South Carolina ranked No. 1 in
women's AP Top 25 preseason poll with UConn, USC, Texas and UCLA next
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[October 16, 2024]
By DOUG FEINBERG
South Carolina is starting the season where it finished off last
year — ranked No. 1 in the AP Top 25 women's college basketball
poll.
The Gamecocks received 27 of the 30 first-place votes in the
preseason rankings from a national media panel Tuesday. South
Carolina returns four starters from the national championship team
that went undefeated last year, capping off the historic season over
Caitlin Clark and Iowa in the title game.
UConn is No. 2, USC is No. 3 and Texas and UCLA round out the top
five.
South Carolina has been No. 1 in the preseason poll four of the past
five years. Last season, they started sixth in the preseason before
moving up to No. 1 for the remainder of the year.
“We knew we'd have a target on our backs this season as the reigning
champions and this preseason ranking just confirms that,” South
Carolina coach Dawn Staley told the AP. “We appreciate the
recognition, but I know our coaching staff and our team are more
focused on what we see in the gym every day. And that's every player
working extremely hard to get better individually and as a team.”
UConn received two first-place votes. The Huskies have been ranked
in the top 10 in the preseason poll for 30 straight years now. Geno
Auriemma's team went through major injury issues last year but the
Huskies look to be healthy for the most part to start this season.
Third-ranked USC is led by phenomenal sophomore guard JuJu Watkins
and the team added two talented transfers in Kiki Iriafen and Talia
von Oelhoffen. The Trojans, who received the other first place vote,
have their highest ranking in the preseason since the 1982 and 1983
squads were No. 1 in the opening poll both years.
Texas welcomes back Rori Harmon, who was sidelined for most of last
season with an ACL injury. She and Madison Booker give the Longhorns
a solid 1-2 punch on offense. UCLA added its own solid group of
transfers to a strong team with Charlisse Leger-Walker and Timea
Gardiner joining Lauren Betts and Kiki Rice.
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South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley celebrates with her team after
the Final Four college basketball championship game against Iowa in
the women's NCAA Tournament, April 7, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP
Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)
Notre Dame, LSU, Iowa State, North Carolina State
and Oklahoma rounded out the first 10 teams in the poll. It's the
second time in three seasons that the Cyclones have started this
high in the preseason poll. The Sooners haven't been ranked this
high in the inaugural poll of the season since 2010 when they were
also 10th.
Welcome back
No. 24 Alabama is making its first appearance in the rankings since
the final poll of 1999. The Crimson Tide haven't been in the
preseason poll since 1998 (No. 9). The team has appeared in
consecutive NCAA tournaments behind stars Sarah Ashlee Barker and
Aaliyah Nye.
“We're very thankful for the mention, but want to take care of each
day,” Alabama coach Kristy Curry said. “We are excited this season
about the group and the way we finished last season.”
End of an era
Stanford is unranked in the preseason for the first time since 1999.
Hall of Fame Cardinal coach Tara VanDerveer retired in April and was
replaced by longtime assistant Kate Paye. It had been the
second-longest active preseason streak behind only UConn.
Conference supremacy
New conference additions Texas and Oklahoma give the SEC seven teams
in the Top 25. Joining them are South Carolina, LSU, No. 20 Ole
Miss, No. 22 Kentucky and Alabama. The ACC and Big Ten each have six
ranked teams, though Iowa — the national runner-up the last two
years — is unranked as the Hawkeyes get ready for a season without
Caitlin Clark, now in the WNBA. The Big 12 has four teams in the Top
25 while UConn and Creighton give the Big East two.
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