UCLA stuns South Carolina, claims historic No. 1 spot in AP women’s basketball poll

UCLA Stuns South Carolina, Claims No. 1 Spot in AP Women’s Basketball Poll

It’s official: the UCLA Bruins are sitting atop the women’s college basketball world for the first time in school history. After a jaw-dropping 77-62 victory over the defending national champions, South Carolina, the Bruins have claimed the No. 1 spot in The Associated Press Top 25 women’s basketball poll. This historic win not only ended South Carolina’s 43-game winning streak but also snapped UCLA’s 0-20 record against No. 1-ranked teams. Talk about rewriting history!

The game, played in front of a raucous, star-studded crowd, was nothing short of electric. UCLA’s head coach, Cori Close, couldn’t contain her excitement as she reflected on the monumental achievement. “I think the piece that really hits me is that we’re doing something for the first time in school history, and we shared it with decades of alum,” Close said on Monday after the poll was released. “It was great to have so many alumni in our locker room to share it with. The people that blazed the trail for us we’re walking in is really special.”

How the Rankings Shook Out

UCLA, which was ranked No. 5 last week, earned 20 first-place votes from the 32-member national media panel. Meanwhile, UConn held steady at No. 2, picking up nine first-place votes after a historic week of its own. Huskies coach Geno Auriemma set the NCAA all-time victories record, adding another milestone to his legendary career.

Notre Dame also made waves, climbing to No. 3 after pulling off an upset of their own by defeating then-No. 3 USC in Los Angeles. The Fighting Irish received the remaining three first-place votes in a week that saw major shakeups across the board. Only four teams managed to hold their spots from last week’s poll.

South Carolina, after its stunning loss, dropped to No. 4. Texas rounded out the top five, while USC fell to sixth. The rest of the top 10 included LSU, Oklahoma, Kansas State, and Maryland. Meanwhile, Iowa State took a tumble, dropping from eighth to 15th after a 12-point loss to Northern Iowa.

UCLA’s Historic Moment

With this achievement, UCLA becomes the 26th school to hold the No. 1 spot in the history of the women’s Top 25 poll, which dates back to the 1976-77 season. Coach Close emphasized the significance of this milestone, saying, “We came here saying we want to be an elite basketball program, and to be in that company as the 26th program ever to be a No. 1 team is significant. I’m grateful.”

Other Notable Moves

• Iowa’s Return: Iowa re-entered the Top 25 for the first time this season, landing at No. 22. The Hawkeyes, who reached No. 2 last season behind star guard Caitlin Clark (now thriving in the WNBA), are off to a 6-0 start. Their defense has been stellar, holding four of their six opponents to under 60 points.
• Illinois on the Rise: Illinois climbed to No. 19, marking its best ranking since January 17, 2000, when it was ranked 13th. With South Carolina’s loss, the Illini now boast the longest active winning streak in the country at 10 games. The team, which won the inaugural WBIT last season, is 5-0 this year.
• Baylor Drops Out: Baylor fell out of the rankings after a tough loss to Indiana.

South Carolina’s Dominance Ends

South Carolina’s loss to UCLA marked the end of an era. The Gamecocks had been ranked No. 1 in 61 of the past 62 polls, with the lone exception being the preseason Top 25 on October 17, 2023, when LSU held the top spot. South Carolina quickly reclaimed No. 1 in the first regular-season poll, making the biggest leap in poll history by climbing from No. 6 to the top spot.

How dominant have the Gamecocks been? Sunday’s loss was their largest margin of defeat since the 2019 Sweet 16 and their first road loss since December 2021. Despite the setback, head coach Dawn Staley remains optimistic. “Taking a loss will help us focus on anybody that we play,” she said. It’s clear the Gamecocks aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.

What’s Next?

With UCLA now leading the pack, the women’s college basketball season is shaping up to be one for the ages. Can the Bruins maintain their momentum, or will South Carolina reclaim its throne? One thing’s for sure: the race for the national championship just got a whole lot more interesting.