (LW: 6)
Kim Mulkey’s LSU team is on the verge of doing something they haven’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 combo combines for close to 30 points a night and spearheads the No. 1 scoring team in the nation (95.7 PPG). All four of the Tigers’ four losses have come in the new year, including to South Carolina this past weekend. However, they still posted victories against three ranked teams this season.
6. Michigan (LW: 12)
Like the men’s team, Michigan’s women’s basketball program is among the nation’s elite scoring units this season (86.6 PPG). It is due to a trio of guards all averaging 12 or more points a night. But the best of the bunch is uber-talented sophomore Olivia Olson, who leads the team in scoring at 19.1 PPG, and is adding 6.0 boards and 1.8 steals a night.
The team’s four losses have come against top-25-level competition, including UCLA last week. However, the 22-4 team scored a big win on Sunday over rivals Michigan State.
5. Vanderbilt (LW: 5)
Led by Player of the Year contender Mikayla Blakes (26.3 PPG), Vanderbilt is a top team in the country after a 24-3 start. Beyond Blakes (the No. 1 scorer in the nation), the Commodores are also getting a big year from freshman guard Aubrey Galvan, who is posting 12.5 points, 3.3 boards, and 5.9 assists a night. The duo front an offense scoring the eighth most points in the nation (85.0 PPG).
All three of their losses have come in the new year, including an upset setback to Georgia this week. However, Vandy still owns Ws over five ranked teams, including LSU and Texas.
4. Texas (LW: 4)
Vic Schaefer has turned Texas into a yearly powerhouse in the SEC, and the 2026 edition is on track to be the first to win 30 or more games in three straight seasons 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 (18.5) and rebounds (6.6), and is second in assists (4.0) and steals (2.4). She and talented point guard Rori Harmon (the team’s leader in assists and steals) lead a Longhorns offense that is sixth in the nation with 85.4 PPG. Their offense is a major reason why they own a 24-3 record heading into the weekend.
3. South Carolina (LW: 3)
Dawn Staley once again has another elite South Carolina team on her hands in 2026. While stars like Ta’Niya Latson and Madina Okot are getting WNBA Draft buzz, sophomore Joyce Edwards has stolen the show by leading the program in scoring (20.0) and steals (1.9).
While setbacks to Texas and Oklahoma are the lone blemishes on their 25-2 record, the No. 3 scoring team in the nation (87.8 PPG) has victories over six ranked schools, including a big win over LSU over the weekend.
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 25-1 record heading into the weekend. The program has several players who could be top 20 picks in this year’s WNBA Draft, including the early favorite to go No. 1 overall, Lauren Betts.
Along with the impact play of Betts, senior guard Kiki Rice has played a huge role in their success. The pair is combining for over 30 points, 15 boards, 7 assists, and 3 steals a night for the Bruins. They lead a formidable offense that is posting 86.3 PPG, which is the sixth-best in the country.
1. UConn (LW: 1)
Geno Auriemma’s 2025-26 UConn team has been a dominant force and remains undefeated at 27-0 as we near the weekend. While they lost Paige Bueckers to the WNBA last year, they haven’t missed a beat 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 8 assists a night and leads what is currently the second-best scoring team in women’s basketball (89.3 PPG). However, they are the undisputed top team in the nation because of a defense that is giving up only 50.5 PPG, which is No. 1 in the country.
