Man, what a wild start to 2026 in women's college basketball! The latest AP Top 25 poll dropped on Monday, and it's got everyone talking. Four teams from the top 10 took losses last week, opening the door wide for some serious movement.
The biggest winners? Kentucky and Vanderbilt, who both leaped five spots into the top 10 after handing LSU back-to-back defeats. It's the kind of chaos that reminds you why conference play is always so unpredictable and exciting.
"It's the kind of chaos that reminds you why conference play is always so unpredictable and exciting.
At the very top, things stayed pretty steady. UConn held onto the No. 1 spot with 28 first-place votes, while Texas grabbed the remaining four to sit at No. 2. The Huskies and Longhorns have been dominant all season, and they didn't slip up this time around. South Carolina stayed put at third, and UCLA rounded out the top four.
Kentucky and Vanderbilt Stun LSU, Leap into Top 10
Now, the real story is Kentucky jumping to sixth and Vanderbilt to seventh. Both teams took down what was then-No. 5 LSU in thrilling fashion over a few days. Kentucky kicked it off on New Year's Day with an absolute nail-biter, winning 80-78 on a buzzer-beater three from Tonie Morgan. Imagine the scene in Baton Rouge—the crowd going silent as that shot swished through with just 0.5 seconds left. The Wildcats had to fight back from deficits all night, but players like Teonni Key and Clara Strack dominated inside, while Morgan's clutch play sealed it. That win ended LSU's perfect start and sent shockwaves through the rankings.
Not even 72 hours later, Vanderbilt kept the pressure on LSU, beating them 65-61 at home in Nashville. Mikayla Blakes was unstoppable, dropping 32 points and making big plays down the stretch, including a couple of tough layups in traffic. Freshman Aubrey Galvan hit a huge three to take the lead for good late in the game. For Vandy, this was their first win over a top-five team in 17 years—since way back in 2009. And get this: Vanderbilt hasn't been ranked this high since March 2007, when they were seventh. Coach Shea Ralph has this program buzzing, and staying undefeated has them looking like a serious contender in the SEC.
LSU, meanwhile, took a nosedive to 12th after those two losses, marking their first defeats of the season and an 0-2 start in SEC play that ended a dominant non-conference run where they frequently scored over 100 points per game.
They were one of seven unbeaten teams to finally drop a game last week, joining the likes of Maryland, TCU, Iowa State, Arizona State, Alabama, and Georgia in seeing perfect records end as the tough grind of conference schedules kicked in.
Kentucky and Vanderbilt clamped down defensively when it mattered most, limiting LSU's high-scoring offense and forcing tough shots in crucial moments, a stark contrast to the Tigers' usual explosive performances on the scoreboard.
More Read
Top Remains Steady as Oklahoma Climbs
But right behind them, Oklahoma climbed to fifth—their best ranking since wrapping up the 2009 season at fourth. The Sooners have been quietly putting together a strong run, and it's paying off now that SEC and Big 12 games are heating up.
South Carolina stayed put at third, and UCLA rounded out the top four.
UConn and Texas have looked nearly unbeatable all season.
Multiple Unbeaten Streaks End Across the Country
They were one of seven unbeaten teams to finally drop a game last week, along with Maryland (who fell to eighth after losing to Illinois), TCU (down to 13th after an overtime heartbreaker to Utah), and others like Iowa State, Arizona State, Alabama, and Georgia. It's a reminder that no one's invincible once you hit the grind of conference schedules.
The Tigers had been lighting up scoreboards, often topping 100 points, but Kentucky and Vanderbilt clamped down defensively when it mattered most.
Right now, only four teams remain undefeated: UConn, Texas, Vanderbilt, and No. 17 Texas Tech.
Other Notable Ranking Moves and Milestones
Other notable moves: Maryland slipped just one spot despite their first loss, thanks to a strong resume. Michigan dropped to ninth after falling at Washington, who jumped back into the poll at 23rd. Louisville climbed three places to 10th, looking solid in ACC play.
And speaking of streaks ending, Notre Dame's impressive run of 85 straight weeks in the Top 25 came to a close. The Irish, now 10-4, lost to Georgia Tech and Duke, snapping what was the third-longest active streak behind UConn's insane 615 and South Carolina's 257.
On a happier note, a couple of coaches hit big milestones last week. Louisville's Jeff Walz and Miami's Tricia Cullop both notched their 500th career wins.
Looking Ahead: Key Matchups and Conference Depth
Looking ahead, there's one game circling on everyone's calendar: No. 2 Texas heading to No. 12 LSU on Sunday. The Tigers get a shot at redemption right away against one of the best teams in the country.
This poll shakeup really highlights how deep women's college basketball is this year. The SEC is loaded, with teams like Kentucky, Vanderbilt, and Oklahoma making noise alongside the usual powers.
We've seen upsets galore already, and we're just getting into the meat of conference play. Players like Blakes at Vanderbilt, Morgan at Kentucky, and the stars at UConn and Texas are putting on shows every night.
Emily Parker
Sports Reporter
Emily Parker is an expert sports journalist, covering major leagues like the NFL, NBA, and the Olympics. She focuses on athlete stories, sports culture, and global sports events, bringing a unique perspective to the world of sports reporting.
