South Carolina coach Dawn Staley and the Gamecocks’ leading scorer from last season, Joyce Edwards, get reinforcements with incoming transfers and recruits. Harry How/Getty ImagesCharlie CremeOct 20, 2026, 12:45 PM ETCloseCharlie Creme projects the women’s NCAA tournament bracket for ESPN.com.Multiple AuthorsOpen Extended ReactionsThe 2026-27 preseason women’s college basketball AP Top 25 poll results are out.With 23 first-place votes out of 31, the South Carolina Gamecocks are No. 1 for the fifth time in seven years and third consecutive season. The UConn Huskies, who received six first-place votes, are No. 2, followed by the USC Trojans (two votes).Find the full results of the rankings — complete with projected starting lineups and the biggest early-season games to watch for each team — below. The season begins Nov. 1.All times ET.1. South Carolina Gamecocks2025-26 record: 36-4 (lost in NCAA title game)Season opener: Nov. 2 vs.
Maryland (in France), noon, ESPNBiggest early-season game: Nov. 15 vs. USC (Greenville, South Carolina), 1 p.m., ABCProjected starting lineup: Tessa Johnson (12.8 PPG) Joyce Edwards (19.2 PPG) Jordan Lee (13.2 PPG at Texas) Chloe Kitts (10.2 PPG in 2024-25) Agot Makeer (7.3 PPG)2. UConn Huskies2025-26 record: 38-1 (lost in Final Four)Season opener: Nov. 2 vs. Cornell, 5 p.m., Peacock/NBCNBiggest early-season game: Nov. 5 at Michigan, 6:30 p.m., FS1Projected starting lineup: Sarah Strong (18.4 PPG) KK Arnold (6.9 PPG) Ashlynn Shade (7.6 PPG) Blanca Quinonez (10.7 PPG) Jana El Alfy (4.0 PPG)3.
USC Trojans2025-26 record: 18-14 (lost in NCAA tournament second round)Season opener: Nov. 2 at UNLV, 4 p.m., CBSSNBiggest early-season game: Nov. 15 at South Carolina, 1 p.m., ABCProjected starting lineup: JuJu Watkins (23.9 in 2024-25) Jazzy Davidson (17.9 PPG) Kennedy Smith (11.5 PPG) Saniyah Hall (No. 1 in SC Next 100) Pania Davis (7.7 PPG at Florida State)4. Duke Blue Devils2025-26 record: 27-9 (lost in Elite Eight)Season opener: Nov. 3 vs. Green Bay, 7 p.m., ACCNXBiggest early-season game: Nov. 28 vs. UConn (Boston), 7 p.m., FOXProjected starting lineup: Toby Fournier (17.3 PPG) Delaney Thomas (11.0 PPG) Riley Nelson (9.4 PPG) Emilee Skinner (4.3 PPG) Aaliyah Crump (7.9 PPG at Texas)5.
Michigan Wolverines2025-26 record: 28-7 (lost in Elite Eight)Season opener: Nov. 5 vs. UConn, 6:30 p.m., FS1Biggest early-season game: Dec. 5 vs. Oklahoma (Brooklyn, New York), 2 p.m., FoxProjected starting lineup: Olivia Olson (18.9 PPG) Syla Swords (14.6 PPG) Mila Holloway (12.3 PPG) Ashley Sofilkanich (7.7 PPG) Courtney Ogden (12.9 PPG at Stanford)6. Texas Longhorns2025-26 record: 35-4 (lost in Final Four)Season opener: Nov. 4 vs.
FDU 8 p.m., SECN+Biggest early-season game: Dec. 2 vs. Louisville, 9:15 p.m., ESPN2Projected starting lineup: Madison Booker (18.9 PPG) Breya Cunningham (7.7 PPG) Bryanna Preston (4.9 PPG) Addison Bjorn (No. 10 in SC Next 100) Jayda Clark (WNBL in Australia)7. Louisville Cardinals2025-26 record: 29-8 (lost in Sweet 16)Season opener: Nov. 2 vs. Bellarine, 5 p.m., ACCNXBiggest early-season game: Nov. 15 vs.
UConn, 5:30 p.m., ESPNProjected starting lineup: Tajianna Roberts (11.5 PPG) Elif Istanbulluoglu (10.1 PPG) Zamareya Jones (14.9 PPG at NC State) Mackenly Randolph (8.5 PPG) Carys Baker (14.3 PPG at Virginia Tech)8. Vanderbilt Commodores2025-26 record: 29-5 (lost in Sweet 16)Season opener: Nov. 2 vs. Lipscomb, noon, SECN+Biggest early-season game: Nov. 15 vs. Iowa (Sioux City, Iowa), 1 p.m., FS1Projected starting lineup: Mikayla Blakes (27.0 PPG) Aubrey Galvan (13.5 PPG) Mia Woolfolk (13.9 PPG at Georgia) Aiyana Mitchell (5.8 PPG) Olivia Jones (No. 16 in SC Next 100)9.
LSU Tigers2025-26 record: 29-6 (lost in Sweet 16)Season opener: Nov. 2 vs. Southeastern Louisiana, 7 p.m., SECNBiggest early-season game: Dec. 2 at North Carolina, 7:15 p.m., ESPN2Projected starting lineup: Mikaylah Williams (14.2 PPG) ZaKiyah Johnson (9.7 PPG) Grace Knox (8.8 PPG) MiLaysia Fulwiley (14.6 PPG) Jada Williams (15.3 PPG at Iowa State)10. Iowa Hawkeyes2025-26 record: 27-7 (lost in NCAA tournament second round)Season opener: Nov. 2 vs. Towson, 8 p.m., BIG+Biggest early-season game: Nov. 8 vs.
UConn, 2 p.m., FS1Projected starting lineup: Ava Heiden (18.0 PPG) Chazadi Wright (12.5 PPG) Taylor Stremlow (7.9 PPG) Dani Carnegie (17.8 PPG at Georgia) McKenna Woliczko (No. 7 in SC Next 100)11. UCLA Bruins2025-26 record: 37-1 (won NCAA championship)Season opener: Nov. 2 vs. Lehigh, 2:30 p.m., BIG+Biggest early-season game: Nov. 22 at Tennessee, 5:30 p.m., ESPNProjected starting lineup: Elina Aarnisalo (10.2 PPG at North Carolina) Donovyn Hunter (10.2 PPG at TCU) Addy Brown (11.9 PPG at Iowa State) Sienna Betts (6.0 PPG) Timea Gardiner (7.6 PPG in 2024-25)12. North Carolina Tar Heels2025-26 record: 28-8 (lost in Sweet 16)Season opener: Nov. 2 vs.
Oklahoma (Paris), 2:30 p.m., ESPN2Biggest early-season game: Nov. 8 vs. South Carolina (Charlotte, North Carolina), 5:30 p.m. ESPNProjected starting lineup: Ciera Toomey (8.8 PPG) Reniya Kelly (6.1 PPG) Achol Akot (12.4 PPG at Oklahoma State) Nyla Brooks (8.6 PPG) Kate Harpring (No. 4 in SC Next 100)13. Notre Dame Fighting Irish2025-26 record: 25-11 (lost in Elite Eight)Season opener: Nov. 1 vs.
Villanova (Rome), noon, FS1Biggest early-season game: Dec. 3 at Vanderbilt, 9 p.m. ESPNProjected starting lineup: Hannah Hidalgo (25.3 PPG) Madison St. Rose (15.8 PPG at Princeton) Anaya Hardy (4.9 PPG at Louisville) Jacy Abii (No. 9 in SC Next 100) Leah Macy (No. 19 in SC Next 100 in 2025)14. Kentucky Wildcats2025-26 record: 25-11 (lost in Sweet 16)Season opener: Nov. 2 vs.
Morehead State, 6:30 p.m., SECN+Biggest early-season game: Nov. 8 vs. NC State (Charlotte), 3 p.m., ESPN2Projected starting lineup: Clara Strack (16.9 PPG) Me’Arah O’Neal (13.6 PPG at Florida) Asia Boone (10.1 PPG) Maddyn Greenway (No. 14 in SC Next 100) Diana Collins (8.4 PPG at Alabama)15. TCU Horned Frogs2025-26 record: 32-6 (lost in Elite Eight)Season opener: Nov. 3 vs. Oral Roberts, 7:30 p.m., ESPN+Biggest early-season game: Dec. 6 vs.
Texas, 1 p.m., ESPN2Projected starting lineup: Jessie-May Hall (19.6 PPG in the NBL1 in Australia) Clara Silva (9.0 PPG) Jadyn Wooten (12.8 PPG at Oklahoma State) Lara Somfai (10.8 PPG at Stanford) Lanie Grant (10.8 PPG at North Carolina)16. Washington Huskies2025-26 record: 22-11 (lost in NCAA tournament second round)Season opener: Nov. 2 vs. UC San Diego, 2 p.m.Biggest early-season game: Nov. 27 vs. Oklahoma State (Fort Myers, Florida), 1:30 p.m.
BDG Live)Projected starting lineup: Sayvia Sellers (18.0 PPG) Avery Howell (14.2 PPG) Tilda Trygger (10.7 PPG at NC State) Brooke Carlson (11.7 PPG at Colorado State) Brynn McGaughy (9.3 PPG)17. Minnesota Golden Gophers2025-26 record: 24-9 (lost in Sweet 16)Season opener: Nov. 2 vs. Harvard, TBA, BIG+Biggest early-season game: Nov. 18 vs. Kansas, 8 p.m., Peacock/NBCNProjected starting lineup: Grace Grocholski (12.1 PPG) Tori McKinney (12.7 PPG) Mara Braun (11.7 PPG) Gracie Merkle (19.2 PPG at Penn State) Leah Harmon (15.7 PPG at UCF)18.
Ohio State Buckeyes2025-26 record: 27-8 (lost in NCAA tournament second round)Season opener: Nov. 2 vs. Illinois-Chicago, 6:30 p.m. BIG+Biggest early-season game: Nov. 12 vs. UConn, 6:30 p.m., FS1Projected starting lineup: Jaloni Cambridge (23.2 PPG) Kennedy Cambridge (9.0 PPG) Elsa Lemmila (9.1 PPG) Ava Watson (7.2 PPG) Kylee Kitts (7.4 PPG)19.
Ole Miss Rebels2025-26 record: 24-12 (lost in NCAA tournament second round)Season opener: Nov. 2 vs. Alcorn State, noon, SECN+Biggest early-season game: Nov. 18 at Ohio State, 7 p.m., FS1Projected starting lineup: Talaysia Cooper (16.0 PPG at Tennessee) Jada Richard (9.5 PPG at LSU) Kaitlin Peterson (3.6 PPG) Maya Anderson (13.9 PPG at San Jose State) Emily Howard (2.4 PPG at Boise State)20. Maryland Terrapins2025-26 record: 24-9 (lost in NCAA tournament second round)Season opener: Nov. 2 vs. South Carolina (Paris), noon, ESPNBiggest early-season game: Dec. 5 vs.
UConn (Brooklyn, New Y
Leave a Reply