Iowa has entered the top 10 of The Associated Press women's basketball poll for the first time in two years, while UConn holds the unanimous top spot. The Hawkeyes climbed into the rankings alongside an unchanged top six, reflecting steady performances across major conferences. South Carolina remains at No. 2, setting the stage for key matchups ahead.
The Associated Press Top 25 women's basketball poll, released on January 19, 2026, marks a significant milestone for Iowa, which last achieved a top-10 ranking in the final poll of Caitlin Clark's senior year. The Hawkeyes had reached as high as 11th earlier this season but now sit at No. 10 after consistent showings in the Big Ten.
UConn earned all 30 first-place votes from the national media panel, maintaining its position as the unanimous No. 1. The Huskies boast a 35-game winning streak dating back to last season and followed the poll release with a victory over Notre Dame, which dropped out of the rankings. The top six teams remained unchanged: UConn at 1, South Carolina at 2, UCLA at 3, Texas at 4 despite a recent 68-65 loss to South Carolina, Vanderbilt at 5, and LSU at 6.
Michigan rose to seventh, followed by Louisville at eighth, TCU at ninth, and Iowa rounding out the top 10. This shift came after Kentucky's loss to Mississippi State, causing the Wildcats to fall four spots to 11th. Notable movements include Duke's return at No. 21 after a 10-game winning streak, having started the preseason at seventh before early struggles. Princeton climbed to No. 20, its highest since 13th in 2015, fueled by a 14-game streak with a recent overtime win over Harvard.
Iowa State exited the poll after five straight losses, having been 10th as recently as December 22. Conference representation highlights the Southeastern Conference's dominance with nine teams in the top 25 for the second week running, followed by the Big Ten with seven, the Big 12 with five, and the Atlantic Coast Conference with two.
Looking ahead, a marquee matchup pits No. 5 Vanderbilt, undefeated in SEC play at 19-0, against No. 2 South Carolina on Sunday. The Gamecocks will test the Commodores' historic start.
