Conference tournaments rocked Monday's AP women's basketball poll update, as underdogs making a final push for NCAA seeding sparred with Top 25 titans ahead of this weekend's Selection Sunday.
No. 2 UCLA is closing in on newly crowned Big East champion UConn's season-long grip on the top spot, with the Bruins earning three first-place votes after blanking No. 7 Iowa to win the Big Ten tournament.
Elsewhere, ACC champion Duke made the biggest gains in a five-spot rise to No. 8, while No. 4 South Carolina, No. 6 Vanderbilt, and No. 10 Oklahoma all saw slight post-SEC tournament skids.
No. 12 West Virginia shot up three spots after upsetting No. 14 TCU to steal Sunday's Big 12 crown, with the Mountaineers building a case for first-round home-court advantage as one of the NCAA tournament's Top 16 seeds.
"We knew the things that were on the line," said Big 12 tournament Most Outstanding Player Jordan Harrison. "That's something that we talked about — we wanted to try to get those two games in Morgantown."
Despite the conference tournament blowouts, Monday's reshuffling proved that March is bound to bring its madness — leaving no team a sure bet.
2025/26 AP Top 25 Women's College Basketball Poll: Week 18
1. UConn (33-0, Big East)
2. UCLA (31-1, Big Ten)
3. Texas (31-3, SEC)
4. South Carolina (31-3, SEC)
5. LSU (27-5, SEC)
6. Vanderbilt (27-4, SEC)
7. Iowa (26-6, Big Ten)
8. Duke (24-8, ACC)
9. Michigan (25-6, Big Ten)
10. Oklahoma (24-7, SEC)
11. Ohio State (26-7, Big Ten)
12. West Virginia (27-6, Big 12)
13. Louisville (27-7, ACC)
14. TCU (29-5, Big 12)
15. North Carolina (26-7, ACC)
16. Kentucky (23-10, SEC)
17. Maryland (23-8, Big Ten)
18. Minnesota (22-8, Big Ten)
19. Ole Miss (23-11, SEC)
20. Michigan State (22-8, Big Ten)
21. Baylor (24-8, Big 12)
22. Notre Dame (22-10, ACC)
23. Princeton (24-3, Ivy)
24. Georgia (22-9, SEC)
25. Texas Tech (25-7, Big 12)
The 2025/26 NCAA basketball season is experiencing a slew of early shakeups, as Monday's Week 3 AP Top 25 Women’s College Basketball Poll saw numerous teams gain — and lose — significant ground.
While the reigning champion No. 1 UConn Huskies retained their spot at the top, No. 2 South Carolina earned three first-place votes after the Gamecocks claimed "The Real SC" title against then-No. 8 USC on Saturday — a clash that sent the Trojans sliding three spots to No. 11.
As the poll's biggest riser, No. 6 Michigan launched into the Top 10 this week, climbing eight spots after Saturday's statement win over now-No. 24 Notre Dame.
Preseason No. 7 Duke saw the biggest skid, falling out of the Top 25 altogether after Friday's upset loss to No. 23 West Virginia.
Jumping from No. 17 to 10, TCU emerged as the week's second biggest winner thanks to a ranked win over now-No. 16 NC State on Sunday.
TCU newcomer Olivia Miles registered a 15-point, 14-rebound double-double in the victory, with the star guard's performance complemented by a game-leading 26 points from fellow graduate transfer forward Marta Suarez.
"This is absolutely, 100%, 10-toes-down where I should be," Miles said earlier this season. "I have so much support around me to get me better and get more reps in. And that's just the energy at TCU."
How to watch Top 25 NCAA basketball this week
While Top 25 NCAA basketball teams are in action throughout the week, the ranked matchups will continue when No. 7 Baylor visits No. 19 Iowa at 9 PM ET on Thursday, airing live on ESPN2.
Friday will then serve up a ranked doubleheader, as No. 11 USC takes on No. 24 Notre Dame at 6 PM ET on ESPN before No. 1 UConn hosts No. 6 Michigan at 8 PM ET on Fox.
2025/26 AP Top 25 Women’s College Basketball Poll: Week 3
1. UConn (4-0, Big East)
2. South Carolina (4-0, SEC)
3. UCLA (5-0, Big Ten)
4. Texas (4-0, SEC)
5. LSU (5-0, SEC)
6. Michigan (3-0, Big Ten)
7. Baylor (4-0, Big 12)
8. Oklahoma (4-1, SEC)
9. Maryland (5-0, Big Ten)
10. TCU (4-0, Big 12)
11. USC (2-1, Big Ten)
12. Iowa State (5-0, Big 12)
13. Ole Miss (3-0, SEC)
14. UNC (3-1, ACC)
15. Tennessee (3-1, SEC)
16. NC State (2-2, ACC)
17. Vanderbilt (3-0, SEC)
18. Oklahoma State (5-0, Big 12)
19. Iowa (4-0, Big Ten)
20. Kentucky (5-0, SEC)
21. Louisville (3-1, ACC)
22. Michigan State (4-0, Big Ten)
23. West Virginia (4-0, Big 12)
24. Notre Dame (3-1, ACC)
25. Washington (3-0, Big Ten)