AP preseason Top 25 poll reaction: What to know about every team

The 2025-26 preseason women's college basketball AP Top 25 poll results are out!

The reigning champion UConn Huskies top the list, with runner-up South Carolina Gamecocks and the rest of last season's Final Four -- the UCLA Bruins and Texas Longhorns -- rounding out the top four.

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. 3.

All times Eastern.

1. UConn Huskies

2024-25 record: 37-3 (won 2025 national championship)

Season opener: Nov. 4 vs. Louisville (in Germany), 5:30 p.m., ESPN

Biggest early-season game: Nov. 21 vs. Michigan, 8 p.m., FOX

Projected starting lineup:
Sarah Strong (16.4 PPG)
Azzi Fudd (13.6 PPG)
Ashlynn Shade (7.7 PPG)
Serah Williams (19.2 PPG at Wisconsin)
Kayleigh Heckel (6.1 PPG at USC)

2. South Carolina Gamecocks

2024-25 record: 35-4 (lost to 2-seed UConn in national championship game)

Season opener: Nov. 3 vs. Grand Canyon, 7 p.m., SEC Network+

Biggest early-season game: Nov. 26 vs. Duke (in Las Vegas), 4:30p.m., truTV

Projected starting lineup:
Raven Johnson (4.9 PPG)
Tessa Johnson (8.4 PPG)
Joyce Edwards (12.7 PPG)
Ta'Niya Latson (25.2 PPG at Florida State)
Madina Okot (11.3 PPG at Mississippi State)

3. UCLA Bruins

2024-25 record: 34-3 (lost to 2-seed UConn in Final Four)

Season opener: Nov. 3 vs. San Diego State, 10 p.m.

Biggest early-season game: Nov. 26 vs. Texas (in Las Vegas), 2 p.m., truTV

Projected starting lineup:
Lauren Betts (20.2 PPG)
Kiki Rice (12.8 PPG)
Gianna Kneepkens (19.3 PPG at Utah)
Gabriela Jaquez (9.6 PPG)
Charlisse Leger-Walker (13.2 PPG at Washington State in 2023-24)

4. Texas Longhorns

2024-25 record: 35-4 (lost to 1-seed South Carolina in Final Four)

Season opener: Nov. 3 vs. Incarnate Word, 8 p.m., SEC Network+

Biggest early-season game: Nov. 26 vs. UCLA (in Las Vegas), 2 p.m., truTV

Projected starting lineup:
Madison Booker (16.3 PPG)
Rori Harmon (9.3 PPG)
Kyla Oldacre (8.8 PPG)
Jordan Lee (5.8 PPG)
Aaliyah Crump (No. 5 in ESPN 100)

5. LSU Tigers

2024-25 record: 31-6 (lost to 1-seed UCLA in Elite Eight)

Season opener: Nov. 4 vs. Houston Christian, 8 p.m., SEC Network+

Biggest early-season game: Dec. 4 at Duke, 9 p.m., ESPN

Projected starting lineup:
Flau'Jae Johnson (18.6 PPG)
Mikaylah Williams (17.3 PPG)
MiLaysia Fulwiley (11.7 PPG at South Carolina)
Grace Knox (No. 6 in ESPN 100)
Amiya Joyner (15.0 PPG at East Carolina)

6. Oklahoma Sooners

2024-25 record: 27-8 (lost to 2-seed UConn in Sweet 16)

Season opener: Nov. 3 vs. Belmont, 5:30 p.m., SEC Network+

Biggest early-season game: Nov. 10 vs. UCLA (in Sacramento, California), TBA

Projected starting lineup:
Raegan Beers (17.3 PPG)
Payton Verhulst (14.9 PPG)
Sahara Williams (10.6 PPG)
Aaliyah Chavez (No. 3 in ESPN 100)
Zya Vann (9.9 PPG)

7. Duke Blue Devils

2024-25 record: 29-8 (lost to 1-seed South Carolina in Elite Eight)

Season opener: Nov. 3 vs. Baylor (in Paris), 12 p.m., ESPN

Biggest early-season game: Nov. 26 vs. South Carolina (in Las Vegas), 4:30p.m., truTV

Projected starting lineup:
Toby Fournier (13.2 PPG)
Ashlon Jackson (12.4 PPG)
Taina Mair (6.7 PPG)
Delaney Thomas (7.1 PPG)
Emilee Skinner (No. 4 in ESPN 100)

8. Tennessee Lady Volunteers

2024-25 record: 24-10 (lost to 1-seed Texas in Sweet 16)

Season opener: Nov. 4 vs. NC State (in Greensboro, North Carolina), 4 p.m., ESPN2

Biggest early-season game: Nov. 30 at UCLA, 4:30 p.m., FS1

Projected starting lineup:
Talaysia Cooper (16.6 PPG)
Zee Spearman (11.7 PPG)
Ruby Whitehorn (11.6 PPG)
Mia Pauldo (No. 9 in ESPN 100)
Nya Robertson (18.5 PPG at SMU)

9. NC State Wolfpack

2024-25 record: 28-7 (lost to 3-seed LSU in Sweet 16)

Season opener: Nov. 4 vs. Tennessee (in Greensboro, North Carolina), 4 p.m., ESPN2

Biggest early-season game: Dec. 3 at Oklahoma, 7 p.m., ESPN2

Projected starting lineup:
Zoe Brooks (14.2 PPG)
Zamareya Jones (7.1 PPG)
Khamil Pierre (20.4 PPG with Vanderbilt)
Tilda Trygger (6.6 PPG)
Destiny Lunan (No. 65 in ESPN 100)

10. Maryland Terrapins

2024-25 record: 25-8 (lost to 1-seed South Carolina in Sweet 16)

Season opener: Nov. 3 vs. Loyola Maryland, B1G+

Biggest early-season game: Nov. 16 vs. Princeton, 1 p.m., B1G+

Projected starting lineup:
Kaylene Smikle (17.9 PPG)
Yarden Garzon (1.4 PPG at Indiana)
Bri McDaniel (10. 6 PPG in 17 games)
Saylor Poffenbarger (9.1 PPG)
Oluchi Okananwa (10.1 PPG at Duke)

11. North Carolina Tar Heels

2024-25 record: 21-12 (lost to 2-seed UConn in Sweet 16)

Season opener: Nov. 3 vs. NC Central, 11 a.m. ACCN

Biggest early-season game: Nov. 13 vs. UCLA (in Las Vegas), 9 p.m., ESPN2

Projected starting lineup:
Reniya Kelly (9.6 PPG)
Indya Nivar (8.3 PPG)
Blanca Thomas (2.4 PPG)
Nyla Brooks (No. 13 in ESPN 100)
Nyla Harris (8.6 PPG at Louisville)

12. Ole Miss Rebels

2024-25 record: 22-11 (lost to 1-seed UCLA in Sweet 16)

Season opener: Nov. 3 vs. Norfolk State, 12 p.m., SEC Network

Biggest early-season game: Dec. 4 vs. Notre Dame, 9 p.m., ESPN2

Projected starting lineup:
Cotie McMahon (16.4 PPG at Ohio State)
Sira Thienou (10.5 PPG)
Kaitlin Peterson (21.4 PPG at UCF)
Denim DeShields (5.7 PPG at Mississippi State)
Latasha Lattimore (14.3 PPG at Virginia)

13. Michigan Wolverines

2024-25 record: 23-11 (lost to 3-seed Notre Dame in second round)

Season opener: Nov. 4 vs. Canisius, 7 p.m., B1G+

Biggest early-season game: Nov. 15 vs. Notre Dame, 4 p.m., NBC

Projected starting lineup:
Olivia Olson (16.3 PPG)
Syla Swords (16.0 PPG)
Mila Holloway (9.8 PPG)
Ashley Sofilkanich (19.7 PPG at Bucknell)
Brooke Quarles Daniels (4.4 PPG)

14. Iowa State Cyclones

2024-25 record: 23-12 (lost to 6-seed Michigan in first round)

Season opener: Nov. 3 vs. St. Thomas-Minnesota, 12 p.m.

Biggest early-season game: Dec. 10 vs. Iowa, 7 p.m.

Projected starting lineup:
Addy Brown (15.2 PPG)
Audi Crooks (23.4 PPG)
Jada Williams (12.7 PPG at Arizona)
Arianna Jackson (5.3 PPG)
Kenzie Hare (8.3 PPG in 10 games)

15. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

2024-25 record: 28-6 (lost to 2-seed TCU in Sweet 16)

Season opener: Nov. 5 vs. Fairleigh Dickinson, 7 p.m., ACCN

Biggest early-season game: Nov. 21 vs. USC, 6 p.m. ESPN

Projected starting lineup:
Hannah Hidalgo (23.8 PPG)
Malaya Cowles (8.8 PPG at Wake Forest)
Cassandre Prosper (5.8 PPG)
KK Bransford (6.8 PPG in 2023-24)
Iyana Moore (12.4 PPG at Vanderbilt)

16. Baylor Bears

2024-25 record: 28-8 (lost to 5-seed Ole Miss in second round)

Season opener: Nov. 3 vs. Duke (in Paris), 12 p.m., ESPN

Biggest early-season game: Nov. 20 vs. Iowa (in Orlando, Florida), 9 p.m., ESPN

Projected starting lineup:
Darianna Littlepage-Buggs (13.8 PPG)
Bella Fontleroy (9.0 PPG)
Taliah Scott (20.3 PPG in three games at Auburn)
Yuting Deng (11.8 PPG at Auburn)
Kiera Pemberton (16.4 PPG at North Dakota)

17. TCU Horned Frogs

2024-25 record: 34-4 (lost to 1-seed Texas in Elite Eight)

Season opener: Nov. 6 vs. North Carolina A&T, 7:30 p.m.

Biggest early-season game: Nov. 16 at NC State, 1 p.m., ESPN

Projected starting lineup:
Olivia Miles (15.4 PPG)
Marta Suarez (12.9 PPG at Cal)
Taylor Bigby (5.9 PPG)
Clara Silva (4.0 PPG at Kentucky)
Donovyn Hunter (5.9 PPG)

18. USC Trojans

2024-25 record: 31-4 (lost to 2-seed UConn in Elite Eight)

Season opener: Nov. 4 vs. New Mexico State, 10 p.m., B1G+

Biggest early-season game: Nov. 9 vs. NC State (in Charlotte, North Carolina), 3 p.m., ESPN

Projected starting lineup:
Jazzy Davidson (No. 1 in ESPN 100)
Kara Dunn (15.5 PPG at Georgia Tech)
Kennedy Smith (9.5 PPG)
Londynn Jones (8.5 at UCLA)
Malia Samuels (2.3 PPG)

19. Vanderbilt Commodores

2024-25 record: 22-11 (lost to 10-seed Oregon in first round)

Season opener: Nov. 3 vs. California (in Paris), 2:30 p.m., ESPNU

Biggest early-season game: Dec. 3 vs. Virginia, 5 p.m., SEC Network

Projected starting lineup:
Mikayla Blakes (23.3 PPG)
Madison Greene (6.8 PPG)
Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda (5.6 PPG at Texas)
Aalyah Del Rosario (2.0 PPG at LSU)
Sacha Washington (12.1 PPG in 2023-24)

20. Louisville Cardinals

2024-25 record: 22-11 (lost to 2-seed TCU in second round)

Season opener: Nov. 4 vs. UConn (in Germany), 5:30 p.m. ESPN

Biggest early-season game: Nov. 22 vs. Kentucky, 2 p.m., CW

Projected starting lineup:
Laura Ziegler (17.5 PPG at Saint Joseph's)
Tajianna Roberts (12.8 PPG)
Skylar Jones (10.7 PPG at Arizona)
Grace Mbugua (No. 78 in ESPN 100)
Imari Berry (4.9 PPG)

21. Iowa Hawkeyes

2024-25 record: 23-11 (lost to 3-seed Oklahoma in second round)

Season opener: Nov. 3 vs. Southern, 7:30 p.m., B1G+

Biggest early-season game: Nov. 20 vs. Baylor (in Orlando, Florida), 9 p.m.

Projected starting lineup:
Hannah Stuelke (12.7 PPG)
Ava Heiden (5.0 PPG)
Kylie Feuerbach (6.7 PPG)
Chazadi Wright (7.2 PPG at Georgia Tech)
Taylor McCabe 6.7 PPG)

22. Oklahoma State Cowgirls

2024-25 record: 25-7 (lost to 10-seed South Dakota State in first round)

Season opener: Nov. 3 vs. vs. New Orleans, TBA

Biggest early-season game: Nov. 29 vs. Miami (in Grand Cayman), TBA

Projected starting lineup:
Stailee Heard (16.8 PPG)
Micah Gray (13.7 PPG)
Amari Whiting (10.3 PPG at BYU)
Favour Ogechukwu Onoh (10.7 PPG at University of Philippines in 2023-24)
Achol Akot (6.6 PPG at UCF)

23. Michigan State Spartans

2024-25 record: 22-10 (lost to 2-seed NC State in second round)

Season opener: Nov. 4 vs. Mercyhurst, 7:30 p.m., B1G+

Biggest early-season game: Nov. 28 vs. Temple (in the Bahamas), 6:30 p.m.

Projected starting lineup:
Grace VanSlooten (15.5 PPG)
Theryn Hallock (13.3 PPG)
Jalyn Brown (18.0 PPG at Arizona State)
Rashunda Jones (9.8 PPG at Purdue)
Marah Dykstra (12.4 PPG at Montana State)

T-24. Kentucky Wildcats

2024-25 record: 23-8 (lost to 5-seed Kansas State the second round)

Season opener: Nov. 3 vs. Morehead State, 6:30 p.m., SEC Network+

Biggest early-season game: Nov. 22 at Louisville, 2 p.m., CW

Projected starting lineup:
Tonie Morgan (13.7 PPG at Georgia Tech)
Teonni Key (11.4 PPG)
Clara Strack (9.7 PPG)
Amelia Hassett (8.6 PPG)
Asia Boone (10.3 PPG at Liberty)

T-24. Richmond Spiders

2024-25 record: 28-7 (lost to 1-seed UCLA in second round)

Season opener: Nov. 4 vs. Mount St. Mary's, 6 p.m.

Biggest early-season game: Nov. 7 at Texas, 7 p.m., SEC Network+

Projected starting lineup:
Maggie Doogan (17.0 PPG)
Tierra Simon (8.8 PPG at St. Louis)
Rachel Ullstrom (15.3 PPG)
Ally Sweeney (7.9 PPG)
Skylah Travis (5.6 PPG at Louisiana)