For a second consecutive week, there’s a change at the top of the USA TODAY Sports women’s basketball coaches poll. It took two overtime periods and a raucous atmosphere, but Notre Dame’s stay at No. 1 this time around lasted for just one week after a loss to North Carolina State.
Texas will now take a turn as the highest-ranked squad in the nation. The Longhorns, who becomes the fifth different team to occupy the No. 1 position this season, received 22 of 31 first-place votes and head the coaches poll for the first time in program history. The first coaches poll began in 2003-04. season Texas was ranked No. 1 in the media poll prior to that season.
UCLA is back up to No. 2, claiming seven first-place nods, though the Bruins narrowly survived at Iowa on Sunday at nearly the same time as Notre Dame was upended at North Carolina State. Southern California climbs to No. 3 with a single first-place vote on the eve of its rematch with UCLA. Notre Dame retains a top vote but falls to No. 4 overall.
TOP 25: Complete USA TODAY Sports women’s basketball poll
The next three positions remain unchanged as Connecticut, South Carolina and LSU hold serve. No. 8 TCU and No. 9 North Carolina each climb a spot, and North Carolina State vaults into the top 10 after toppling the Fighting Irish.
Georgia Tech is the lone team dropping out of the rankings. Oklahoma State joins at No. 23.