Tennessee’s women’s basketball team has reclaimed its position in The Associated Press Top 25 rankings, capturing the No. 19 spot. This return marks the end of the school’s most prolonged absence from the poll in its 48-year history, a notable achievement that reflects their strong performance this season.
The Lady Vols, led by new head coach Kim Caldwell, boast an undefeated record of 7-0 this season. This remarkable start has ended their 22-poll absence, the longest since the poll’s inception in 1976. With a pressing style of play and a dynamic roster, Tennessee is regaining recognition as a formidable force in women’s college basketball.
Meanwhile, at the top of the rankings, UCLA, UConn, and South Carolina have maintained their positions. UCLA leads with 24 first-place votes, demonstrating their dominance with a victory over Washington last week. UConn also shows its strength by defeating Louisville in the Women’s Champions Classic, while South Carolina remains a stalwart contender.
In other notable developments, LSU and USC have each advanced by one position following Texas’ overtime loss to Notre Dame. This adjustment saw Texas drop to sixth, while Notre Dame moved to eighth. Maryland holds the seventh spot with Duke and Oklahoma completing the top ten, the latter rising one place.
The Michigan State Spartans have made significant strides, moving up seven places to No. 17. Under the guidance of head coach Robyn Fralick, the Spartans have achieved the best start in their program’s history with a 9-0 record, highlighted by their dominant win over DePaul.
Georgia Tech also returned to the Top 25 for the first time since February 2022, claiming the No. 25 spot. Their unprecedented start since the 1977-78 season features an undefeated record as they prepare to face No. 14 North Carolina. The return of N.C. State to the poll at No. 22 adds to the shifting dynamics, while Illinois, Alabama, and Louisville have dropped out, with the latter having faced tough competitions against ranked teams like UCLA, UConn, Kentucky, and Oklahoma.
A breakdown of conference representation in the poll shows the Big Ten leading with eight teams, despite being down one from the previous poll, followed by the Southeastern Conference with seven. The ACC and Big 12 have contributed five and four teams, respectively, while the Big East features one.
The upcoming matchup between No. 2 UConn and No. 8 Notre Dame is highly anticipated, as both former Big East rivals will showcase their talents. With UConn’s Paige Bueckers and Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo expected to play pivotal roles, this game promises to be a highlight of the season.
Tennessee’s re-entry into the women’s AP Top 25 is a testament to their resilience and renewed vigor under Coach Kim Caldwell. As the season progresses, the landscape of women’s college basketball continues to evolve, with teams jostling for position and demonstrating their mettle on the court.
Source: Local10
