TCU Women’s Basketball Breaks Into AP Top 10 After Historic Win

TCU Women’s Basketball Breaks Into AP Top 10 After Historic Win \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ TCU women’s basketball achieved its highest-ever AP Top 25 ranking at No. 9 after a dominant win over Notre Dame, marking the Horned Frogs’ first time in the top 10. Meanwhile, UCLA retained its No. 1 spot, and UConn followed at No. 2. Holiday tournament upsets caused major shifts, with Notre Dame falling to No. 10 and Duke surging to No. 8. Michigan and Michigan State entered the rankings for the first time this season, while N.C. State dropped out after a 24-week streak.

Historic Rankings for TCU Women’s Basketball: Quick Looks

• TCU Milestone: First-ever top-10 appearance at No. 9 in AP rankings.
• Notre Dame’s Slide: Drops seven spots to No. 10 after back-to-back losses.
• Top Spots: UCLA remains No. 1, followed by UConn at No. 2.
• Duke Climbs: Blue Devils reach their highest ranking in nearly a decade at No. 8.
• Big Ten Dominance: Nine teams from the conference appear in the Top 25.

Deep Look

TCU’s Record-Breaking Rise

TCU women’s basketball reached a historic milestone on Monday, climbing to No. 9 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll. This marks the Horned Frogs’ first-ever appearance in the top 10, surpassing their previous best ranking of No. 13 achieved in 2004.

The surge follows TCU’s dominant performance in the Cayman Islands Classic, where they stunned then-No. 3 Notre Dame. The victory not only solidified TCU’s credentials but also handed Notre Dame one of two consecutive losses, causing the Fighting Irish to plummet seven spots to No. 10.

Shakeup at the Top

UCLA held firm at No. 1, earning 25 first-place votes from the national media panel. The Bruins impressed with three wins in three days at a holiday tournament in Hawaii over Thanksgiving weekend, solidifying their position as the top team.

UConn remained at No. 2, receiving seven first-place votes after notching two victories in the Bahamas. Rounding out the top five are South Carolina, Texas, and LSU. The Tigers jumped past South Carolina to claim the fifth spot, a reflection of their strong early-season form.

Duke Makes Major Moves

Duke was another significant mover in the rankings, climbing five spots to No. 8. The Blue Devils earned their highest ranking in nearly a decade after defeating then-No. 9 Kansas State and No. 8 Oklahoma in a holiday tournament in Las Vegas.

This marks Duke’s first time at No. 8 since November 2014, underscoring the program’s resurgence under head coach Kara Lawson. Kansas State dropped to No. 13, while Oklahoma fell to No. 11.

Michigan Schools Enter the Rankings

Both Michigan and Michigan State made their season debuts in the AP Top 25. The Wolverines entered at No. 23, while the Spartans secured the No. 24 spot. This marks the first time both schools have appeared in the rankings simultaneously since January 2021.

For Michigan State, this is a particularly significant achievement, as it is their first ranking in nearly three years. The last time they appeared in the poll was January 2021.

Teams on the Way Out

N.C. State exited the rankings for the first time in 24 weeks, ending what had been the 10th-longest active streak. The Wolfpack’s three losses this season have all come against top-10 opponents, including South Carolina, TCU, and LSU. They face another challenge Thursday against No. 18 Ole Miss in the SEC/ACC Challenge.

Oregon also dropped out of the rankings after a series of inconsistent performances.

Alabama Rises to New Heights

The Alabama Crimson Tide continued their strong start to the season, climbing four spots to No. 19. Their 9-0 record includes a dominant 98-49 victory over Georgia State on Monday, marking the program’s best start since the 2000-01 season. The No. 19 ranking is Alabama’s highest in 25 years, a testament to their impressive progress.

Conference Dominance

The Big Ten leads all conferences with an impressive nine teams in the Top 25, showcasing its depth and competitiveness. The SEC follows with seven teams, while the ACC and Big 12 each have four. The Big East has one representative, highlighting the dominance of power conferences in the rankings.

Game of the Week: Texas vs. Notre Dame

This week’s marquee matchup features No. 4 Texas traveling to South Bend to face No. 10 Notre Dame in the SEC/ACC Challenge on Thursday. The game pits two of the best duos in women’s basketball against each other: Texas stars Madison Booker and Rori Harmon will face off against Notre Dame’s Olivia Miles and Hannah Hidalgo.

The Fighting Irish are eager to rebound from their recent two-game losing streak, while the Longhorns aim to solidify their position among the top five.

Holiday Tournaments Drive Rankings Shakeup

The past week’s holiday tournaments played a pivotal role in reshaping the rankings. Key matchups between top-ranked teams provided both surprises and confirmation of early-season expectations. Programs like TCU and Duke capitalized on their strong performances to climb the rankings, while others, like Notre Dame and Oklahoma, experienced setbacks.

These early-season tests are critical for teams building their résumés for the NCAA tournament, offering glimpses of their potential and resilience.

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