Women’s college basketball power rankings: Big week for the Big 12

Big 12 women’s basketball has undergone a major identity shift in the past three years, with eight new members since 2023 and the departure of league powerhouses Texas and Oklahoma to the SEC in 2024.

Baylor dominated the Big 12 from 2011 to 2022, winning or sharing every regular season title and claiming all but one conference championship. The departure of coach Kim Mulkey from Baylor to LSU in the spring of 2021 changed that dynamic.

Now in her fifth season in Waco, Texas, Nikki Cullen has established her program at Baylor more firmly. The Bears lead the Big 12 standings with a 10-2 record and are seeking their first regular-season title since they last won their 12th straight in 2022. Baylor rose to No. 11 in the ESPN women’s college basketball power rankings this week, while other Big 12 teams West Virginia and Texas Tech returned to the rankings.

TCU fell after being upset by Colorado on Sunday. However, the Horned Frogs have a chance to make a comeback next week if they can win two high-stakes matches.

The first of two matchups of the season between TCU and Baylor will be Thursday (7 p.m. ET, ESPN) in Waco. Sunday will feature the second meeting between TCU and West Virginia, in Fort Worth, Texas; The Frogs won the previous meeting 51-50 on a 3-pointer on Jan. 14 in Morgantown.

This week’s results could help show who is clearly in the driver’s seat for a Big 12 regular-season title. Or it could lead to more trouble at the top of the league standings.

It’s not surprising to see Baylor and TCU vying for conference supremacy once again. TCU finished first and Baylor second last season, then the Frogs beat the Bears in the Big 12 Tournament title game. West Virginia was also expected to be in the mix for the tournament this season. But Texas Tech was an unexpected competitor.

Previous ranking: 1

Next seven days: vs. Creighton (February 11), @Marquette (February 14)

The Huskies defeated DePaul 86-40 last Wednesday, with a 25-point margin from goalkeeper Izzi Fadd. She again led the way with 17 points in Saturday’s 80-48 win over Butler. UConn’s scoring and rebounding leader Sarah Strong did not play (rest) against the Bulldogs, and fellow forward Blanca Quiñonez missed her fourth straight game (shoulder). However, the Huskies are far ahead of the rest of the Big East, and this absence has made no difference to their dominance.

Previous ranking: 2

Next seven days: @ Michigan State (February 11), vs. Indiana (February 15)

After outscoring Rutgers 86-46 last Wednesday, the Bruins were scared by Michigan on Sunday but ultimately escaped Ann Arbor with a 69-66 decision to extend their winning streak to 17 games. It was UCLA’s first close call since its seven-point win over Ohio State on December 28. Guard Kiki Rice led the scoring in both games, collecting 37 points for the Bruins, who now have a two-game lead atop the Big Ten.

Previous ranking: 3

Next seven days: @LSU (February 14)

Since losing their only SEC game at Oklahoma in overtime on Jan. 22, the Gamecocks have been on a tear, winning five straight by an average of 32 points. Last week, they beat Mississippi State and Tennessee, beating each by 43 points. Sunday’s 93-50 home win over the Lady Vols was the worst margin of defeat in the history of this program. Sunday also saw the return of guard Tanya Latson, who scored a team-high 21 points after missing the previous two games with a leg injury. Saturday’s game at LSU will be in prime time on ABC (8:30 p.m. ET).

Previous ranking: 4

Next seven days: @Vanderbilt (February 12), @Tennessee (February 15)

Like South Carolina, Texas State responded positively to the defeat. The Longhorns lost back-to-back road games against LSU and South Carolina in mid-January, but have won five straight since then. The last three wins have come against ranked foes. Last week at home, Texas avenged its previous loss to LSU, winning 77-64, then defeating Kentucky 64-53. The Longhorns forced 19 turnovers against the Tigers and 23 versus the Wildcats.

Previous ranking: 5

Next seven days: vs. South Carolina (February 14)

LSU’s seven-game winning streak ended with a 77-64 loss Thursday at Texas, only the second time this season the Tigers were held to fewer than 70 points. But they came back with a strong defensive performance in Sunday’s 77-44 win over Auburn. While an SEC regular season title may be out of LSU’s reach with three league losses already, the Tigers still have plenty of motivation for Saturday’s showdown against the Gamecocks in Baton Rouge.

Previous ranking: 9

Next seven days: vs. Texas (February 12), @Georgia (February 15)

Sophomore Mikayla Blakes remains unstoppable, but now she’s also getting good help from freshman and fellow guard Aubrey Galvan. The Commodores outscored Kentucky 84-83 on the road Thursday, as Blakes scored 37 points and Galvan added 16, including four game-clinching free throws in the final seconds. At home on Monday, Vanderbilt had perhaps its most impressive performance of the season when it beat Oklahoma 102-86, as Blakes (34 points) and Galvan (30) combined to go 23 of 38 (60.5%) from the field.

Previous ranking: 7

Next seven days: @Northwestern (February 12), vs. Michigan State (February 15)

Coaches often say that there is no such thing as moral victories. But with the Wolverines, keep in mind that three of their four losses have been to top-five teams by three points: 72-69 to UConn on Nov. 21, 72-69 to Vanderbilt on Jan. 19, and 69-66 to UCLA on Sunday. The Wolverines — who also beat Nebraska 88-76 last week — have played well against some of the best teams in the country, and that should help come NCAA Tournament time.

Previous ranking: 8

Next seven days: vs. Maryland (February 15)

The Buckeyes have won 11 of their last 12 games, including on the road last week against Washington (70-60) and Oregon (80-64). Sophomore guard Jalonie Cambridge had 45 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists in the victories. Sophomore center Elsa Lemmilä had her best game of the season against the Ducks with 23 points and nine rebounds.

Previous ranking: 12

Next seven days: vs. UNC (February 15, 1 p.m. ET, ABC)

The Blue Devils won the ACC battle Thursday at Louisville 59-58. They followed up their 95-36 win over visiting SMU on Sunday to extend their winning streak to 15 games. Forward Toby Fournier led the Blue Devils in scoring over the two games with a combined 41 points. At 13-0, Duke leads the ACC by one game over Louisville, but the Blue Devils still have to face Triangle rivals North Carolina (twice) and NC State.

Previous ranking: 6

Next seven days: vs. Wake Forest (Feb. 12), vs. Florida State (Feb. 15)

The Cardinals’ 14-game home winning streak ended Thursday as Duke prevailed by one point and took top spot in the ACC. Louisville, which shot just 34% against the Blue Devils, rebounded from that defeat with an 84-65 win over Syracuse on Sunday. Louisville appears to have a less challenging schedule the rest of the way than Duke, as the Cards play four of their last five games at home and currently face no ranked foes.

Previous ranking: 16

Next seven days: vs. TCU (Feb. 12), @UCF (Feb. 15)

Baylor had to battle through two close victories last week: 76-70 in Cincinnati and 67-64 against visiting Arizona State. The Bears have won 10 of their last 11 games, with the loss coming at West Virginia on February 1. Baylor leads Division I in opponents’ 3-point percentage (23.2%). She has one of the top scorers across the Power 4 conferences in guard Talia Scott (20.3 points per game) and one of the top scorers in forward Darianna Littlepage-Buggs (10.8 points per game).

Previous ranking: 10

Next seven days: vs. Florida (February 12), @ Alabama (February 15)

The Sooners didn’t play poorly in their 78-70 loss to Texas on Feb. 1, which made Vanderbilt’s 102-86 loss on Monday even more disappointing. Despite having a week to prepare, Oklahoma’s defense was unable to slow down Vandy’s guards, who dominated the game. On the bright side, five of the Sooners’ six losses were to teams ranked No. 6 or better at the time (UCLA, Kentucky, LSU, Texas, Vanderbilt), and the other was ranked No. 6 at the time. 18 Ole Miss. There are no easy matchups in the SEC, but only two of the Sooners’ last six foes are ranked.

Previous ranking: Unclassified

Next seven days: vs. UCF (Feb. 11), @TCU (Feb. 15)

The Mountaineers have won six of their past seven games, with victories last week at Colorado (61-55) and against visiting Arizona (87-68). West Virginia has long been known for its pesky defense and hard-nosed style. But if the Mountaineers finish at their current 76.8 PPG, it would be the program’s second-highest average behind 82.4 PPG in 1991-92.

Previous ranking: Unclassified

Next seven days: @Oklahoma State (Feb. 14)

Texas Tech beat Houston (85-61) and Kansas (70-65) last week, and is 4-3 since starting the campaign 19-0. Now 10-3 in the Big 12, the Lady Raiders remain in contention for their first regular-season league championship since 2000, when they shared the title with Iowa State and Oklahoma State.

Previous ranking: 11

Next seven days: vs. Arkansas (February 12), @Kentucky (February 15), vs. Tennessee (February 17)

The Rebels lost their only game last week, 64-63 to Alabama on Thursday, despite 22 points, six rebounds and five assists from star senior Coty McMahon. Ole Miss is ranked sixth in the SEC, but four of its seven remaining opponents are ranked, including South Carolina and LSU.

Previous ranking: 14

Next seven days: vs. UCLA (February 11), @ Michigan (February 15)

The Spartans cling to a spot in the power rankings despite an 86-70 home loss to Maryland last Wednesday. They were able to regroup from a 16-point deficit at Penn State on Saturday to win 81-70. Facing off against two of the best teams in the league this week, Michigan State still has a chance to make a splash in the Big Ten.

Withdrew: Iowa Hawkeyes, TCU Horned Frogs