NCAA champion UCLA finishes No. 1 in women's AP Top 25 ahead of South Carolina, UConn, Texas, Duke
UCLA finished the season at No. 1 in The Associated Press women's basketball Top 25 on Monday after routing South Carolina to win its first NCAA championship. The Bruins were a unanimous choice from the 31-member national media panel, ending the season as the top choice for the first time in school history.
Their first No. 1 ranking came after they also beat South Carolina in November 2024. The Gamecocks were second behind the Bruins with Final Four participants UConn and Texas third and fourth, respectively.
The Huskies, who have finished in the top 10 of the final poll for 33 straight years, had been the No. 1 team all season until Monday. They had been unbeaten until a loss to South Carolina on Friday.
No. 5 Duke, No. 6 TCU and No.
7 Michigan, which all reached the Elite Eight, followed the Longhorns. LSU was eighth and Notre Dame ninth. The Fighting Irish made the biggest leap in the poll, climbing 13 spots after reaching the regional final with an upset of Vanderbilt in the Sweet 16..