Women’s basketball way-too-early 2026-27 power rankings, topped by USC

UCLA won the national championship on April 5 in Phoenix, Arizona, defeating South Carolina by a score of 79-51 . It's the first national title for UCLA in women's basketball since 1978 — before there was an NCAA Tournament for the women's sport — when the Bruins won the AIAW crown. Much will change in women’s college basketball this offseason.

The coaching carousel is already in a full spin as two Power 4 jobs — UCF and Georgia — were filled this weekend and another, Virginia , surprisingly opened . Additionally, the transfer portal opens on Monday, and fans already know about dozens of players that are going to enter, from Iowa State superstar Audi Crooks to North Carolina point guard Lanie Grant. While we don’t know which coaches will still fill the open jobs, or what type of portal additions will be made, we’re going to get out our crystal ball anyway and take a look into the future.

For UCLA, the future is murky for the national champions. The Bruins top six scorers are all seniors who have exhausted their eligibility. Sienna Betts is expected to return, but it's unclear what the rest of the roster will look like.

Here’s your way-too-early power rankings entering the 2026-27 season: 1. USC Yes, a team that lost in the second round of the Women's NCAA Tournament tops our list. In case you forgot, JuJu Watkins is set to return to the court for the Trojans next season.