Notre Dame Soars to No. 3 After Stunning UConn in Top 25 Shake-Up
It’s official: the Notre Dame Fighting Irish are making serious noise in women’s college basketball this season. After a thrilling 79-68 victory over the No. 2 UConn Huskies last week, Notre Dame has climbed five spots to land at No. 3 in The Associated Press Top 25 rankings. This marks a major milestone for the Irish, who are proving they’re a force to be reckoned with in the 2024 season.
For UConn, the loss was a tough pill to swallow. The Huskies, who had been undefeated, dropped two spots to No. 4. But for Notre Dame, this win was more than just a notch in the win column—it was a statement. The Irish now boast three wins over top-five teams this season, having already taken down USC and Texas. Talk about a résumé builder!
Head coach Niele Ivey couldn’t hide her pride after the game. “This is a major win for us,” Ivey said. “Obviously, it’s just one win, but I’m really grateful for this group and really proud of our effort and the way that we showed up today with such toughness and discipline.”
Top 25 Rankings: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not
While Notre Dame’s rise to No. 3 is the headline, there’s plenty of movement in this week’s Top 25 rankings. Here’s a quick look at the top 10:
- 1. UCLA (10-0) – The Bruins remain undefeated and received 30 of the 32 first-place votes.
- 2. South Carolina (10-1) – The Gamecocks snagged one first-place vote to hold steady at No. 2.
- 3. Notre Dame (9-2) – The Irish earned a first-place vote after their big win over UConn.
- 4. UConn (9-1) – The Huskies drop two spots after their first loss of the season.
- 5. LSU (12-0) – The Tigers are quietly dominating with an unblemished record.
- 6. Texas (10-1) – The Longhorns continue to impress.
- 7. Southern Cal (10-1) – USC is holding strong in the top 10.
- 8. Maryland (10-0) – The Terrapins remain undefeated and climb higher.
- 9. Duke (9-2) – The Blue Devils are hanging tough in the top 10.
- 10. Oklahoma (9-1) – The Sooners round out the top tier.
UCLA continues to dominate the rankings, holding onto the No. 1 spot with a perfect 10-0 record. South Carolina remains a close second, while LSU, Texas, and USC are all making strong cases to climb higher. Meanwhile, Maryland and Michigan State are quietly building undefeated seasons, and Georgia Tech is turning heads with their best start in school history.
Georgia Tech’s Historic Start
Speaking of Georgia Tech, the Yellow Jackets are on fire. They climbed eight spots to No. 17 after an 82-76 victory over then-No. 14 North Carolina on Sunday. This win was particularly sweet, as it marked their first victory at Chapel Hill since 2012. At 11-0, Georgia Tech is off to the best start in program history. Could this be the year they make a deep tournament run?
Cal Makes a Comeback
Another team making waves is Cal, which entered the poll for the first time since 2019. The Bears, now ranked No. 24, are 12-1 on the season, with their only loss coming against No. 15 Michigan State. Cal’s 20-point win over rival Stanford last Friday was a statement game, snapping a 12-game losing streak in the series. The 20-point margin was the third largest in series history and the biggest since the 1981-82 season. Talk about a comeback!
Who’s Falling Behind?
Not everyone is riding high this week. Iowa State fell out of the rankings after a tough loss to rival Iowa. The Cyclones, now 9-3, face an uphill battle as they prepare to take on UConn in the Basketball Hall of Fame Women’s Showcase on Tuesday night. It’s a brutal stretch for Iowa State, but a win over the Huskies could turn their season around.
Conference Breakdown
Here’s how the conferences stack up in this week’s rankings:
- Big Ten: 8 teams
- SEC: 7 teams
- ACC: 5 teams
- Big 12: 4 teams
- Big East: 1 team
The Big Ten continues to dominate with eight teams in the Top 25, while the SEC and ACC are also well-represented. The Big 12 and Big East are lagging behind, but there’s still plenty of basketball left to play.
Game of the Week: USC vs. UConn
Mark your calendars for Saturday, because this week’s must-watch game is No. 7 USC at No. 4 UConn. Two of the biggest stars in college basketball will go head-to-head as JuJu Watkins and the Trojans take on Paige Bueckers and the Huskies. Watkins is currently third in the nation in scoring, averaging 24.6 points per game. This showdown promises to be an instant classic.
With so much movement in the rankings and marquee matchups on the horizon, women’s college basketball is heating up. Stay tuned, because this season is shaping up to be one for the ages.
Originally Written by: Associated Press
