UConn women’s basketball stays No. 1 in AP Top 25 after wins vs. No. 6 Michigan, Utah

After securing its first top-10 win of the 2025-26 season, the UConn women’s basketball team remained No. 1 in the AP Top 25 poll for a fourth consecutive week including the preseason.

The Huskies escaped with a 72-69 win in a thrilling battle against No. 6 Michigan on Friday in the Basketball Hall of Fame Women’s Showcase, then picked up a dominant second victory Sunday over Utah. UConn received 30 of a possible 32 first-place votes with No. 2 South Carolina and No. 3 UCLA receiving one apiece.

There was no movement in the top five once again with No. 4 Texas and No. 5 LSU rounding out the group, but it was a chaotic week further down the poll. Iowa State joined the top 10 for the first time after Baylor dropped eight spots to No. 15. The Bears had a rough week, losing 57-52 to No. 11 Iowa on Thursday then going to overtime with Davidson on Saturday. The Hawkeyes, who will face UConn on Dec. 21 in the Women’s Champions Classic, made their first appearance in the top 15 thanks to their win.

Notre Dame, which plummeted to No. 24 last week following a 39-point loss to Michigan, jumped back up five spots to No. 19 with a buzzer-beater win over No. 18 USC on Friday. Louisville, who the Huskies beat 79-66 in the season opener, fell two spots to No. 23 after losing to No. 16 Kentucky on Saturday.

The biggest fall of the week was NC State, dropping from No. 16 to No. 25 thanks to a stunning upset by Rhode Island on Sunday. The Wolfpack hold a top 25 win over No. 14 Tennessee, but they are now 3-3 with additional losses to USC and No. 8 TCU. Duke, the preseason No. 7 team in the country, also received zero votes in this week’s poll after it was upset by South Florida on Thursday.

AP Top 25 women’s basketball poll: Week 3

1. UConn
2. South Carolina
3. UCLA
4. Texas
5. LSU
6. Michigan
7. Maryland
8. TCU
9. Oklahoma
10. Iowa State
11. Iowa
12. North Carolina
13. Ole Miss
14. Tennessee
15. Baylor
16. Kentucky
17. Vanderbilt
18. USC
19. Notre Dame
20. Michigan State
21. West Virginia
22. Washington
23. Louisville
24. Oklahoma State
25. NC State

How UConn reporter Emily Adams voted in AP poll

1. UConn
2. South Carolina
3. UCLA
4. Texas
5. Michigan
6. LSU
7. TCU
8. Oklahoma
9. Maryland
10. Iowa State
11. North Carolina
12. Ole Miss
13. Notre Dame
14. USC
15. Iowa
16. Kentucky
17. Michigan State
18. West Virginia
19. Tennessee
20. Baylor
21. Louisville
22. Vanderbilt
23. Washington
24. NC State
25. Stanford