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 begin 2026. So, who are the elites on the ladies’ side of the game?
We aim to answer that question with our latest women’s college basketball rankings. Showcasing the top 25 teams in the country as of Jan. 8, 2026.
25. USC (LW: 23)
Freshman Jazzy Davidson has starred for a rock-solid USC team that heads into the weekend with a 10-5 record. Although they came up well short in games against South Carolina and UConn this season, they do own big wins against NC State and Washington.
This Trojan team can make some noise in the Big Ten, but the absence of top star Juju Watkins has shown in their five defeats so far this season.
24. Tennessee (LW: 25)
Kim Caldwell’s Tennessee squad boasts a strong starting five that features four different players averaging 10 points or more per night. Including junior Talaysia Cooper. The talented guard is posting 14.9 points, 6.2 boards, and leads the team with 4.2 assists a night
The 10-3 Lady Vols have lost all three of their games against ranked teams this season. It’s why they land near the back of our latest college basketball rankings.
23. North Carolina (LW: 16)
North Carolina had their best year yet under coach Courtney Banghart when it posted 29 wins and went to the regional semis in the tournament last season. They are looking to maintain that new standard in 2025-26, and the 13-4 team has been rock-solid because of the play of guard Indya Nivar and forward Ciera Toomey.
After losing two of three, including against ranked teams like Texas, the Tar Heels bounced back with four dominant victories. However, a recent loss to Stanford is why they end up near the back of our latest women’s basketball rankings.
22. Nebraska (LW: 19)
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 (19.0 PPG). She is the best scorer on a Cornuskers squad posting 86.3 points a game.
After starting the season 13-0 htey got some big ranked tests recently in USC and Iowa. They failed both of those challenges, and it’s why they dropped in the latest top 25.
21. Princeton (UR)
Like the men’s team, Princeton women’s squad continues to be a consistently strong program each season. However, head coach Carla Berube may have her best team yet after the Tigers have started the season 13-1. 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. The guard is posting 13.8 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 2.0 steals a night for a lowkey dangerous Princeton team.
20. Washington (UR)
Washington head coach Tina Langley has turned the program completely around after some rough years to end the previous decade. After some solid seasons the last three years, the 2026 Huskies are Langley’s best team yet.
The 12-2 Big Ten squad lacked a win over a ranked team for much of the season. However, their decisive victory over Michigan recently is proof that they are a legit top 25 team this season.
19. Ohio State (LW: 22)
Sophomore Jaloni Cambridge 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 begin the new year with an impressive 14-2 record.
If Kevin McGuff can develop freshman Dasha Biriuk and Bryn Martin into impact players as we make our way to March, the Buckeyes will have a chance at a Big Ten title for the second time in the last three years. However, their struggles against elite teams mean they have a ceiling in 2026.
18. Ole Miss (LW: 18)
Coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin looks to have another good Ole Miss squad on her hands in 2025-26 as the Rebels head into the weekend 14-3. 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 (18.9 and 14.9 PPG, respectively), but they also have been reliable on the boards. Combining for over 14 rebounds a night. While they have a win over Notre Dame, recent losses to Michigan State and Texas are why they fall in our latest college basketball rankings.
17. Baylor (LW: 21)
Baylor opened the year with a big win over Duke, and for the most part, has continued that momentum into the new year. They enter the weekend with a 13-3 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 (21.1 PPG), while Littlepage-Buggs is posting 10 and 10 a night. After a recent slump where they lost two of three, including to Texas Tech, they have bounced back and scored an important win over Iowa State.
16. Iowa (LW: 17)
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 13-2 record.
Leading the way this season are sophomore Ava Heiden (16.2 points and 7.6 boards) and senior Hannah Stuelke (13.6 points and 8.3 rebounds). While they hit a big bump in the road in recent losses to Iowa State and UConn, they have bounced back with three straight Ws, including over Nebraska.
15. Texas Tech (LW: 13)
In year six, Texas Tech coach Krista Gerlich has her best team yet after winning their first 17 games. 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 45 points and 14 boards a night. That and their top 10 defense (52.9 opponents’ points) are why they continue to rise in the college basketball rankings.
14. Michigan State (LW: 15)
Michigan State is off to a strong start in 2025-26 due to having one of the better offenses in college basketball. The Spartans are sixth in the nation in scoring (89.1 PPG) and is led by the impressive play of guard Kennedy Blair.
The sophomore is second on the team in scoring (13.0 PPG) and is leading in rebounds (7.3) and assists (5.9). The 14-1 group also has five players scoring 10 or more points a night.
13. TCU (LW: 6)
TCU is off to an impressive 15-1 start due to the performance of seniors Marta Suarez (18.1 points and 6.5 rebounds) and Olivia Miles (19.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 7.8 assists). But they have also dominated much of their competition with an elite defense that is giving up 52.4 PPG — which is No. 4 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 Nebraska is why the slip in our updated college basketball top 25.
12. Iowa State (LW: 7)
Legendary Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly may have his best team ever. A major reason is the nation’s most dominant scorer, Audi Crooks. The junior is on the radar of WNBA Draft scouts by scoring a career high 28.7 points a game on an astounding 69.1% 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 are dangerous. However, a pair of recent losses, including a big upset against Cincinnati, is why they are not among the elites in our latest college basketball rankings.
11. LSU (LW: 5)
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 season. 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 has seven different players averaging double digits. However, a pair of losses to Kentucky and Vanderbilt is why they take a big tumble in our latest college basketball rankings.
10. Louisville (LW: 20)
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 among the best teams in the ACC after a 14-3 start. Furthermore, while the Cardinals have three losses, they have 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. Michigan (LW: 10)
Michigan is among the top-scoring teams in the nation (87.9 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 18.0 PPG, and is adding 5.3 boards and 1.9 steals per night.
Although they fell to UConn earlier this year, their 12-2 start in a tough conference is worthy of a spot in the top 25.
8. Maryland (LW: 8)
Maryland has gotten off to an impressive 15-1 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 17.3 points and 4.9 rebounds a night. The Big Ten squad that owns a win over Kentucky is a sleeper in the conference due to a top 10 offense that is posting 87.6 points a night.
7. Vanderbilt (LW: 11)
Led by sophomore Mikayla Blakes (25.2 PPG), Vanderbilt is the cream of the crop in the SEC following a 15-0 start. The Commodores are also getting a strong season from freshman guard Aubrey Galvan. The Illinois native is posting 10.7 points, 3.6 boards, and 6.7 assists per game.
While Vandy lacked a win against a ranked program for much of their season, their victory over the top-scoring team in the nation, LSU, proved they are evolving into a serious title contender.
6. Oklahoma (LW: 9)
Following an early-season loss to UCLA, Jennie Baranczyk’s Oklahoma team has gotten on a roll. Winning 13 straight to close in on the top spot in the SEC. The Sooners have five players posting 10 or more points a game, and impressive freshman Aaliyah Chavez is leading the way with 18.9 PPG. Oklahoma continues to move up the college basketball rankings because of an outstanding offense that is second in the nation (94.5 PPG).
5. Kentucky (LW: 12)
Year two for Kentucky head coach Kenny Brooks is off to a really good start. The Wildcats kicked off this year’s campaign by going 15-1, including big Ws over Louisville and LSU. A major reason for the impressive start to the season is junior Clara Strack.
The one-time Virginia Tech recruit is posting 16.8 points and 9.8 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 52.1 PPG, which is third best in America.
4. South Carolina (LW: 4)
To the surprise of no one, Dawn Staley has another very good South Carolina team in the 2026 season. 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 (21.0 PPG) and is shooting an outstanding 60.9% from the field.
While a razor-thin loss to Texas is the only blemish on their 15-1 record, they own a pair of wins over ranked teams and are the fourth-best scoring team in the country (91.1 PPG).
3. 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. They have had a strong start to their campaign (14-1) and own wins over five ranked teams — including USC — because of the impressive play of senior guard Kiki Rice and Betts.
The duo is combining for over 30 points, 15 boards, 7 assists, and 2 steals a night for the impressive Big Ten program.
2. Texas (LW: 2)
Vic Schaefer has turned Texas into a yearly powerhouse in college basketball, and the team seems primed to do something they haven’t done since the 1980s and win 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 (19.1), rebounds (7.4), and is second in assists (4.2) and steals (2.6). Along with talented point guard Rori Harmon — who is fifth in the nation in assists — the Longhorns offense is third in the nation with 91.6 PPG.
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 16-0 start and already owns wins over four ranked teams, 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 8 assists a night for a team that has the No. 2 defense in America (51.6 opponents PPG).
