{"id":6286,"date":"2026-02-27T07:40:02","date_gmt":"2026-02-27T07:40:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/?p=6286"},"modified":"2026-02-27T07:40:02","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T07:40:02","slug":"womens-college-basketball-power-rankings-two-teams-rejoin-the-list","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/?p=6286","title":{"rendered":"Women&#8217;s college basketball Power Rankings: Two teams rejoin the list"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"article-meta\">\n<div class=\"byline-wrap\">\n<ul class=\"authors byline-authors\">\n<li class=\"single-author mugshot-shown\">\n<div class=\"author-img\"><\/div>\n<p>Michael Voepel<span class=\"timestamp \">Feb 25, 2026, 08:00 AM ET<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"author-overlay\"><a class=\"icon-font-after icon-close-solid-after\" href=\"#\">Close<\/a><\/p>\n<ul>Michael Voepel is a senior writer who covers the WNBA, women&#8217;s college basketball and other college sports. Voepel began covering women&#8217;s basketball in 1984, and has been with ESPN since 1996.<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Multiple Authors<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>In their second year in the Big Ten, the <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"f430852b-8bf3-6f5f-f713-a28d18e7697d\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/womens-college-basketball\/team\/_\/id\/26\/ucla-bruins\">UCLA Bruins<\/a> are closing in on a milestone. With a victory at longtime rival <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"e2b5504a-e678-c474-854b-ada56e39f8c2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/womens-college-basketball\/team\/_\/id\/30\/usc-trojans\">USC<\/a> on Sunday, the Bruins will be just the fourth program to finish with a perfect regular season in Big Ten women&#8217;s college basketball.<\/p>\n<p>The last to do it was <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"a988d662-ef82-d907-32bd-9ea740fc0cca\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/womens-college-basketball\/team\/_\/id\/120\/maryland-terrapins\">Maryland<\/a> in 2015, the season the Terps joined the Big Ten and advanced to the Final Four for the second year in a row. The others were <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"2fe4080d-759c-2d3b-4a7a-658f10e2fabe\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/womens-college-basketball\/team\/_\/id\/2509\/purdue-boilermakers\">Purdue<\/a> in 1999, when the Boilermakers won the national championship, and Ohio State in 1985. That was coach Tara VanDerveer&#8217;s last season with the Buckeyes before she went on to a legendary career at <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"7fadb11c-86d6-4d16-b273-4948586be788\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/womens-college-basketball\/team\/_\/id\/24\/stanford-cardinal\">Stanford<\/a>. Ohio State lost to eventual national champion <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"7c703c8c-25a1-0885-335f-1e26a477b927\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/womens-college-basketball\/team\/_\/id\/295\/old-dominion-monarchs\">Old Dominion<\/a> in the Elite Eight in 1985.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"inline editorial float-r\" data-behavior=\"article_related\">\n<h2 class=\"editorial-title\">Editor&#8217;s Picks<\/h2>\n<p>2 Related<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<p>The Big Ten began sponsoring women&#8217;s basketball in the 1982-83 season. The league&#8217;s makeup has changed a lot since then, including the addition of former Pac-12 teams UCLA, USC, <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"6851b265-32bd-bc12-1800-44220609403d\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/womens-college-basketball\/team\/_\/id\/2483\/oregon-ducks\">Oregon<\/a> and <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"54ee1442-620e-33a7-c50b-874f2a311f53\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/womens-college-basketball\/team\/_\/id\/264\/washington-huskies\">Washington<\/a> in 2024-25. USC won the regular-season title last year at 17-1. The Bruins were second at 15-2, then won the league tournament title over the Trojans and made the women&#8217;s Final Four for the first time in the NCAA era. (UCLA won the AIAW national championship in 1978).<\/p>\n<p>This season, UCLA&#8217;s only loss was to <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"2cf4a1b9-f167-45bb-d6f0-1f2f2eb27e22\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/womens-college-basketball\/team\/_\/id\/251\/texas-longhorns\">Texas<\/a> at the Players Era Championship in Las Vegas on Nov. 26. The Bruins&#8217; 21-game winning streak is the third-longest active streak among Division I women&#8217;s teams, behind <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"179cc0cf-4aff-5dd9-80cb-c4bbf21c5442\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/womens-college-basketball\/team\/_\/id\/41\/uconn-huskies\">UConn&#8217;<\/a>s 29 games this season and 45 dating to last season and <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"314d1815-e2ed-beaf-1280-6926a2bde94c\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/womens-college-basketball\/team\/_\/id\/2449\/north-dakota-state-bison\">North Dakota State<\/a>&#8216;s 23.<\/p>\n<p>The Bruins &#8212; No. 2 again in this week&#8217;s ESPN women&#8217;s college basketball Power Rankings &#8212; will take a 55-54 all-time series lead vs. USC after their 80-46 victory at home over the Trojans on Jan. 3. <a data-player-guid=\"aef90bbb-424c-3bec-a302-10757b5b569c\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/womens-college-basketball\/player\/_\/id\/5175946\/juju-watkins\">JuJu Watkins<\/a>&#8216; absence as she rehabs a knee injury has changed the dynamic this season for the Trojans. But they have won six of their past seven and would love a chance to keep their rivals from having a perfect league mark.<\/p>\n<p>There also are a few other longtime rivalries coming Sunday to finish regular-season play in the Power 4 conferences, including <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"0b5ffae8-a6ca-0e67-0cd5-81c5531527f8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/womens-college-basketball\/team\/_\/id\/150\/duke-blue-devils\">Duke<\/a> at <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"db29f580-ff0c-6f2c-0fde-7ce7e276cbe8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/womens-college-basketball\/team\/_\/id\/153\/north-carolina-tar-heels\">North Carolina<\/a> (noon ET, ESPN) and <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"2557a8e7-459d-ff0c-6a89-f6b927acd2a8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/womens-college-basketball\/team\/_\/id\/238\/vanderbilt-commodores\">Vanderbilt<\/a> at <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"497e95e2-97ac-7535-f946-91502d9ec4ea\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/womens-college-basketball\/team\/_\/id\/2633\/tennessee-lady-volunteers\">Tennessee<\/a> (2 p.m. ET, ESPN). And the Tar Heels have climbed back into the Power Rankings this week at No. 16.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a.espncdn.com\/i\/mlb\/infographics\/greyline.png\" width=\"100%\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/a.espncdn.com\/combiner\/i?img=\/i\/teamlogos\/ncaa\/500\/41.png?w=65&amp;h=120&amp;transparent=true\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Previous ranking:<\/strong> 1<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/a.espncdn.com\/i\/nba\/misc\/sw_ye_40.png\" width=\"17\"\/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Next seven days: <\/strong>vs. Georgetown (Feb. 26), @ St. John&#8217;s (March 1)<\/p>\n<p>There hasn&#8217;t been much drama for the Huskies this season, but they had a little last Wednesday when they trailed at halftime for the first time in 2025-26. They came back to beat <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"516f8a11-f390-0b6f-92e9-bd2e61362ac9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/womens-college-basketball\/team\/_\/id\/222\/villanova-wildcats\">Villanova<\/a> 83-69, a respectable outcome for the Wildcats. UConn followed that with the customary pummeling of <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"cb780aff-d450-0dca-bf55-3eb655eb3dc6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/womens-college-basketball\/team\/_\/id\/2507\/providence-friars\">Providence<\/a> 81-38. Guard <a data-player-guid=\"343afb44-7a8b-3984-8141-361e8045fdaa\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/womens-college-basketball\/player\/_\/id\/4433790\/azzi-fudd\">Azzi Fudd<\/a> is averaging 17.9 points and shooting 49% this season. For her seven games in February, those numbers have bumped to 21.6 points and 52.2%.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/a.espncdn.com\/combiner\/i?img=\/i\/teamlogos\/ncaa\/500\/26.png?w=65&amp;h=120&amp;transparent=true\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Previous ranking:<\/strong> 2<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/a.espncdn.com\/i\/nba\/misc\/sw_ye_40.png\" width=\"17\"\/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Next seven days: <\/strong>@ USC (March 1)<\/p>\n<p>UCLA secured its first outright conference regular-season title at 17-0 on Sunday with an 80-60 win over <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"0ece4274-c949-d515-5c22-d99acaaefeb0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/womens-college-basketball\/team\/_\/id\/275\/wisconsin-badgers\">Wisconsin<\/a>. That followed an 82-67 victory over Washington on Thursday. Center <a data-player-guid=\"4e73e15c-bb39-3a82-b4bf-8c71fae48868\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/womens-college-basketball\/player\/_\/id\/5105737\/lauren-betts\">Lauren Betts<\/a> combined for 42 points and 22 rebounds. The Bruins&#8217; only previous league championship for a regular season came in the Pac-10 in 1999, when they tied with Oregon.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/a.espncdn.com\/combiner\/i?img=\/i\/teamlogos\/ncaa\/500\/2579.png?w=65&amp;h=120&amp;transparent=true\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Previous ranking:<\/strong> 3<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/a.espncdn.com\/i\/nba\/misc\/sw_ye_40.png\" width=\"17\"\/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Next seven days: <\/strong>vs. Missouri (Feb. 26), @ Kentucky (March 1)<\/p>\n<p>The Gamecocks have won eight in a row, beating <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"122f40f7-90f7-f4d9-934a-41bc8c1646d1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/womens-college-basketball\/team\/_\/id\/333\/alabama-crimson-tide\">Alabama<\/a> 76-57 and <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"540ecdce-5777-cde2-0e87-75327d3d8db8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/womens-college-basketball\/team\/_\/id\/145\/ole-miss-rebels\">Ole Miss<\/a> 85-48 last week. Center <a data-player-guid=\"65d1a858-06e1-3642-bea2-83d7e8b17653\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/womens-college-basketball\/player\/_\/id\/5108587\/madina-okot\">Madina Okot<\/a>, who has been working on her 3-point shot, was 5-of-5 from behind the arc in those games. Her bread and butter are still inside, though, with forward <a data-player-guid=\"88ad377a-4b04-3a72-b3ee-1c39661425bf\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/womens-college-basketball\/player\/_\/id\/5239100\/joyce-edwards\">Joyce Edwards<\/a>, who had a combined 44 points and 18 rebounds in those contests, while Okot had 33 points, 26 rebounds and eight blocks. South Carolina has clinched at least a share of its fifth consecutive SEC regular-season title at 13-1 and can claim it outright with another victory.<\/p>\n<div data-behavior=\"video_scroll\" class=\"contentItem__content contentItem__content--media-card contentItem__content--fullWidth contentItem__content--inline\">\n<figure data-video=\"watch,640,360,48007433\" data-cerebro-id=\"699b51c8177b157a4e2340dc\" data-title=\"South Carolina clinches at least a share of SEC title with win\" class=\"media-wrapper_image video\" data-source=\"espn\" data-contributing-partner=\"wsc\"><picture class=\"media-wrapper_image\"><source data-srcset=\"https:\/\/a.espncdn.com\/combiner\/i?img=%2Fmedia%2Fmotion%2Fwsc%2F2026%2F0222%2F1164a43c%2Dd7ef%2D44af%2Daf23%2D59e0aba48126%2F1164a43c%2Dd7ef%2D44af%2Daf23%2D59e0aba48126.jpg&amp;w=640&amp;h=360&amp;cquality=80&amp;format=jpg\" media=\"(min-width: 376px)\"><source data-srcset=\"https:\/\/a.espncdn.com\/combiner\/i?img=%2Fmedia%2Fmotion%2Fwsc%2F2026%2F0222%2F1164a43c%2Dd7ef%2D44af%2Daf23%2D59e0aba48126%2F1164a43c%2Dd7ef%2D44af%2Daf23%2D59e0aba48126.jpg&amp;w=335&amp;cquality=80, https:\/\/a.espncdn.com\/combiner\/i?img=%2Fmedia%2Fmotion%2Fwsc%2F2026%2F0222%2F1164a43c%2Dd7ef%2D44af%2Daf23%2D59e0aba48126%2F1164a43c%2Dd7ef%2D44af%2Daf23%2D59e0aba48126.jpg&amp;w=670&amp;cquality=40&amp;format=jpg 2x\" media=\"(max-width: 375px)\"><img class=\" lazyload lazyload\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/picture><span class=\"video-play-button\" data-id=\"48007433\">play<\/span><figcaption class=\"media-caption\">\n<p>1:18<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"contentItem__contentWrapper\">\n<p>South Carolina clinches at least a share of SEC title with win<\/p>\n<p class=\"contentItem__subhead\">South Carolina blows out Ole Miss by 37 points to clinch at least a tie for the SEC title.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<hr\/>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/a.espncdn.com\/combiner\/i?img=\/i\/teamlogos\/ncaa\/500\/251.png?w=65&amp;h=120&amp;transparent=true\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Previous ranking:<\/strong> 5<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/a.espncdn.com\/i\/sportsnation\/gn-arrow.png\"\/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Next seven days: <\/strong>vs. Georgia (Feb. 26), @ Alabama (March 1)<\/p>\n<p>Admittedly, Texas faced two very overmatched foes last week in <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"f988e4e7-8875-08b8-46c7-c0b0a1ef115c\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/womens-college-basketball\/team\/_\/id\/8\/arkansas-razorbacks\">Arkansas<\/a> and <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"87c04108-f1a0-e927-f891-c3728c73fa42\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/womens-college-basketball\/team\/_\/id\/344\/mississippi-state-bulldogs\">Mississippi State<\/a>. Still, the consistency of its effort in the 93-62 and 92-42 victories had to please the Longhorns. Forward <a data-player-guid=\"bea8fdf4-b5dd-3a14-bae0-b5c314cde4fe\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/womens-college-basketball\/player\/_\/id\/5175792\/madison-booker\">Madison Booker<\/a> had a combined 44 points on 65.4% shooting, while guard <a data-player-guid=\"d977afa5-f2e8-3294-abbb-57ee9f5cac2f\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/womens-college-basketball\/player\/_\/id\/4433523\/rori-harmon\">Rori Harmon<\/a> combined for 18 assists.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<aside class=\"inline float-r inline-track\">\n<h2 class=\"img-title\">Women&#8217;s Tournament Challenge<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/fantasy.espn.com\/games\/tournament-challenge-bracket-women-2026\/?addata=tcwomens2026_ncaaw_web_inline\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"imageLoaded\" src=\"https:\/\/chui-assets-cdn.espn.com\/e0287a8a-2121-43c5-a4c9-c76b065f7d75.jpeg\" width=\"100%\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Sign up now to play the #1 Women&#8217;s bracket game for FREE! $125,000 in prizes.<br \/><!--Complete your bracket by selecting the winner for each game of the 2025 women's NCAA tournament. --><b><a href=\"https:\/\/fantasy.espn.com\/games\/tournament-challenge-bracket-women-2026\/?addata=tcwomens2026_ncaaw_web_inline\" target=\"_blank\">Play Women&#8217;s Tournament Challenge<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/a.espncdn.com\/combiner\/i?img=\/i\/teamlogos\/ncaa\/500\/238.png?w=65&amp;h=120&amp;transparent=true\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Previous ranking:<\/strong> 4<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/a.espncdn.com\/i\/sportsnation\/rd-arrow.png\"\/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Next seven days: <\/strong>vs. Alabama (Feb. 26), @ Tennessee (March 1)<\/p>\n<p>The Commodores beat <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"7b8166a0-b6df-d465-7e16-64d5933ba54c\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/womens-college-basketball\/team\/_\/id\/96\/kentucky-wildcats\">Kentucky<\/a> 81-79 on Sunday behind guard <a data-player-guid=\"7d2f5911-4733-381e-b559-88c9917021b1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/womens-college-basketball\/player\/_\/id\/5239107\/mikayla-blakes\">Mikayla Blakes<\/a>&#8216; 35 points, her 10th game this season scoring 30 or more. Vanderbilt (11-3) remains tied with Texas in second place in the SEC and is battling the Longhorns for the final NCAA No. 1 seed. The Commodores&#8217; regular-season finale foe, Tennessee, has a huge 80-12 series edge vs. Vandy. But the Commodores won both matchups last season (at Vandy and at the SEC tournament) and enter this matchup as favorites, as the Lady Vols have lost seven of their past nine. However, Vandy has won only once in Knoxville in 2019.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/a.espncdn.com\/combiner\/i?img=\/i\/teamlogos\/ncaa\/500\/99.png?w=65&amp;h=120&amp;transparent=true\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Previous ranking:<\/strong> 6<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/a.espncdn.com\/i\/nba\/misc\/sw_ye_40.png\" width=\"17\"\/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Next seven days: <\/strong>vs. Tennessee (Feb. 26), @ Mississippi State (March 1)<\/p>\n<p>LSU was in trouble at Ole Miss on Thursday, trailing 63-54 after three quarters. But in the final period, the Tigers held the Rebels without a field goal (0-for-17) and won 78-70. Then they showed no mercy against <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"d88182e2-3029-216c-7a97-c0c2855add54\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/womens-college-basketball\/team\/_\/id\/142\/missouri-tigers\">Missouri<\/a>, winning 108-55. <a data-player-guid=\"e206aca7-cdf3-39c1-b18d-fb19ac6d3803\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/womens-college-basketball\/player\/_\/id\/5174285\/milaysia-fulwiley\">MiLaysia Fulwiley<\/a> combined for 48 points and 18 rebounds in the victories. The Tigers are in fourth place in the SEC; the top-four seeds get a double bye into the quarterfinals of the league tournament.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/a.espncdn.com\/combiner\/i?img=\/i\/teamlogos\/ncaa\/500\/201.png?w=65&amp;h=120&amp;transparent=true\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Previous ranking:<\/strong> 10<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/a.espncdn.com\/i\/sportsnation\/gn-arrow.png\"\/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Next seven days: <\/strong>vs. Arkansas (Feb. 26), @ Missouri (March 1)<\/p>\n<p>The Sooners have won four in a row, beating ranked teams Georgia (71-67) and Tennessee (100-93) last week. National Freshman of the Year candidate <a data-player-guid=\"3fec6932-280d-3fc8-b680-b7926984e08e\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/womens-college-basketball\/player\/_\/id\/5311585\/aaliyah-chavez\">Aaliyah Chavez<\/a> had a combined 48 points and nine assists in the victories, while forward <a data-player-guid=\"5477753d-dfa5-3292-8b4e-0c3f4f2d2483\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/womens-college-basketball\/player\/_\/id\/5175754\/sahara-williams\">Sahara Williams<\/a> combined for 33 points, 15 rebounds and six assists. Oklahoma is in fifth place in the SEC at 9-5, although there is still an outside shot at finishing fourth.<\/p>\n<div data-behavior=\"video_scroll\" class=\"contentItem__content contentItem__content--media-card contentItem__content--fullWidth contentItem__content--inline\">\n<figure data-video=\"watch,640,360,48008485\" data-cerebro-id=\"699b6d74177b157a4e235051\" data-title=\"Chavez launches great pass up ahead to Beers\" class=\"media-wrapper_image video\" data-source=\"espn\" data-contributing-partner=\"wsc\"><picture class=\"media-wrapper_image\"><source data-srcset=\"https:\/\/a1.espncdn.com\/combiner\/i?img=%2Fmedia%2Fmotion%2Fwsc%2F2026%2F0222%2F6e83f4de%2D25ee%2D46b6%2D9d5e%2Db3902f8e4397%2F6e83f4de%2D25ee%2D46b6%2D9d5e%2Db3902f8e4397.jpg&amp;w=640&amp;h=360&amp;cquality=80&amp;format=jpg\" media=\"(min-width: 376px)\"><source data-srcset=\"https:\/\/a1.espncdn.com\/combiner\/i?img=%2Fmedia%2Fmotion%2Fwsc%2F2026%2F0222%2F6e83f4de%2D25ee%2D46b6%2D9d5e%2Db3902f8e4397%2F6e83f4de%2D25ee%2D46b6%2D9d5e%2Db3902f8e4397.jpg&amp;w=335&amp;cquality=80, https:\/\/a1.espncdn.com\/combiner\/i?img=%2Fmedia%2Fmotion%2Fwsc%2F2026%2F0222%2F6e83f4de%2D25ee%2D46b6%2D9d5e%2Db3902f8e4397%2F6e83f4de%2D25ee%2D46b6%2D9d5e%2Db3902f8e4397.jpg&amp;w=670&amp;cquality=40&amp;format=jpg 2x\" media=\"(max-width: 375px)\"><img class=\" lazyload lazyload\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/picture><span class=\"video-play-button\" data-id=\"48008485\">play<\/span><figcaption class=\"media-caption\">\n<p>0:24<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"contentItem__contentWrapper\">\n<p>Chavez launches great pass up ahead to Beers<\/p>\n<p class=\"contentItem__subhead\">Aaliyah Chavez heaves a deep pass to Raegan Beers, who finishes with a layup.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<hr\/>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/a.espncdn.com\/combiner\/i?img=\/i\/teamlogos\/ncaa\/500\/2628.png?w=65&amp;h=120&amp;transparent=true\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Previous ranking:<\/strong> 12<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/a.espncdn.com\/i\/sportsnation\/gn-arrow.png\"\/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Next seven days: <\/strong>@ Cincinnati (Feb. 25), vs. Baylor (March 1)<\/p>\n<p>The Frogs had no trouble with <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"99ef67e3-9e7b-90aa-699c-8b2138acca1d\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/womens-college-basketball\/team\/_\/id\/248\/houston-cougars\">Houston<\/a> last Wednesday, winning 72-50 behind forward <a data-player-guid=\"2dad6630-5c45-3e7b-85ce-0fbd64e45979\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/womens-college-basketball\/player\/_\/id\/4704594\/marta-suarez\">Marta Suarez<\/a>&#8216;s 21 points and nine rebounds. But things were tighter against <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"eb44e2d5-8ec6-a4ff-87e6-0d0e65bb113e\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/womens-college-basketball\/team\/_\/id\/66\/iowa-state-cyclones\">Iowa State<\/a> on Sunday until guard <a data-player-guid=\"9b981a71-c55e-3b7f-81a2-1663a2d50ea3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/womens-college-basketball\/player\/_\/id\/4433791\/olivia-miles\">Olivia Miles<\/a> took over the fourth quarter of an 80-73 win. She had 17 of her points in the final period and finished with her fifth triple-double of the season (26 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists). TCU can claim its second consecutive outright Big 12 regular-season title with two wins this week.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<aside class=\"inline float-r inline-track\">\n<h2 class=\"img-title\">The enhanced ESPN App<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/plus.espn.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"imageLoaded\" src=\"https:\/\/a.espncdn.com\/photo\/2025\/0820\/r1534225_1296x729_16-9.jpg\" width=\"100%\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Watch your favorite events in the newly upgraded ESPN App. Learn more about what plan is right for you. <b><a href=\"https:\/\/plus.espn.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Sign Up Now<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<p><strong>Previous ranking:<\/strong> Not ranked<\/p>\n<p><strong>Next seven days: <\/strong>vs. Illinois (Feb. 26), @ Wisconsin (March 1)<\/p>\n<p>After hitting a three-game skid in late January and early February after a season-ending injury to guard <a data-player-guid=\"9ed11bc1-eaa2-3544-828b-67437be7636a\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/womens-college-basketball\/player\/_\/id\/4858677\/taylor-mccabe\">Taylor McCabe<\/a>, the Hawkeyes seem to have figured things out again. They have won four in a row, including 83-74 last Thursday at Purdue and their biggest victory thus far this season, 62-44 over then-No. 6 Michigan at home Sunday. The Hawkeyes and Wolverines are tied for second place in the Big Ten.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/a.espncdn.com\/combiner\/i?img=\/i\/teamlogos\/ncaa\/500\/130.png?w=65&amp;h=120&amp;transparent=true\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Previous ranking:<\/strong> 7<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/a.espncdn.com\/i\/sportsnation\/rd-arrow.png\"\/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Next seven days: <\/strong>@ Ohio State (Feb. 25), vs. Maryland (Feb. 28)<\/p>\n<p>For one of the rare times this season, Michigan didn&#8217;t seem in sync Sunday, with a season low in points in its 62-44 loss at Iowa. It seemed to be an out-of-character game for the Wolverines. They are tied with Iowa in second place in the Big Ten but have a tougher closing schedule this week than the Hawkeyes.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/a.espncdn.com\/combiner\/i?img=\/i\/teamlogos\/ncaa\/500\/150.png?w=65&amp;h=120&amp;transparent=true\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Previous ranking:<\/strong> 8<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/a.espncdn.com\/i\/sportsnation\/rd-arrow.png\"\/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Next seven days: <\/strong>vs. Florida State (Feb. 26), @ North Carolina (March 1)<\/p>\n<p>Duke beat nearby rival <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"b88f30e4-25c8-4010-c64b-87cccabdd6d4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/womens-college-basketball\/team\/_\/id\/152\/nc-state-wolfpack\">NC State<\/a> 83-65 on Thursday for its 17th victory in a row. But that streak ended with a 53-51 loss at <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"a5fb2ce6-a590-7d20-8707-915a5d1cb24c\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/womens-college-basketball\/team\/_\/id\/228\/clemson-tigers\">Clemson<\/a> on Sunday, Duke&#8217;s first defeat since Dec. 4. Louisville was also upset by an unranked team Sunday, so Duke stayed in first place with a one-game lead in the ACC.<\/p>\n<div data-behavior=\"video_scroll\" class=\"contentItem__content contentItem__content--media-card contentItem__content--fullWidth contentItem__content--inline\">\n<figure data-video=\"watch,640,360,48008244\" data-cerebro-id=\"699b67ea0b902f3ae8993c0a\" data-title=\"Toby Fournier muscles in an and-1 for Duke\" class=\"media-wrapper_image video\" data-source=\"espn\" data-contributing-partner=\"wsc\"><picture class=\"media-wrapper_image\"><source data-srcset=\"https:\/\/a3.espncdn.com\/combiner\/i?img=%2Fmedia%2Fmotion%2Fwsc%2F2026%2F0222%2Fc8bb89df%2D2c6a%2D4b23%2D9170%2D254787090b0c%2Fc8bb89df%2D2c6a%2D4b23%2D9170%2D254787090b0c.jpg&amp;w=640&amp;h=360&amp;cquality=80&amp;format=jpg\" media=\"(min-width: 376px)\"><source data-srcset=\"https:\/\/a3.espncdn.com\/combiner\/i?img=%2Fmedia%2Fmotion%2Fwsc%2F2026%2F0222%2Fc8bb89df%2D2c6a%2D4b23%2D9170%2D254787090b0c%2Fc8bb89df%2D2c6a%2D4b23%2D9170%2D254787090b0c.jpg&amp;w=335&amp;cquality=80, https:\/\/a3.espncdn.com\/combiner\/i?img=%2Fmedia%2Fmotion%2Fwsc%2F2026%2F0222%2Fc8bb89df%2D2c6a%2D4b23%2D9170%2D254787090b0c%2Fc8bb89df%2D2c6a%2D4b23%2D9170%2D254787090b0c.jpg&amp;w=670&amp;cquality=40&amp;format=jpg 2x\" media=\"(max-width: 375px)\"><img class=\" lazyload lazyload\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/picture><span class=\"video-play-button\" data-id=\"48008244\">play<\/span><figcaption class=\"media-caption\">\n<p>0:18<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"contentItem__contentWrapper\">\n<p>Toby Fournier muscles in an and-1 for Duke<\/p>\n<p class=\"contentItem__subhead\">Toby Fournier muscles in an and-1 for Duke.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<hr\/>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/a.espncdn.com\/combiner\/i?img=\/i\/teamlogos\/ncaa\/500\/97.png?w=65&amp;h=120&amp;transparent=true\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Previous ranking:<\/strong> 9<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/a.espncdn.com\/i\/sportsnation\/rd-arrow.png\"\/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Next seven days: <\/strong>@ Georgia Tech (Feb. 26), vs. Notre Dame (March 1)<\/p>\n<p>Louisville was stunned 74-72 at home by <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"23cf83dc-99f4-b28c-c94d-668bb010941e\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/womens-college-basketball\/team\/_\/id\/258\/virginia-cavaliers\">Virginia<\/a> on Sunday. The Cavaliers really needed the win for their NCAA tournament hopes, but it cost the Cardinals a chance to move into a first-place tie in the ACC with Duke. Louisville remains in second place and will finish the regular season against <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"9c673bdd-f47a-6f63-d65a-b117e3b75b81\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/womens-college-basketball\/team\/_\/id\/87\/notre-dame-fighting-irish\">Notre Dame<\/a>, which is tied for eighth place in the ACC and lost to the Cardinals earlier this season. However, Notre Dame has won five of its past six.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/a.espncdn.com\/combiner\/i?img=\/i\/teamlogos\/ncaa\/500\/194.png?w=65&amp;h=120&amp;transparent=true\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Previous ranking:<\/strong> 11<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/a.espncdn.com\/i\/sportsnation\/rd-arrow.png\"\/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Next seven days: <\/strong>vs. Michigan (Feb. 25), @ Michigan State (March 1)<\/p>\n<p>After a 74-61 loss at <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"d5b49537-de99-7ec2-4ae3-24ec4c668204\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/womens-college-basketball\/team\/_\/id\/135\/minnesota-golden-gophers\">Minnesota<\/a> last Wednesday, Ohio State came back with an 88-83 win over USC at home. Guard <a data-player-guid=\"3dd3dd53-8c20-321a-b648-33a268954ed7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/womens-college-basketball\/player\/_\/id\/5239683\/jaloni-cambridge\">Jaloni Cambridge<\/a> had a combined 56 points. The Buckeyes are trying to finish in the top four in the Big Ten, but they must go through the Michigan schools this week to do that.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/a.espncdn.com\/combiner\/i?img=\/i\/teamlogos\/ncaa\/500\/277.png?w=65&amp;h=120&amp;transparent=true\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Previous ranking:<\/strong> 15<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/a.espncdn.com\/i\/sportsnation\/gn-arrow.png\"\/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Next seven days: <\/strong>@ UCF (Feb. 25), vs. Cincinnati (March 1)<\/p>\n<p>In their only game last week, the Mountaineers dominated <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"b5687df5-eea8-d9d9-15fc-83c95c315ba5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/womens-college-basketball\/team\/_\/id\/197\/oklahoma-state-cowgirls\">Oklahoma State<\/a> 72-40 and kept alive their hope of getting a share of the Big 12 regular-season title. Their last two foes of the regular season are in the league&#8217;s bottom four.<\/p>\n<div data-behavior=\"video_scroll\" class=\"contentItem__content contentItem__content--media-card contentItem__content--fullWidth contentItem__content--inline\">\n<figure data-video=\"watch,640,360,47996976\" data-cerebro-id=\"699a12450b902f3ae898754e\" data-title=\"Jordan Harrison sinks it from downtown\" class=\"media-wrapper_image video\" data-source=\"espn\" data-contributing-partner=\"wsc\"><picture class=\"media-wrapper_image\"><source data-srcset=\"https:\/\/a3.espncdn.com\/combiner\/i?img=%2Fmedia%2Fmotion%2Fwsc%2F2026%2F0221%2F268eaf4e%2Dd8c3%2D44da%2D97c5%2D955332c1f8bd%2F268eaf4e%2Dd8c3%2D44da%2D97c5%2D955332c1f8bd.jpg&amp;w=640&amp;h=360&amp;cquality=80&amp;format=jpg\" media=\"(min-width: 376px)\"><source data-srcset=\"https:\/\/a3.espncdn.com\/combiner\/i?img=%2Fmedia%2Fmotion%2Fwsc%2F2026%2F0221%2F268eaf4e%2Dd8c3%2D44da%2D97c5%2D955332c1f8bd%2F268eaf4e%2Dd8c3%2D44da%2D97c5%2D955332c1f8bd.jpg&amp;w=335&amp;cquality=80, https:\/\/a3.espncdn.com\/combiner\/i?img=%2Fmedia%2Fmotion%2Fwsc%2F2026%2F0221%2F268eaf4e%2Dd8c3%2D44da%2D97c5%2D955332c1f8bd%2F268eaf4e%2Dd8c3%2D44da%2D97c5%2D955332c1f8bd.jpg&amp;w=670&amp;cquality=40&amp;format=jpg 2x\" media=\"(max-width: 375px)\"><img class=\" lazyload lazyload\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/picture><span class=\"video-play-button\" data-id=\"47996976\">play<\/span><figcaption class=\"media-caption\">\n<p>0:20<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"contentItem__contentWrapper\">\n<p>Jordan Harrison sinks it from downtown<\/p>\n<p class=\"contentItem__subhead\">Jordan Harrison sinks it from downtown.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<hr\/>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/a.espncdn.com\/combiner\/i?img=\/i\/teamlogos\/ncaa\/500\/120.png?w=65&amp;h=120&amp;transparent=true\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Previous ranking:<\/strong> 16<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/a.espncdn.com\/i\/sportsnation\/gn-arrow.png\"\/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Next seven days: <\/strong>vs. Northwestern (Feb. 25), @ Michigan (Feb. 28)<\/p>\n<p>The Terps are seventh in the Big Ten but have won five in a row, beating Purdue 99-66 on Sunday behind <a data-player-guid=\"19d6e492-8cdc-3634-ab9b-59bb928c609c\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/womens-college-basketball\/player\/_\/id\/5174408\/oluchi-okananwa\">Oluchi Okananwa<\/a>&#8216;s 26 points. The season finale against the Wolverines has high stakes.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<p><strong>Previous ranking:<\/strong> Not ranked<\/p>\n<p><strong>Next seven days: <\/strong>@ Virginia (Feb. 26), vs. Duke (March 1)<\/p>\n<p>The Tar Heels moved back into the Power Rankings and are in third place in the ACC after winning 10 of their past 11. On Thursday, they battled to a 63-60 overtime win at <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"ef08a0fc-caa6-dfd0-5f5f-c3161b95a4a4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/womens-college-basketball\/team\/_\/id\/259\/virginia-tech-hokies\">Virginia Tech<\/a> and then beat <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"f8d781eb-1362-5971-0b50-82493aa984fe\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/womens-college-basketball\/team\/_\/id\/221\/pittsburgh-panthers\">Pitt<\/a> 78-50 at home. North Carolina is 12-4 in the league, but there are three teams at 11-5, including the Tar Heels&#8217; next opponent Virginia.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<p><strong>Dropped out:<\/strong> <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"6473cb69-12d6-f6ca-3050-315274b5e1e4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/womens-college-basketball\/team\/_\/id\/239\/baylor-bears\">Baylor Bears<\/a> (No. 13), <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"7b8166a0-b6df-d465-7e16-64d5933ba54c\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/womens-college-basketball\/team\/_\/id\/96\/kentucky-wildcats\">Kentucky Wildcats<\/a> (No. 14)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/womens-college-basketball\/story\/_\/id\/48024952\/womens-college-basketball-2025-2026-power-rankings-big-ten-ucla\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Michael VoepelFeb 25, 2026, 08:00 AM ET Close Michael Voepel is a senior writer who covers the WNBA, women&#8217;s college basketball and other college sports. Voepel&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6287,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6286","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6286","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6286"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6286\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/6287"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6286"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6286"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6286"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}