Women’s college basketball power rankings: Two teams join the list

In their second year in the Big Ten, the UCLA Bruins are close to a major milestone. With a win over longtime rival USC on Sunday, the Bruins will be just the fourth program to finish with a perfect regular season in Big Ten women’s college basketball.

The last to do so was Maryland in 2015, a season in which the Terps joined the Big Ten and advanced to the Final Four for the second straight year. The others were Purdue in 1999, when the Boilermakers won the national championship, and Ohio State in 1985. That was coach Tara VanDerveer’s final season with the Buckeyes before she went on to a legendary career at Stanford. Ohio State lost to eventual national champion Old Dominion in the Elite Eight in 1985.

The Big Ten began sponsoring women’s basketball in the 1982–83 season. The league’s structure has changed a lot since then, including the addition of former Pac-12 teams UCLA, USC, Oregon and Washington in 2024-25. USC won the regular season title last year by a 17-1 mark. The Bruins finished second at 15-2, then won the league championship title over the Trojans and reached the women’s Final Four for the first time in the NCAA era. (UCLA won the AIAW national championship in 1978.)

This season, UCLA’s only loss was to Texas in the Players Era tournament in Las Vegas on Nov. 26. The Bruins’ 21-game winning streak is the third-longest active streak among women’s Division I teams, behind UConn’s 29 games this season and 45 games dating back to last season and North Dakota State’s 23.

The Bruins — No. 2 again in this week’s ESPN women’s college basketball power rankings — will go 55-54 all-time versus USC following their 80-46 home win over the Trojans on Jan. 3. The absence of JuJu Watkins while rehabbing a knee injury has changed the dynamic of this season for the Trojans. But they have won six of their last seven matches and would like a chance to prevent their rivals from getting a perfect mark in the league.

There are also a few other long-shot matchups coming Sunday to wrap up regular season play in the Power 4 conferences, including Duke at North Carolina (noon ET, ESPN) and Vanderbilt at Tennessee (2 p.m. ET, ESPN). The Tar Heels climbed back into the power rankings this week at No. 16.

Previous ranking: 1

Next seven days: vs. Georgetown (February 26), @ St. John’s (March 1)

There hasn’t been a lot of drama for the Huskies this season, but they had a little drama last Wednesday when they trailed at halftime for the first time in 2025-26. They came back to beat Villanova 83-69, a respectable result for the Wildcats. UConn followed that up by beating Providence 81-38. Guard Azi Fade is averaging 17.9 points and shooting 49% this season. For her seven games in February, those numbers rose to 21.6 points and 52.2%.

Previous ranking: 2

Next seven days: @University of Southern California (March 1)

UCLA claimed its first outright conference regular season title with a 17-0 record on Sunday with an 80-60 win over Wisconsin. This came after its victory over Washington on Thursday, 82-67. Center Lauren Bates scored 42 points and grabbed 22 rebounds. The Bruins’ only previous regular-season league championship in the Pac-10 came in 1999, when they tied with Oregon.

Previous ranking: 3

Next seven days: vs. Missouri (February 26), @Kentucky (March 1)

The Gamecocks have won eight in a row, beating Alabama 76-57 and Ole Miss 85-48 last week. Midina Okot, who has been working on her 3-point shot, was 5 of 5 from behind the arc in those games. And her bread and butter remains inside, with forward Joyce Edwards, who had 44 points and 18 rebounds in those contests, while Okot had 33 points, 26 rebounds and eight blocks. South Carolina clinched at least a share of its fifth straight SEC regular-season title at 13-1 and can claim it outright with another victory.

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South Carolina wins at least a share of the SEC title with the win

South Carolina beats Ole Miss by 37 points to at least tie for the SEC title.

Previous ranking: 5

Next seven days: vs. Georgia (February 26), @Alabama (March 1)

Admittedly, Texas faced two insurmountable opponents last week in Arkansas and Mississippi State. However, the consistency of his efforts in the 93-62 and 92-42 victories should have satisfied the Longhorns. Forward Madison Booker had a combined 44 points on 65.4% shooting, while guard Rory Harmon collected 18 assists.

Previous ranking: 4

Next seven days: vs. Alabama (February 26), @ Tennessee (March 1)

The Commodores beat Kentucky 81-79 on Sunday behind guard Mikayla Blakes’ 35 points, her 10th game this season with 30 or more points. Vanderbilt (11-3) is still tied with Texas for second in the SEC and the Longhorns are battling for the No. 1 seed in the NCAA. The Commodores’ final regular-season foe, Tennessee, has an 80-12 series advantage versus Vandy. But the Commodores won both games last season (at Vandy and in the SEC Tournament) and enter this matchup as favorites, as the Lady Vols have lost seven of nine. However, Vandy has only won once in Knoxville in 2019.

Previous ranking: 6

Next seven days: vs. Tennessee (February 26), @ Mississippi State (March 1)

LSU was in trouble at Ole Miss on Thursday, trailing 63-54 after three quarters. But in the final period, the Tigers held the Rebels without a field goal (0-for-17) and won 78-70. Then they showed no mercy against Missouri, winning 108-55. MiLaysia Fulwiley collected 48 points and 18 rebounds in the victories. The Tigers are ranked fourth in the SEC. The top four seeds get a double bye into the quarterfinals of the league tournament.

Previous ranking: 10

Next seven days: vs. Arkansas (February 26), @Missouri (March 1)

The Sooners have won four in a row, beating ranked teams Georgia (71-67) and Tennessee (100-93) last week. National Freshman of the Year nominee Aaliyah Chavez scored 48 points and nine assists in the victories, while forward Sahara Williams collected 33 points, 15 rebounds and six assists. Oklahoma is fifth in the SEC at 9-5, although there is still an outside chance of finishing fourth.

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Chavez fired a great pass in front of the Bears

Aaliyah Chavez makes a deep pass to Raegan Beers, who finishes with a layup.

Previous ranking: 12

Next seven days: @Cincinnati (February 25), vs. Baylor (March 1)

The Frogs did not face any problem against Houston last Wednesday, and won 72-50 behind striker Marta Suarez, who scored 21 points and nine rebounds. But things got tougher against Iowa State on Sunday until guard Olivia Miles took control in the fourth quarter with an 80-73 win. She had 17 of her points in the final period and finished with her fifth triple-double of the season (26 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists). TCU can clinch its second straight Big 12 regular season title with two wins this week.

Previous ranking: Unclassified

Next seven days: vs. Illinois (February 26), @Wisconsin (March 1)

After suffering a three-game skid in late January and early February following a season-ending injury to guard Taylor McCabe, the Hawkeyes appear to have figured things out again. They have won four in a row, including 83-74 last Thursday at Purdue and their biggest win so far this season, 62-44 over then-No. 6 Michigan is at home on Sunday. The Hawkeyes and Wolverines are tied for second in the Big Ten.

Previous ranking: 7

Next seven days: @Ohio State (February 25), vs. Maryland (February 28)

In one of the rare times this season, Michigan didn’t look in sync on Sunday, with a season low in points during its 62-44 loss at Iowa. It seems like a game out of character for the Wolverines. They are tied with Iowa State for second in the Big Ten but have a tougher shutout schedule this week than the Hawkeyes.

Previous ranking: 8

Next seven days: vs. Florida State (February 26), @North Carolina (March 1)

Duke beat close rival NC State 83-65 on Thursday for its 17th straight win. But that streak ended with a 53-51 loss to Clemson on Sunday, Duke’s first defeat since Dec. 4. Louisville was also upset by an unranked team on Sunday, so Duke remains one game in first place in the ACC.

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Toby Fournier muscled in and-1 for Duke

Toby Fournier muscled in and-1 for Duke.

Previous ranking: 9

Next seven days: @Georgia Tech (February 26), vs. Notre Dame (March 1)

Louisville was stunned 74-72 at home by Virginia on Sunday. The Cavaliers really needed a win for their NCAA Tournament hopes, but it cost the Cardinals a chance to move into a first-place match in the ACC with Duke. Louisville remains in second place and will end the regular season against Notre Dame, which is tied for eighth in the ACC and lost to the Cardinals earlier this season. However, Notre Dame has won five of the previous six awards.

Previous ranking: 11

Next seven days: vs. Michigan (February 25), @Michigan State (March 1)

After a 74-61 loss at Minnesota last Wednesday, Ohio State came back with an 88-83 win over USC at home. Goalkeeper Jaloni Cambridge scored a total of 56 points. The Buckeyes are trying to finish in the top four in the Big Ten, but they must pass through Michigan schools this week to do so.

Previous ranking: 15

Next seven days: @UCF (February 25), vs. Cincinnati (March 1)

In their only game last week, the Mountaineers dominated Oklahoma State 72-40 and kept alive their hope of a share of the Big 12 regular season title. Their last two regular season opponents are in the bottom four in the league.

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Jordan Harrison drowns it from downtown

Jordan Harrison drowns it from downtown.

Previous ranking: 16

Next seven days: vs. Northwestern (February 25), @ Michigan (February 28)

The Terps are seventh in the Big Ten but have won five straight games, beating Purdue 99-66 on Sunday behind Oluchi Okananoa’s 26 points. The season finale against the Wolverines has high stakes.

Previous ranking: Unclassified

Next seven days: @Virginia (February 26), vs. Duke (March 1)

The Tar Heels are back in the power rankings and sit third in the ACC after winning 10 of their last 11 games. On Thursday, they cruised to a 63-60 overtime win at Virginia Tech and then beat Pitt 78-50 at home. North Carolina is 12-4 in the league, but there are three teams at 11-5, including the Tar Heels’ next opponent Virginia.

Withdrew: Baylor Bears (No. 13), Kentucky Wildcats (No. 14)