The 2025 portion of the women’s college basketball season is in the rear view, and the premier programs in the nation are separating themselves from the pack as we hit the midway point of January. So, who are the best teams in the nation right now?
We aim to answer that question with our new women’s college basketball rankings. Showcasing the top 25 teams in the country as of Jan. 15, 2026.
25. Nebraska (LW: 22)
Year 10 is delivering the best team yet for Nebraska head coach Amy Williams. A key reason why is the play of sophomore Britt Prince. She has taken another leap forward this year and leads the team in scoring (18.3 PPG). She is the best scorer on a Cornuskers squad, posting 84.4 points a game.
After starting the season 13-0, they have struggled recently against better competition. It’s why the 14-3 team falls to the back of our new college basketball rankings.
24. Illinois (UR)
In year three, Illinois head coach Shauna Green led her team to another 22-win season. They have the chance to top that in 2026 as they head into the weekend with a 14-3 record. That strong start is thanks to some really impactful play from sophomore Berry Wallace.
She leads the team in scoring (18.7) and is second in rebounds (6.9). However, freshman Cearach Parchment has been a major difference maker and leads the Fighting Illini in boards (7.7) and steals (2.0) a night. However, recent losses to Michigan State and Ohio State are why they land near the back of our latest top 25.
23. Notre Dame (UR)
After four straight trips to the regional semifinals, Niele Ivey is hoping top star Hannah Hidalgo can take Notre Dame further in 2025-26. The junior is off to an outstanding start and is second in the nation in scoring (25.1 PPG). They’ve also gotten strong play from senior Cassandre Prosper (17.1 points and 7.8 rebounds a night).
While they have hit some bumps in the road this season, the duo of Hidalgo and Prosper makes them a real test for any team in the nation.
22. Princeton (21)
Like the men’s team, Princeton’s women’s squad continues to be a consistently competitive program. However, head coach Carla Berube may have her best team yet after the Tigers have started the season 14-1. While the team lacks size, they have gotten some really good play from a bunch of players in their backcourt.
Leading the way in 2026 is junior Fadima Tall (13.8 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 2.0 steals a night) and her senior teammate Madison St. Rose (17.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists a night). The Ivy League team will be a sleeper in the tournament.
21. Alabama (25)
Head coach Kristy Curry has her Alabama team off to an impressive 17-1 start this season. And it is mostly due to the great play of the big and small combo of Jessica Timmons and Essence Cody.
The pair lead the team in scoring as the duo is combining for close to 30 points a night. They are also strong on the boards. However, the Crimson Tide’s strong showing this season is due to a top-10 defense that is giving up 53.1 points a night.
20. Tennessee (LW: 24)
Kim Caldwell’s Tennessee squad boasts a strong starting five that features four different players averaging 11 points or more per night. Including junior Talaysia Cooper. The talented guard is posting 14.9 points, 6.1 boards, and leads the team with 4.3 assists a night
The 12-3 Lady Vols have lost all three of their games against ranked teams this season. But they will get the chance to make a big jump in the top 25 with upcoming games against Alabama, Kentucky, and Ole Miss.
19. Baylor (LW: 17)
Baylor opened the year with a big win over Duke and has, for the most part, continued that momentum into the new year. They enter the weekend with a 16-3 record and have gotten some real strong play from sophomore Taliah Scott and senior forward Darianna Littlepage-Buggs.
Scott is leading the way in scoring (20.3 PPG), while Littlepage-Buggs is posting 10 and 10 a night. After a recent slump where they lost two of three, they’ve reeled off five straight Ws, including a big one over Iowa State.
18. Iowa State (LW: 12)
Legendary Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly may have his best team ever in 2026. A major reason is the nation’s most dominant scorer, Audi Crooks. The junior has gotten on the radar of WNBA Draft scouts by scoring a career high 28.3 points a game on an astounding 69.8% from the floor due to her dominant post game.
Forward Addy Brown is also playing a major role as she averages a near double-double each night (13.1 points and 9.0 boards). The Cyclones looked like a dangerous team. However, a trio of losses, including to a 6-10 Cincinnati team, is why they plummet in our new college basketball rankings.
17. Ole Miss (LW: 18)
Coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin looks to have another good Ole Miss squad on her hands in 2026 as the Rebels head into the weekend 16-3. 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 (19.2 and 14.3 PPG, respectively), but they also have been reliable on the boards. Combining for over 14 rebounds a night. They have struggled against ranked teams this season. However, they changed some opinions about their potential with a big win over Oklahoma recently.
16. Texas Tech (LW: 15)
In year six, Texas Tech coach Krista Gerlich has her best team yet after the Lady Raiders have gone unbeaten to begin the year (19-0). That is a win total that is nearly as much as the Lady Raiders program has won in entire seasons over the last decade.
Their unbeaten start is due to the impressive play of veteran guards Snudda Collins, Bailey Maupin, and Jalynn Bristow. The trio is posting close to 43 points and 15 boards a night. That and their formidable defense (53.6 opponents’ points a night) are why they continue to rise in our college basketball rankings.
15. Oklahoma (LW: 6)
Following an early-season loss to UCLA, Jennie Baranczyk’s Oklahoma team got on a roll and won 13 straight to close in on the top spot in the SEC. The Sooners did it with an offense that is scoring 90.8 PPG — second in the nation — and impressive play from freshman Aaliyah Chavez.
However, they take a big dip in our latest college basketball rankings after setbacks to both Ole Miss and Kentucky in their last two.
14. Ohio State (LW: 19)
Sophomore Jaloni Cambridge (21.8 PPG) leads an Ohio State team that has been a very effective group on offense. While they have a loss to UConn on their 2025-26 resume — no shame in that — they enter the weekend with an impressive 16-2 record.
Along with the play of Cambridge, senior Chance Gray has provided a reliable secondary scoring threat, and Kyle Kitts has emerged as a consistent double-double threat, averaging nearly eight rebounds per night. Their recent win over Maryland proved the Buckeyes can be a dangerous team in March.
13. Michigan State (LW: 14)
Michigan State has had a very good season so far due to having one of the better offenses in college basketball. The Spartans are sixth in the nation in scoring (88.5 PPG) and are led by the impressive play of guard Kennedy Blair.
The sophomore is second on the team in scoring (13.4 PPG) and is leading in rebounds (7.2) and assists (5.7). The 16-1 group also has five players scoring 10 or more points a night.
12. Maryland (LW: 8)
Maryland has gotten off to a strong 16-2 start due to some great play from their quartet of guards. The group features WNBA Draft prospect Yarden Garzon, but is led by junior Oluchi Okananwa, who is posting 17.4 points and 5.2 rebounds a night.
The Big Ten squad that owns a win over Kentucky and is among the top scoring teams in the nation (87.0 PPG) drops in our new college basketball rankings after splitting their last four, including a decisive loss to Ohio State.
11. Iowa (LW: 16)
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 far better as the Hawkeyes head into the weekend with a 14-2 record.
Leading the way this season are sophomore Ava Heiden (16.0 points and 7.7 boards) and senior Hannah Stuelke (13.5 points and 8.5 rebounds). While they hit a big bump in the road in a recent loss to UConn, they bounced back with five straight wins, including over a strong Nebraska team.
10. Louisville (LW: 10)
Laura Ziegler and Tajiana Roberts have been a nice one-two punch for Louisville this season. They are the main reason why the Cardinals are among the best teams in the ACC after a 16-3 start. Furthermore, while the Cardinals have three losses, they have all come against ranked teams, including an elite UConn squad.
Louisville has developed some real momentum over the last month and has scored big wins over ranked programs North Carolina and Tennessee.
9. TCU (LW: 13)
TCU is off to an impressive 16-1 start due to the performance of seniors Marta Suarez (17.3 points and 6.2 rebounds) and Olivia Miles (19.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 7.6 assists). But they have also dominated much of their competition with an elite defense that is giving up 52.1 PPG — which is No. 3 in the nation.
After winning 34 games and reaching the regional final last year, Mark Campbell’s team has continued that momentum in their 2025-26 campaign. However, an upset loss to Utah recently is why they are outside our new top 10.
8. Michigan (LW: 9)
Michigan is among the top-scoring teams in the nation (88.9 PPG) because of a quartet of guards all averaging double-digit points a night. But the best of the bunch is uber-talented sophomore Olivia Olson, who leads the team in scoring at 17.9 PPG, and is adding 5.4 boards and 1.8 steals per night.
If the Wolverines want to return to the top 10, they need more wins over prominent teams. They will get that soon with a pair of ranked matchups on the horizon, including against a red-hot Vanderbilt team.
7. Kentucky (LW: 5)
Year two for Kentucky head coach Kenny Brooks is off to a really good start. The Wildcats have begun their campaign by going 16-2, including big Ws over Louisville and LSU. A major reason for the strong play is junior Clara Strack.
The one-time Virginia Tech recruit leads the team with 16.2 points and 10.1 boards nightly. However, beyond the play of their top star, Kentucky is a legit top 25 team because of a defense that is giving up just 53.0 PPG, which is sixth best in America.
6. Vanderbilt (LW: 7)
Led by sophomore Mikayla Blakes (24.9 PPG), Vanderbilt is the cream of the crop in the SEC following a 17-0 start. The Commodores are also getting a strong season from freshman guard Aubrey Galvan. The Illinois native is posting 11.2 points, 3.3 boards, and 6.5 assists per game.
While Vandy lacked a win against a ranked program for much of their season, their recent victory over the top-scoring team in the nation, LSU, proved they are evolving into a real title contender.
5. Texas (LW: 2)
Vic Schaefer has turned Texas into a yearly powerhouse in the SEC, and his team seems primed to do something they haven’t done since the 1980s by winning 30 or more games for a third straight season. A major reason is the performance of their top star, forward Madison Booker.
The junior leads the team in scoring (19.2), rebounds (7.3), and is second in assists (4.0) and steals (2.6). Along with talented point guard Rori Harmon — who is top-10 in the nation in assists — the Longhorns offense is posting 90.5 points a night. Which is the third best in the nation. However, they fall in our latest top 25 after a recent loss to LSU.
4. LSU (LW: 11)
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. A major reason why is the strong play of stud WNBA Draft prospect Flau’Jae Johnson.
She and junior Milaysua Fulwiley are scoring close to 30 points combined and lead an offense that is the best in the nation. Their 100.1 PPG is 10 more than the next closest team, Texas. Recent losses to both Kentucky and Vanderbilt created questions about their potential this year. However, they bounced back recently with a big win over the Longhorns.
3. South Carolina (LW: 4)
To the surprise of no one, Dawn Staley has another very good South Carolina team in 2026. Both Ta’Niya Latson and Madina Okot are getting serious WNBA Draft buzz, but sophomore Joyce Edwards has stolen the show as she leads the team in scoring (20.7 PPG) and is shooting an outstanding 60.6% from the field.
While a razor-thin loss to Texas is the only blemish on their 17-1 record, they are the fourth-best scoring team in the country (89.7 PPG) and will soon get a chance at revenge against the Longhorns.
2. UCLA (LW: 3)
UCLA has several players who could be top 20 picks in this year’s WNBA Draft, including the early favorite to go No.1, Lauren Betts. Their lone blemish is an early loss to Texas. Outside of that setback, they are 14-1 and have wins over six ranked teams, including Oklahoma.
Their strong start has been led by impressive play from senior guard Kiki Rice and Betts. The duo is combining for over 30 points, 15 boards, 7 assists, and 2 steals a night for a Bruins offense that is a top-10 unit this season.
1. UConn (LW: 1)
What a shocker. 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 dominated its way to a 17-0 start and already owns wins over four ranked teams this season. Including a decisive victory over Iowa.
While they lost star Paige Bueckers to the WNBA Draft, they have a pair of future top 15 picks in senior guard Azzi Fudd and sophomore forward Sarah Strong. The duo has been dynamite, combining for close to 40 points and 7 assists a night and leading an offense that is the fourth best in the nation (89.9 PPG). However, the Huskies are even better on defense and are giving up just 51.8 opponents PPG. That is the second best in America.
