Women’s college basketball rankings: Preseason USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll, AP Top 25

The 2025 preseason women’s college basketball rankings are out, and a familiar name is at the top.

The defending champion Connecticut Huskies took the No. 1 spot in the initial USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll, released on Thursday, Oct. 23. UConn may have lost Paige Bueckers to the WNBA, but does return Azzi Fudd and other stars as it looks to become the first repeat champion since winning four straight from 2013-16.

Advertisement

REQUIRED READING: Connecticut starts at No. 1 in USA TODAY Sports preseason women’s college basketball poll

However, the path for UConn will once again feature Dawn Staley and South Carolina, which comes in No. 2. The Gamecocks added firepower with Florida State transfer Ta’Niya Latson, who led the NCAA with 25.2 points per game last season.

Texas, UCLA and LSU round out the preseason five, showing the SEC could be the best conference in women’s college basketball again this season.

Here’s a full look at the top-25 rankings to start the 2025 women’s college basketball season:

1 / 13

These NCAA women’s basketball teams are preseason favorites. See who topped coaches’ poll

2 / 13

These NCAA women’s basketball teams are preseason favorites. See who topped coaches’ poll

3 / 13

These NCAA women’s basketball teams are preseason favorites. See who topped coaches’ poll

4 / 13

These NCAA women’s basketball teams are preseason favorites. See who topped coaches’ poll

5 / 13

These NCAA women’s basketball teams are preseason favorites. See who topped coaches’ poll

6 / 13

These NCAA women’s basketball teams are preseason favorites. See who topped coaches’ poll

7 / 13

These NCAA women’s basketball teams are preseason favorites. See who topped coaches’ poll

8 / 13

These NCAA women’s basketball teams are preseason favorites. See who topped coaches’ poll

9 / 13

These NCAA women’s basketball teams are preseason favorites. See who topped coaches’ poll

10 / 13

These NCAA women’s basketball teams are preseason favorites. See who topped coaches’ poll

11 / 13

These NCAA women’s basketball teams are preseason favorites. See who topped coaches’ poll

12 / 13

These NCAA women’s basketball teams are preseason favorites. See who topped coaches’ poll

13 / 13

These NCAA women’s basketball teams are preseason favorites. See who topped coaches’ poll

Preseason women’s college basketball rankings

Advertisement

Others receiving votes: West Virginia 72; Richmond 67; Michigan State 64; Alabama 40; South Dakota State 19; Florida State 15; Princeton 9; Creighton 9; Washington 8; Indiana 7; Stanford 4; James Madison 4; Nebraska 2; South Florida 1; Minnesota 1; George Mason 1; Fairfield 1; Cal 1.

Others receiving votes: Washington 79, Ohio St. 46, West Virginia 17, Princeton 17, Minnesota 15, Kansas St 15, Kansas 7, Stanford 3, South Dakota St. 3, Illinois 2, Nebraska 2, Columbia 2.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Women’s college basketball rankings: Preseason top 25 in Coaches, AP