AP women’s college basketball Top 25 poll breakdownplayHighlight: Trinity Turner’s go-ahead jumper gives Georgia upset over Vandy (0:56)Dani Carnegie leads the offense with 29 points and eight rebounds as Trinity Turner’s jump shot in the last 50 seconds gives the Bulldogs the lead in the 76-74 win over the Commodores. (0:56)ESPNMultiple AuthorsFeb 16, 2026, 12:20 PM ET
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The new AP Top 25 women’s college basketball poll is out.
The top five stayed the same. The Duke Blue Devils, who are riding a 16-game win streak, jump two spots to move into the top 10.
The No. 12 TCU Horned Frogs (five spots) and No. 14 Maryland Terrapins (six spots) were the biggest climbers. The Minnesota Gophers and Georgia Lady Bulldogs broke into the Top 25. The Lady Dogs had one of the week’s biggest victories, knocking off No. 5 Vanderbilt on Sunday.
What does it all mean for the AP Top 25? Let’s break down the rankings.
Stats courtesy of ESPN Research and The Associated Press.
All times Eastern.
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1. UConn Huskies
Previous ranking: 1
2025-26 record: 27-0
Stat to know: UConn has won 43 straight games, tied for the seventh-longest streak in Division I women’s basketball history.
What’s next: Wednesday at Villanova, 7 p.m., Peacock
2. UCLA Bruins
Previous ranking: 2
2025-26 record: 25-1
Stat to know: UCLA’s 92-48 win over Indiana extended its winning streak to 19 games, which is the third-longest active streak in the country. UConn leads with 43 consecutive wins and North Dakota State has 21.
What’s next: Thursday vs. Washington, 10 p.m., Big Ten Network
3. South Carolina Gamecocks
Previous ranking: 3
2025-26 record: 25-2
Stat to know: The Gamecocks recorded their 18th consecutive win against LSU, which is the longest streak by any team in this series.
What’s next: Thursday at Alabama, 8:30 p.m., SEC Network
4. Texas Longhorns
Previous ranking: 4
2025-26 record: 24-3
Stat to know: Texas didn’t make a 3-point attempt for the first time this season in its victory over Tennessee.
What’s next: Thursday at Arkansas, 7:30 p.m., SEC Network+
0:19
Bryanna Preston’s late steal secures a win for Texas over Tennessee
Bryanna Preston gets a steal off a Talaysia Cooper turnover as Texas holds on to beat Tennessee.
5. Vanderbilt Commodores
Previous ranking: 5
2025-26 record: 24-3
Stat to know: Mikayla Blakes became the third player in Division I this season to score 25-plus points in fewer than eight field goal attempts.
What’s next: Sunday vs. Kentucky, 3 p.m., SEC Network+
6. Michigan Wolverines
Previous ranking: 7
2025-26 record: 22-4
Stat to know: Olivia Olson is the first Big Ten player with at least 20 points and five rebounds in seven consecutive conference games in a season since Caitlin Clark did it in 10 straight league games in 2024.
What’s next: Sunday at Iowa, 12 p.m., Fox
7. LSU Tigers
Previous ranking: 6
2025-26 record: 22-4
Stat to know: LSU fell to 0-6 against South Carolina since Kim Mulkey became head coach. The Gamecocks are the only current SEC school that Mulkey hasn’t beaten during her time at LSU.
What’s next: Thursday at Ole Miss, 9 p.m., ESPN
8. Louisville Cardinals
Previous ranking: 9
2025-26 record: 24-4
Stat to know: Louisville had its fifth game this season with 45+ bench points — averaging 35.4 bench PPG — which is the second-most among Division I programs. LSU leads with an average of 39.7.
What’s next: Sunday vs. Virginia, noon, The CW Network
9. Duke Blue Devils
Previous ranking: 11
2025-26 record: 19-6
Stat to know: Duke is 14-0 in ACC play this season for the first time since 2012-13.
What’s next: Thursday vs. NC State, 7 p.m., ESPN
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10. Ohio State Buckeyes
Previous ranking: 8
2025-26 record: 22-4
Stat to know: Ohio State recorded its largest blown lead in the past eight seasons in a loss against Maryland. The Buckeyes led by as many as 19 points.
What’s next: Wednesday at Minnesota, 8 p.m., Big Ten Network+
11. Oklahoma Sooners
Previous ranking: 10
2025-26 record: 19-6
Stat to know: Oklahoma had three 15-point scorers Sunday against a ranked team on the road. The last time that occurred was Jan. 24, 2024 at then-No. 10 Texas.
What’s next: Thursday at Georgia, 6:30 p.m., SEC Network
1:02
Raegan Beers (21 points) Highlights vs. Alabama Crimson Tide
Raegan Beers (21 points) Highlights vs. Alabama Crimson Tide
12. TCU Horned Frogs
Previous ranking: 17
2025-26 record: 23-4
Stat to know: Olivia Miles erupted for 10 3-pointers and 40 points in Thursday’s 83-67 victory over then-No. 12 Baylor.
What’s next: Wednesday at Houston, 7:30 p.m., ESPN+
13. Iowa Hawkeyes
Previous ranking: 15
2025-26 record: 19-5
Stat to know: Iowa ended its three-game losing streak in a win against Washington. The Hawkeyes gave up only 56 points after allowing 86.7 PPG in those three losses.
What’s next: Monday at Nebraska, noon, Fox
Lauren Betts (51) put up 16 points and 14 rebounds in a 92-48 win over Indiana. AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh14. Maryland Terrapins
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Previous ranking: 20
2025-26 record: 21-6
Stat to know: Maryland recorded its largest comeback win Sunday — down by as many as 19 points — since its Nov. 13, 2019 game against James Madison.
What’s next: Sunday vs. Purdue, 1 p.m., Big Ten Network+
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15. Baylor Bears
Previous ranking: 12
2025-26 record: 22-5
Stat to know: Baylor held UCF’s starters to single-digits in scoring Sunday in a 93-63 victory.
What’s next: Wednesday at Texas Tech, 7 p.m., ESPN+
16. Kentucky Wildcats
Previous ranking: 18
2025-26 record: 20-7
Stat to know: Kentucky had its largest win over an AP-ranked opponent this season in its victory (74-57) over Ole Miss on Sunday.
What’s next: Sunday at Vanderbilt, 3 p.m., SEC Network+
0:18
Tonie Morgan drills basket vs. Ole Miss Rebels
Tonie Morgan drills basket vs. Ole Miss Rebels
17. Ole Miss Rebels
Previous ranking: 14
2025-26 record: 20-6
Stat to know: Ole Miss recorded a season-worst 27% field goal percentage in its loss to Kentucky.
What’s next: Tuesday vs. Tennessee, 7 p.m., ESPNU
18. Michigan State Spartans
Previous ranking: 13
2025-26 record: 20-6
Stat to know: Michigan State’s 21-point loss is its second-largest loss to Michigan over the past 25 seasons. The first was a 26-point loss in 2018.
What’s next: Wednesday vs. Northwestern, 6:30 p.m., Big Ten Network+
19. West Virginia Mountaineers
Previous ranking: 19
2025-26 record: 21-6
Stat to know: Sunday’s 59-50 loss to TCU snapped the Mountaineers’ four-game winning streak. It was just the second time this season they’ve been held to 50 or fewer points.
What’s next: Saturday vs. Oklahoma State, 2 p.m., ESPN+
20. Texas Tech Lady Raiders
Previous ranking: 16
2025-26 record: 23-4
Stat to know: Texas Tech recorded its fourth loss against an unranked opponent this season after falling to Oklahoma State on the road.
What’s next: Wednesday vs. Baylor, 7 p.m., ESPN+
21. Tennessee Lady Vols
Previous ranking: 22
2025-26 record: 16-7
Stat to know: Talaysia Cooper finished with 29 points in the Lady Vols’ loss to Texas. Cooper combined to score or assist on 33 of Tennessee’s 63 points.
What’s next: Tuesday at Ole Miss, 7 p.m., ESPNU
22. North Carolina Tar Heels
Previous ranking: 21
2025-26 record: 21-6
Stat to know: North Carolina did not attempt a free throw in a loss to Duke on Sunday. The Tar Heels became the third ACC team to have no free throw attempts in a game since 1999-2000.
What’s next: Thursday at Virginia Tech, 6 p.m., ACC Network
23. Minnesota Golden Gophers
Previous ranking: Not ranked
2025-26 record: 20-6
Stat to know: The Gophers have won eight consecutive games, including a 91-85 upset of then-No. 10 Iowa. The final three regular-season games are challenging, with Ohio State and Michigan State up next.
What’s next: Wednesday vs. Ohio State, 8 p.m., Big Ten Network+
24.Georgia Lady Bulldogs
Previous ranking: Not ranked
2025-26 record: 20-6
Stat to know: The Lady Dogs break into the rankings after upsetting then-No. 5 Vanderbilt 76-74 on Sunday. They also have wins over ranked teams Ole Miss and Kentucky this season.
What’s next: Thursday vs. Oklahoma, 6:30 p.m., SEC Network
25. Alabama Crimson Tide
Previous ranking: 23
2025-26 record: 20-6
Stat to know: After Alabama’s loss to Oklahoma on Sunday, the Crimson Tide fell to 3-4 against ranked opponents this season.
What’s next: Thursday vs. South Carolina, 8:30 p.m., SEC Network
