South Carolina is still on top.
The Gamecocks women’s basketball team maintained its No. 1 ranking in the preseason AP Top 25 poll released Tuesday, receiving 27 of 30 first-place votes. UConn received two votes to come in No. 2 while USC was No. 3 with one vote. Texas (No. 4) and UCLA (No. 5) rounded out the top five.
South Carolina spent all but the first week as the top-ranked team last season as it compiled a 38-0 record and won its second national championship in three years — and third-ever under coach Dawn Staley. The Gamecocks are returning almost their entire roster from last season, though they lost star center Kamilla Cardoso, who plays for the WNBA’s Chicago Sky.
Meanwhile, star guard Paige Bueckers will be back for UConn for what’s expected to be her final season with the team. The Huskies (33-6 last season) will also have top 2024 recruit Sarah Strong to supplement their frontcourt after Aaliyah Edwards graduated.
USC was 29-6 last season, falling to UConn in the Elite Eight.
Preseason AP women’s Top 25
Others receiving votes: Iowa 37, TCU 30, Utah 24, Illinois 23, Stanford 17, Michigan St. 16, Gonzaga 16, Vanderbilt 12, South Dakota St. 7, Miami 4, Tennessee 3, Fairfield 3, Middle Tennessee 3, Georgia Tech 2, Syracuse 1, Princeton 1.
