South Carolina holds top spot as UConn rebounds
The Gamecocks extended their lead with an 84-39 victory, while UConn defeated Iowa to secure the No. 4 position.
By Madison Darwish ·
South Carolina remained the No. 1 team in the AP Poll after defeating North Carolina 84-39 on Sunday night. The 45-point margin represents the largest victory for the Gamecocks against a ranked opponent in their recent history. The win kept South Carolina ahead of its rivals in the latest rankings released for the 2026-27 season.
UConn moved up to the No. 4 slot following its win over Iowa. The Huskies had dropped their previous matchup against Michigan. Sarah Strong contributed to the effort against Iowa, marking the first time a UConn player has recorded at least 35 points and 10 rebounds against a top-10 team since the 1999-2000 campaign. Iowa now has lost its fifth consecutive game to a team ranked in the top two.
Michigan sits at No. 2 with a 2-0 record. The Wolverines have scored at least 100 points in six games since the start of the prior season, a total that leads all Big Ten teams. USC holds the No. 3 position after JuJu Watkins posted a career night. She became the first Big Ten player in 25 years to record 30 points, 15 rebounds, five assists, and five steals in a single contest.
Other teams in the top 10 maintained their positions. Duke remains unbeaten against Horizon League opponents, while Louisville has won back-to-back games by 50 points or more for the first time since December 2013. Vanderbilt has built a 117-point differential over its first two games, its highest margin in a two-game span since January 1993. LSU posted the largest win in Division I history against a D-I opponent with a 109-point victory over Texas Southern.
Nebraska enters the poll for the first time this season. The Cornhuskers are 2-0 and recorded a 98-35 win over Western Illinois, which is the seventh-largest margin in school history. Oklahoma is also a strong contender, holding a 33-game winning streak against unranked opponents. TCU and Washington are also represented in the top 16, with their respective stars leading their teams in scoring and assists.
Upcoming schedules include several high-profile matchups. South Carolina travels to Clemson on Thursday at 7 p.m. Eastern Time. UConn hosts Ohio State on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time. USC plays Charleston on Wednesday at 10:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Duke faces Norfolk State on Thursday at 7 p.m. Eastern Time.
Louisville plays Lindenwood on Tuesday at 7 p.m. Eastern Time. Vanderbilt faces Morehead State on Monday at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time. LSU hosts McNeese on Tuesday at 8 p.m. Eastern Time. UCLA and Iowa both play on Thursday, with UCLA hosting Arizona and Iowa facing Northern Iowa.
