SEC sets record with 10 ranked
teams, a 1st in 50-year history of women's AP Top 25; UConn, UCLA 1-2
[January 27, 2026]
By DOUG FEINBERG
NEW YORK (AP) — The Southeastern Conference set a record with 10
teams in The Associated Press women's Top 25 basketball poll
released Monday.
Georgia entered at No. 23 after its win over then-No. 11 Kentucky to
give the conference the most teams ever in a single week in the
50-year history of the poll. Last season, the SEC had 10 teams in
the men's Top 25 for a few weeks.
UConn remained the unanimous No. 1 choice from the 31-member
national media panel. The Huskies are the lone undefeated team left
in women's college basketball. They have won 37 straight games
dating to last season. UCLA moved up to No. 2 after South Carolina
lost in overtime to Oklahoma, which jumped six spots to No. 10.
The Gamecocks fell to third, leading a quartet of SEC squads. Texas
was fourth, Vanderbilt fifth and LSU sixth. The Commodores suffered
their first loss of the season, falling at South Carolina on Sunday.
Louisville and Iowa were seventh and eighth. Michigan dropped two
spots to ninth after losing to the Commodores in the Coretta Scott
King Classic last week.
Ranked Georgia
The Lady Bulldogs are in the Top 25 for the first time since 2022.
They started the season 14-0 in non-conference play for the first
time in 16 years and already own victories over No. 17 Ole Miss and
No. 18 Kentucky. The team was a staple in the Top 25 for years under
former coach Andy Landers. Georgia replaced Nebraska, which fell out
of the poll.

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Oklahoma guard Aaliyah Chavez (2) celebrates after scoring against
South Carolina during the second half of an NCAA college basketball
game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026 in Norman, Okla. (AP Photo/Alonzo
Adams)

Leading the way
The four teams that played in the Women's Champions Classic at
Barclays Center in December haven't lost a conference game yet. No.
15 Tennessee leads the SEC, Iowa is atop the Big Ten, Louisville is
in front of the ACC and UConn tops the Big East. The four are a
combined 35-0 in league play through Sunday.
Conference supremacy
After the SEC's 10 ranked teams, the Big Ten is next with seven. The
Big 12 has four teams in the Top 25. The Atlantic Coast Conference
has two while the Big East and Ivy League each have one.
Games of the week
No. 15 Tennessee at No. 1 UConn, Sunday. The Lady Vols will try and
spoil the Huskies' undefeated season when the two teams get
together. This will likely be the final ranked opponent that UConn
will face before the NCAA Tournament.
No. 8 Iowa at No. 2 UCLA, Sunday. First place in the Big Ten will be
on the line when the Hawkeyes visit the Bruins. UCLA has won 13
consecutive games since its lone loss of the season to Texas. Iowa
has won eight consecutive games since a loss to UConn in late
December.
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