Michigan Climbs to No. 2 After Beating UConn

Michigan reached its highest-ever position in the women’s AP Top 25 on November 9, moving from fifth in the preseason rankings to No. 2. The rise followed a 77-66 win over then-No. 2 UConn last week, the biggest regular-season victory in Michigan program history. The Wolverines’ previous best ranking was fourth, in 2022.

Coach Kim Barnes Arico credited the players and staff for the achievement and said beating UConn while reaching the top two was especially meaningful. The win also ended UConn’s 39-game regular-season winning streak. Barnes Arico had previously coached St. John’s when it snapped the Huskies’ 99-game home winning streak.

South Carolina stayed No. 1 after opening the season with wins over ranked Maryland and North Carolina. South Carolina garnered 32 of the 33 top-choice ballots; USC, ranked third, received the remaining vote. UConn fell two places to fourth, with Duke fifth.

The Big Ten’s 10 ranked teams matched the SEC’s record from last season. The SEC had seven teams in this poll, the ACC four, the Big 12 three and the Big East one. Oklahoma rose seven spots to No. 14, while Nebraska entered at No. 25 and North Carolina State dropped out.

The next featured matchup is No. 3 USC visiting South Carolina on Sunday. The teams met twice last season, and South Carolina won both games. USC has JuJu Watkins back after she missed 20 months while recovering from an ACL injury.