The 2025-26 women's college basketball season is well underway, and the top programs around the country are starting to separate themselves from the pack. So who are the best of the best in the game right now?
We look to answer that question with our latest women's college basketball rankings, showcasing the top 25 teams in the nation as we near the holiday season.
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Laura Ziegler and Tajiana Roberts have been a nice one-two punch for Louisville so far this season. They are the main reason why the Cardinals are among the best teams in the ACC after a 9-3 start. Their three defeats have come against ranked teams, including South Carolina.
While Louisville deserves respect, they will be a borderline team in the top 25 if they can't get some Ws against ranked squads.
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After four straight trips to the regional semifinals, Niele Ivey is hoping top star Hannah Hidalgo can take Notre Dame further in 2025-26. The junior is off to an outstanding start and is third in the nation in scoring (25.9 PPG). They've also gotten strong play from senior Cassandre Prosper (13 points and 5 rebounds a night).
This team can be a force because of Hidalgo, but she needs help, and she didn't get it in rough losses to Michigan and Ole Miss.
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Sophomore Jaloni Cambridge leads an Ohio State team that is one of the better offensive units in the country. While they have a loss to UConn on their 2025-26 resume — no shame in that — they enter the weekend with a 7-1 record and own a win over West Virginia.
If Kevin McGuff can develop freshman Dasha Biriuk and Bryn Martin into impact players, the Buckeyes will have a chance at a Big Ten title this season.
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Head coach Kristy Curry has her Alabama team off to a very good start this season. They own a sparkling 10-0 record, and it is mostly due to a defense that is one of the best in the nation, giving up just 51.3 PPG. Plus, the combo of Jessica Timmons and Essence Cody has grown into a formidable duo this year for the Crimson Tide.
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After a tough loss to NC State to begin the season, Kim Caldwell's Tennessee squad quickly recovered and won five straight. They have a strong starting five that features four different players averaging 10 or more points a night, including junior Talaysia Cooper. The junior is posting 16 points and 7 boards a game.
The 6-2 Lady Vols have lost both their games against ranked teams this season, but they came against squads in the top 10 at the time.
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Freshman Jazzy Davidson has starred for a rock-solid USC team that enters the weekend with a 7-2 record. Although they came up short in games against South Carolina and Washington this season, they do own a key win over NC State.
This Trojan team can make some noise in the Big Ten and showed it recently with a win over Washington, but they have a clear ceiling with top star Juju Watkins out for the year.
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Jacie Hoyt's Oklahoma State team is off to a stellar start to the 2025-26 college basketball season. They are averaging 96.4 points a game (second in the nation) and have not one, not two, not three, not four, not five, not six, but seven players averaging double-digit points per game heading into the weekend.
The only blemish on their impressive 10-1 start is a surprising loss to St. John's earlier this season.
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Michigan State is off to a very nice start in 2025-26 due to having one of the best offenses in college basketball. The team is fifth in the nation in scoring (92.8 PPG) and is led by the impressive play of guard Kennedy Blair. The sophomore is second on the team in scoring (13.0 PPG) and is leading in rebounds (6.8) and assists (6.2). The 8-1 group also has four players scoring 10 or more points.
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Head coach Tina Langley may have her best team yet in her five seasons overseeing the Washington women's basketball program. A major reason is the strong play of junior guard Savia Sellers. The native of Alaska is leading her team in both points (19.2 PG) and assists (3.7 PG).
Although the Big Ten team doesn't own a win over a ranked squad yet, and recently lost to LSU, the 8-1 squad has a defense that is one of the best in the nation.
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Year two for Kentucky under head coach Kenny Brooks is off to a really good start as the Wildcats have kicked off the year by winning nine of their first 10, including a big W over Louisville. A major reason for the impressive start to their campaign is thanks to junior Clara Strack.
The one-time Virginia Tech recruit is posting a 15 and 10 double-double a night for her team. However, beyond the play of their top star, Kentucky is a legit top 25 team because of a defense that is giving up just 49 PPG — second in the nation.
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Baylor opened the year with a big win over Duke, and for the most part, has continued that momentum into the holiday season. They enter the weekend with an impressive 10-1 record and a first-place spot in the Big 12 due to sophomore Taliah Scott.
She is eighth in the country in scoring (23.8 PPG) and is also chipping in with four rebounds and four assists a night. The Bears will go as far as Scott takes them this season.
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Although Iowa took a step back last season, its first in four years without Caitlin Clark and legendary coach Lisa Bluder, year two for current coach Jan Jensen has been far better as the Hawkeyes began the year 9-0.
Leading the way this season is sophomore Ava Heiden, who is scoring 15 points and pulling in 8 boards a night from the guard spot. She is a key reason for their fast start, but they hit a big bump in the road this week against in-state rivals Iowa State.
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Coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin looks to have another good Ole Miss squad on her hands in 2025-26. The Rebels head into the weekend 8-1 and near the top of the SEC standings. The biggest reason for their strong start is the play of their dynamic forward duo of seniors Cotie McMahon and Christeen Iwuala.
Not only are they leading the team in scoring (18 and 16 PPG, respectively), but they also have been outstanding on the boards. Combining for close to 40 points and 15 rebounds a night.
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Led by sophomore Mikayla Blakes (25.7 PPG), Vanderbilt lands in the latest top 25 due to an offense that has looked very good to begin the new season. While they don't have a big win to hang their hat on just yet, they have dominated their foes en route to a 9-0 record and a first-place tie in the SEC.
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North Carolina had their best year yet under coach Courtney Banghart when it posted 29 wins and went to the regional semifinals in the NCAA tournament last season. They are looking to maintain that new standard in 2025-26 and have gotten off to a 9-2 start with impactful play from guard Indya Nivar and forward Ciera Toomey.
Although they already have a pair of losses, they came against schools in the top five at the time. They have a chance to bounce up the latest women's college basketball rankings with a big game against Louisville next week.
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Following an early loss to UCLA, Jennie Baranczyk's Oklahoma team has gotten on a roll. Winning eight straight and getting near the top of the SEC standings with a 9-1 record. The Sooners have four players posting 12 or more points a game, with impressive freshman Aaliyah Chavez leading the way with 19 points a game. Oklahoma is a program to keep an eye on this season.
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Maryland has gotten off to an impressive 11-0 start due to some very strong play from their quartet of guards. The group features big-time WNBA Draft prospect Yarden Garzon, but is led by junior Oluchi Okananwa, who is posting 14 points and five rebounds a night. They are averaging just over 86 points per game and own an early-season win over Kentucky.
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Michigan is among the top-scoring teams in the nation (92.8 PPG) because of a quartet of guards all averaging double-digit points this season. But the best of the bunch is uber-talented sophomore Olivia Olson, who leads the team in scoring at 18.2 PPG, and is also adding 6 boards and 2 steals per night.
Although they fell to UConn earlier this year, they have looked very good in the rest of their eight wins, including one over Notre Dame.
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Legendary Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly may have his best team in 30 years of overseeing the Cyclones program. A major reason is the nation's most dominant scorer, Audi Crooks. The junior is on the radar of WNBA Draft scouts after posting a career high 27 points a game on an astounding 73.2% from the floor.
Forward Addy Brown is also playing a major role as she averages a near double-double each night. Iowa State is a dark horse team in the sport this season, and their win this week over Iowa was the early proof.
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TCU is off to an impressive 10-0 start due to the great play from the senior combo of Marta Suarez (18.9 points and six rebounds) and Olivia Miles (17.7 points and six rebounds). But they have also dominated much of their competition with an elite defense that is giving up just 48.5 PPG — No. 1 in the nation.
After winning 34 games and reaching the regional final last year, Mark Campbell's team has continued its strong play this season and has already beaten NC State.
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Kim Mulkey has an LSU team that can match Pokey Chatman's groups from two decades ago and win 30 or more games for a fourth straight year in 2025-26. A major reason why is the strong play of stud WNBA Draft prospect Flau'Jae Johnson.
The seniors' 16.1 points per game is part of a group that has seven different players averaging double digits. The Tigers unsurprisingly lead the nation in scoring (111.5 PPG). This group is an offensive juggernaut and will be a serious problem in the tournament.
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To the surprise of no one, Dawn Staley has another very good South Carolina team to lead in the 2025-26 season. Both Ta'Niya Latson and Madina Okot are getting serious WNBA Draft buzz this year, but sophomore Joyce Edwards has stolen the show so far as she leads the team in scoring (19.4 PPG) and is shooting an impressive 57.7% from the field.
Although they have a razor-thin loss to Texas, they own a pair of wins over ranked teams, USC and Louisville.
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UCLA has several players who could be top 20 picks in next year's WNBA Draft, including potential No.1 pick Lauren Betts. Yet, they have had a very strong start and own wins over a pair of ranked teams because of the impressive play of senior guards Gabriela Jaquez and Kiki Rice.
The duo is combining for close to 30 points, 13 boards, over 5 assists, and 2 steals a night for the top-five program.
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What a shocker. Legendary college basketball coach Geno Auriemma has a UConn team that is a serious threat to win a second straight championship in March. The Big East's greatest team has kicked off the season with a 9-0 record and already owns wins over Louisville and Michigan.
While they lost star Paige Bueckers in the WNBA Draft, they have a pair of future top 15 picks. The combo of senior guard Azzi Fudd and sophomore forward Sarah Strong has been dynamite for a team that is top-10 in both offense and defense this season.
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Vic Schaefer has turned Texas into a yearly powerhouse in college basketball, and the team seems primed to win 30 or more games for a third straight season, for the first time since the 1980s. A major reason is the performance of their top star, forward Madison Booker.
The junior leads the team in scoring, rebounds, and steals. Along with young guards Alliyah Crump and Jordan Lee, the Longhorns already have big wins over three ranked teams, including top-five squads UCLA and South Carolina.
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