Geno Auriemma breaks record for AP Top 25 appearances as UConn women’s basketball remains No. 1

Geno Auriemma was already the winningest coach in women’s basketball history, and he became the most ranked coach of all-time in the AP Top 25 on Monday when his UConn women’s basketball team earned a 16th consecutive week at No. 1 in the poll.

The Huskies have been ranked 655 times in Auriemma’s 41 years leading the program, surpassing the record previously held by legendary former Stanford coach Tara Vanderveer. Vanderveer retired in 2024 with 654 poll appearances across five years leading Ohio State and 38 with the Cardinal. She also held the all-time wins record at the time of her retirement, which Auriemma broke in November 2024.

Though UConn remains unanimous No. 1, its resume took a hit this week with Tennessee dropping out of the top 25 for the first time this season. The Huskies expected preseason that matchups with the Lady Vols, Notre Dame and USC would all be ranked wins, but all three opponents have since fallen out of the poll.

No. 13 Ohio State dropped a matchup with No. 22 Minnesota on Wednesday, and No. 10 Louisville got upset by Virginia on Sunday, knocking both teams down multiple spots. Michigan also dropped two places to No. 8 after an 18-point loss to Iowa. The Hawkeyes jumped four spots to No. 9 with the victory.

Princeton, led by former UConn standout Carla Berube, rejoined the poll at No. 25 after dropping out last week. Villanova also received votes after giving the Huskies their closest game of conference play on Wednesday. The Wildcats led at halftime of UConn’s 83-69 win. Villanova is the first Big East team besides the Huskies to earn votes in the top 25 at any point this season.

AP Top 25 women’s basketball poll: Week 16

1. UConn
2. UCLA
3. South Carolina
4. Texas
5. Vanderbilt
6. LSU
7. Oklahoma
8. Michigan
9. Iowa
10. Louisville
11. TCU
12. Duke
13. Ohio State
14. Maryland
15. Michigan State
16. Kentucky
17. West Virginia
18. Baylor
19. Ole Miss
20. Texas Tech
21. North Carolina
22. Minnesota
23. Georgia
24. Alabama
25. Princeton

How UConn reporter Emily Adams voted in AP poll

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