AP preseason Top 25 poll reaction: What to know about every team
Charlie CremeOct 20, 2026, 12:45 PM ET
- Charlie Creme projects the women's NCAA tournament bracket for ESPN.com.
The 2026-27 preseason women's college basketball AP Top 25 poll results are out.
With 23 first-place votes out of 31, the South Carolina Gamecocks are No. 1 for the fifth time in seven years and third consecutive season. The UConn Huskies, who received six first-place votes, are No. 2, followed by the USC Trojans (two votes).
Find the full results of the rankings -- complete with projected starting lineups and the biggest early-season games to watch for each team -- below. The season begins Nov. 1.
All times ET.
1. South Carolina Gamecocks
2025-26 record: 36-4 (lost in NCAA title game)
Season opener: Nov. 2 vs. Maryland (in France), noon, ESPN
Biggest early-season game: Nov. 15 vs. USC (Greenville, South Carolina), 1 p.m., ABC
Projected starting lineup:
Tessa Johnson (12.8 PPG)
Joyce Edwards (19.2 PPG)
Jordan Lee (13.2 PPG at Texas)
Chloe Kitts (10.2 PPG in 2024-25)
Agot Makeer (7.3 PPG)
2. UConn Huskies
2025-26 record: 38-1 (lost in Final Four)
Season opener: Nov. 2 vs. Cornell, 5 p.m., Peacock/NBCN
Biggest early-season game: Nov. 5 at Michigan, 6:30 p.m., FS1
Projected starting lineup:
Sarah Strong (18.4 PPG)
KK Arnold (6.9 PPG)
Ashlynn Shade (7.6 PPG)
Blanca Quinonez (10.7 PPG)
Jana El Alfy (4.0 PPG)
3. USC Trojans
2025-26 record: 18-14 (lost in NCAA tournament second round)
Season opener: Nov. 2 at UNLV, 4 p.m., CBSSN
Biggest early-season game: Nov. 15 at South Carolina, 1 p.m., ABC
Projected starting lineup:
JuJu Watkins (23.9 in 2024-25)
Jazzy Davidson (17.9 PPG)
Kennedy Smith (11.5 PPG)
Saniyah Hall (No. 1 in SC Next 100)
Pania Davis (7.7 PPG at Florida State)
4. Duke Blue Devils
2025-26 record: 27-9 (lost in Elite Eight)
Season opener: Nov. 3 vs. Green Bay, 7 p.m., ACCNX
Biggest early-season game: Nov. 28 vs. UConn (Boston), 7 p.m., FOX
Projected starting lineup:
Toby Fournier (17.3 PPG)
Delaney Thomas (11.0 PPG)
Riley Nelson (9.4 PPG)
Emilee Skinner (4.3 PPG)
Aaliyah Crump (7.9 PPG at Texas)
5. Michigan Wolverines
2025-26 record: 28-7 (lost in Elite Eight)
Season opener: Nov. 5 vs. UConn, 6:30 p.m., FS1
Biggest early-season game: Dec. 5 vs. Oklahoma (Brooklyn, New York), 2 p.m., Fox
Projected starting lineup:
Olivia Olson (18.9 PPG)
Syla Swords (14.6 PPG)
Mila Holloway (12.3 PPG)
Ashley Sofilkanich (7.7 PPG)
Courtney Ogden (12.9 PPG at Stanford)
6. Texas Longhorns
2025-26 record: 35-4 (lost in Final Four)
Season opener: Nov. 4 vs. FDU 8 p.m., SECN+
Biggest early-season game: Dec. 2 vs. Louisville, 9:15 p.m., ESPN2
Projected starting lineup:
Madison Booker (18.9 PPG)
Breya Cunningham (7.7 PPG)
Bryanna Preston (4.9 PPG)
Addison Bjorn (No. 10 in SC Next 100)
Jayda Clark (WNBL in Australia)
7. Louisville Cardinals
2025-26 record: 29-8 (lost in Sweet 16)
Season opener: Nov. 2 vs. Bellarine, 5 p.m., ACCNX
Biggest early-season game: Nov. 15 vs. UConn, 5:30 p.m., ESPN
Projected starting lineup:
Tajianna Roberts (11.5 PPG)
Elif Istanbulluoglu (10.1 PPG)
Zamareya Jones (14.9 PPG at NC State)
Mackenly Randolph (8.5 PPG)
Carys Baker (14.3 PPG at Virginia Tech)
8. Vanderbilt Commodores
2025-26 record: 29-5 (lost in Sweet 16)
Season opener: Nov. 2 vs. Lipscomb, noon, SECN+
Biggest early-season game: Nov. 15 vs. Iowa (Sioux City, Iowa), 1 p.m., FS1
Projected starting lineup:
Mikayla Blakes (27.0 PPG)
Aubrey Galvan (13.5 PPG)
Mia Woolfolk (13.9 PPG at Georgia)
Aiyana Mitchell (5.8 PPG)
Olivia Jones (No. 16 in SC Next 100)
9. LSU Tigers
2025-26 record: 29-6 (lost in Sweet 16)
Season opener: Nov. 2 vs. Southeastern Louisiana, 7 p.m., SECN
Biggest early-season game: Dec. 2 at North Carolina, 7:15 p.m., ESPN2
Projected starting lineup:
Mikaylah Williams (14.2 PPG)
ZaKiyah Johnson (9.7 PPG)
Grace Knox (8.8 PPG)
MiLaysia Fulwiley (14.6 PPG)
Jada Williams (15.3 PPG at Iowa State)
10. Iowa Hawkeyes
2025-26 record: 27-7 (lost in NCAA tournament second round)
Season opener: Nov. 2 vs. Towson, 8 p.m., BIG+
Biggest early-season game: Nov. 8 vs. UConn, 2 p.m., FS1
Projected starting lineup:
Ava Heiden (18.0 PPG)
Chazadi Wright (12.5 PPG)
Taylor Stremlow (7.9 PPG)
Dani Carnegie (17.8 PPG at Georgia)
McKenna Woliczko (No. 7 in SC Next 100)
11. UCLA Bruins
2025-26 record: 37-1 (won NCAA championship)
Season opener: Nov. 2 vs. Lehigh, 2:30 p.m., BIG+
Biggest early-season game: Nov. 22 at Tennessee, 5:30 p.m., ESPN
Projected starting lineup:
Elina Aarnisalo (10.2 PPG at North Carolina)
Donovyn Hunter (10.2 PPG at TCU)
Addy Brown (11.9 PPG at Iowa State)
Sienna Betts (6.0 PPG)
Timea Gardiner (7.6 PPG in 2024-25)
12. North Carolina Tar Heels
2025-26 record: 28-8 (lost in Sweet 16)
Season opener: Nov. 2 vs. Oklahoma (Paris), 2:30 p.m., ESPN2
Biggest early-season game: Nov. 8 vs. South Carolina (Charlotte, North Carolina), 5:30 p.m. ESPN
Projected starting lineup:
Ciera Toomey (8.8 PPG)
Reniya Kelly (6.1 PPG)
Achol Akot (12.4 PPG at Oklahoma State)
Nyla Brooks (8.6 PPG)
Kate Harpring (No. 4 in SC Next 100)
13. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
2025-26 record: 25-11 (lost in Elite Eight)
Season opener: Nov. 1 vs. Villanova (Rome), noon, FS1
Biggest early-season game: Dec. 3 at Vanderbilt, 9 p.m. ESPN
Projected starting lineup:
Hannah Hidalgo (25.3 PPG)
Madison St. Rose (15.8 PPG at Princeton)
Anaya Hardy (4.9 PPG at Louisville)
Jacy Abii (No. 9 in SC Next 100)
Leah Macy (No. 19 in SC Next 100 in 2025)
14. Kentucky Wildcats
2025-26 record: 25-11 (lost in Sweet 16)
Season opener: Nov. 2 vs. Morehead State, 6:30 p.m., SECN+
Biggest early-season game: Nov. 8 vs. NC State (Charlotte), 3 p.m., ESPN2
Projected starting lineup:
Clara Strack (16.9 PPG)
Me'Arah O'Neal (13.6 PPG at Florida)
Asia Boone (10.1 PPG)
Maddyn Greenway (No. 14 in SC Next 100)
Diana Collins (8.4 PPG at Alabama)
15. TCU Horned Frogs
2025-26 record: 32-6 (lost in Elite Eight)
Season opener: Nov. 3 vs. Oral Roberts, 7:30 p.m., ESPN+
Biggest early-season game: Dec. 6 vs. Texas, 1 p.m., ESPN2
Projected starting lineup:
Jessie-May Hall (19.6 PPG in the NBL1 in Australia)
Clara Silva (9.0 PPG)
Jadyn Wooten (12.8 PPG at Oklahoma State)
Lara Somfai (10.8 PPG at Stanford)
Lanie Grant (10.8 PPG at North Carolina)
16. Washington Huskies
2025-26 record: 22-11 (lost in NCAA tournament second round)
Season opener: Nov. 2 vs. UC San Diego, 2 p.m.
Biggest early-season game: Nov. 27 vs. Oklahoma State (Fort Myers, Florida), 1:30 p.m. BDG Live)
Projected starting lineup:
Sayvia Sellers (18.0 PPG)
Avery Howell (14.2 PPG)
Tilda Trygger (10.7 PPG at NC State)
Brooke Carlson (11.7 PPG at Colorado State)
Brynn McGaughy (9.3 PPG)
17. Minnesota Golden Gophers
2025-26 record: 24-9 (lost in Sweet 16)
Season opener: Nov. 2 vs. Harvard, TBA, BIG+
Biggest early-season game: Nov. 18 vs. Kansas, 8 p.m., Peacock/NBCN
Projected starting lineup:
Grace Grocholski (12.1 PPG)
Tori McKinney (12.7 PPG)
Mara Braun (11.7 PPG)
Gracie Merkle (19.2 PPG at Penn State)
Leah Harmon (15.7 PPG at UCF)
18. Ohio State Buckeyes
2025-26 record: 27-8 (lost in NCAA tournament second round)
Season opener: Nov. 2 vs. Illinois-Chicago, 6:30 p.m. BIG+
Biggest early-season game: Nov. 12 vs. UConn, 6:30 p.m., FS1
Projected starting lineup:
Jaloni Cambridge (23.2 PPG)
Kennedy Cambridge (9.0 PPG)
Elsa Lemmila (9.1 PPG)
Ava Watson (7.2 PPG)
Kylee Kitts (7.4 PPG)
19. Ole Miss Rebels
2025-26 record: 24-12 (lost in NCAA tournament second round)
Season opener: Nov. 2 vs. Alcorn State, noon, SECN+
Biggest early-season game: Nov. 18 at Ohio State, 7 p.m., FS1
Projected starting lineup:
Talaysia Cooper (16.0 PPG at Tennessee)
Jada Richard (9.5 PPG at LSU)
Kaitlin Peterson (3.6 PPG)
Maya Anderson (13.9 PPG at San Jose State)
Emily Howard (2.4 PPG at Boise State)
20. Maryland Terrapins
2025-26 record: 24-9 (lost in NCAA tournament second round)
Season opener: Nov. 2 vs. South Carolina (Paris), noon, ESPN
Biggest early-season game: Dec. 5 vs. UConn (Brooklyn, New York), 4:30 p.m., FOX
Projected starting lineup:
Oluchi Okananwa (17.8 PPG)
Addi Mack (11.0 PPG)
Nunu Agara (15.3 PPG at Stanford)
Bri McDaniel (10.6 PPG in 2024-25)
Jordyn Jackson (No. 8 in SC Next 100)
21. Oklahoma Sooners
2025-26 record: 26-8 (lost in Sweet 16)
Season opener: Nov. 2 vs. North Carolina (Paris), 2:30 p.m., ESPN2
Biggest early-season game: Dec. 5 vs. Michigan (Brooklyn, New York), 2 p.m., FOX
Projected starting lineup:
Aaliyah Chavez (18.4 PPG)
Sahara Williams (12.4 PPG)
Sa'Myah Smith (7.9 PPG at Virginia)
Isimenme Ozzy-Momodu (8.0 PPG)
Jordan Speiser (10.2 PPG at Kansas State)
22. Oklahoma State Cowgirls
2025-26 record: 24-10 (lost in NCAA tournament second round)
Season opener: Nov. 2 vs. Southern, 6 p.m., ESPN+
Biggest early-season game: Nov. 15 at South Dakota State, 3 p.m.
Projected starting lineup:
Audi Crooks (25.8 PPG at Iowa State)
Liv McGill (22.5 PPG at Florida)
Stailee Heard (11.9 PPG)
Nene Ndiaye (14.8 PPG at Rutgers)
LA Sneed (6.3 PPG at Utah)
23. Illinois Fighting Illini
2025-26 record: 22-12 (lost in NCAA tournament second round)
Season opener: Nov. 4 vs. Detroit Mercy, 7 p.m., BIG+
Biggest early-season game: Nov. 18 at Ball State, 6:30 p.m.
Projected starting lineup:
Berry Wallace (18.4 PPG)
Cearah Parchment (13.6 PPG)
Gretchen Dolan (12.9 PPG)
Destiny Jackson (9.9 PPG)
Jasmine Brown-Hagger (6.7 PPG)
24. West Virginia Mountaineers
2025-26 record: 28-7 (lost in NCAA tournament second round)
Season opener: Nov. 3 vs. Rhode Island, 7 p.m., ESPN+
Biggest early-season game: Nov. 26 vs. Notre Dame (Bahamas), 11:30 a.m., ESPN2
Projected starting lineup:
Skylar Forbes (15.5 PPG at Marquette)
Zahirah Walton (18.1 PPG at George Mason)
Gia Cooke (15.0 PPG)
Khyala Ngodu (10.8 PPG at UCF)
Kennedy Harris (14.1 PPG at George Mason)
25. NC State Wolfpack
2025-26 record: 21-11 (lost in NCAA tournament second round)
Season opener: Nov. 2 vs. Wofford, 5 p.m., ACCNX
Biggest early-season game: Nov. 8 vs. Kentucky, 3 p.m., ESPN2
Projected starting lineup:
Khamil Pierre (16.7 PPG)
Qadence Samuels (6.4 PPG)
Zoe Brooks (16.0 PPG)
Ky'She Lunan (4.5 PPG)
Khady Leye (9.5 PPG at Auburn)
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