It is overwhelmingly clear South Carolina is the best team in the country, but the question of who is second best has been difficult to answer all season. UConn held that spot in the AP poll — and these power rankings — at the start of the year, but proceeded to lose to NC State. Iowa took the Huskies’ place but fell to Kansas State that week. UCLA was next up, and the Bruins held the spot for a while, but the absence of Lauren Betts essentially has disqualified the Bruins.
Over the last month, the No. 2 team in the AP poll has been beaten five times. The Hawkeyes lost to Ohio State, UCLA lost to both Utah and Washington State, and Kansas State dropped two to Oklahoma and Texas this week. Presumably, Iowa will once again rise to second place after beating Northwestern and Maryland, but I think the voters are overlooking the team that was second in my rankings for most of January — NC State.
The Wolfpack have rebounded spectacularly from a down season in 2022-23 and look poised to capture a top seed in the NCAA Tournament for the second time in three years. Saniya Rivers and Aziaha James are as dynamic of a backcourt as there is in the country, and Zoe Brooks is just as aggressive getting to the rack when she comes off the bench. Mimi Collins and Madison Hayes provide…
