As the calendar prepares to flip to February, the women’s college basketball season is full swing as the sport looks to continue its TV ratings surge. With the sprint toward March Madness well underway, Nielsen has updated its most-watched teams of the 2025-26 season.
Through Jan. 18, the CyHawk rivalry remained the most-watched game of the season to date at 1 million viewers during the Jimmy V Classic. That helped propel Iowa State and Iowa to the top of Nielsen’s Top 10 most-watched teams of the year. While reigning national champion UConn is not in the Top 10, Nielsen told On3 the Huskies sit just outside at No. 11.
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On3 is tracking the most-watched women’s college basketball teams, according to Nielsen Big Data + Panel data. Here is the full Top 10 through Jan. 18. Note: This story will be updated regularly throughout the 2025-26 season.
1. Iowa State
Through the non-conference part of the schedule, Iowa State was rolling to a 16-0 record. But the Cyclones hit a rough patch in Big 12 play, losing five straight games before getting on track with back-to-back wins as of Jan. 27.
Iowa State’s rivalry game against Iowa – which took place in this year’s Jimmy V Classic – led the charge through January as the most-watched game of the season. An average of 1 million viewers tuned in as Audi Crooks and the Cyclones defeated the Hawkeyes.
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2. Iowa
It’s been an impressive second season for Iowa under head coach Jan Jensen. The Hawkeyes lost just two games in non-conference play and started out Big Ten action undefeated at 8-0, including three straight ranked victories.
Iowa’s loss to Iowa State was also the most-watched game of the year at 1 million viewers in the Jimmy V Classic. Additionally, the loss to UConn is the third-most watched game of the year, averaging 725,000 viewers for FOX Dec. 20.
3. USC
Without superstar JuJu Watkins, it’s been an up-and-down year for USC. The Trojans got off to a 3-6 start to Big Ten play, including six losses in seven games as of Jan. 27.
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Still, USC is a TV ratings draw, playing in three of the Top 10 most-watched women’s college basketball games of the season – led by the Dec. 13 loss to UConn. The Trojans have gotten a big year out of Jazzy Davidson, who leads the team in points, rebounds, assists and steals per game as a true freshman.
4. Notre Dame
Notre Dame hit a rough patch as ACC play began, dropping three of its last four games as of Jan. 27. Still, the Fighting Irish sit as the fourth-most watched women’s basketball team as of Jan. 18, with the victory over USC leading the charge as the No. 7 game of the year.
Hannah Hidalgo remains a force for Notre Dame, leading the program in points, assists and steals this season. The Fighting Irish sit squarely in the middle of the ACC race while coming in as a No. 8 seed in ESPN’s Bracketology projections as of Jan. 27.
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5. Oklahoma State
Jan. 18, Oklahoma State took down Iowa State in an emphatic victory in Big 12 play. That victory also ranked as the fifth-most watched women’s basketball game this season, as of Jan. 18, catapulting the Cowgirls to the fifth-most watched team of the year.
Oklahoma State is right in the thick of the Big 12 race, sitting at 16-5 overall and 5-3 in league play as of Jan. 28. Micah Gray and Haleigh Timmer are leading that charge with more than 14 points per game each.
6. Maryland
Maryland had a strong run through non-conference play, taking a 14-0 record into Big Ten play. The Terrapins lost three out of their last four games as of Jan. 27, though, but are one of the most-watched teams in women’s basketball this year.
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UMD has gotten a big year out of Duke transfer Oluchi Okanawa, who leads the team with more than 17 points per game as of Jan. 27. Still, despite the rough patch, the Terps could be in position to host in the NCAA Tournament at season’s end.
7. Michigan
One of the top teams in the Big Ten this year, Michigan has also drawn plenty of viewers on TV. The Wolverines’ close loss to UConn ranks as the second-most watched game of the year, bringing in 967,000 viewers on FOX in the Basketball Hall of Fame Women’s Showcase.
Michigan sits a game back in the Big Ten standings as of Jan. 27 with an 8-1 record in league play – only losing to Washington. Olivia Olson continues to lead the charge, leading the Wolverines in both points and rebounds as a sophomore.
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8. Texas
After last year’s run to the Final Four, Texas didn’t miss a beat to start 2025-26. The Longhorns won their first 18 games before back-to-back losses to LSU and South Carolina, putting them in the mix for another SEC title.
That loss to South Carolina ranks as the eighth-most watched game of the year, according to Nielsen Big Data + Panel. Texas remains one of the top teams in the country as of Jan. 27 heading into the home stretch of conference play.
9. South Carolina
It’s been yet another strong year for South Carolina under Dawn Staley. The Gamecocks lost just one game as of Jan. 27 and came in as the ninth-most watched team as of Jan. 18, according to Nielsen data.
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South Carolina had three games rank in the Top 10 most-watched games of the year as once again a big college women’s basketball TV ratings draw. The Gamecocks’ wins over USC Nov. 15, Texas Jan. 15 and Louisville Dec. 4 all ranked in the Top 10 in viewership.
10. Baylor
Rounding out the Top 10 most-watched teams in women’s college basketball, Baylor also sits atop the Big 12 standings. The Bears sat tied for first in a crowded conference race as of Jan. 27 amid a seven-game win streak.
Baylor has gotten some big-time production out of Taliah Scott, who leads the team with more than 20 points per game. Darianna Littlepage-Buggs is also putting together a huge year, averaging a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds per game.
As the stakes continue to rise across women’s basketball, TV ratings are sure to do the same. March Madness is on the horizon amid a season full of surprises.
