Top 10 Power Rankings: South Carolina Dominates Women’s College Basketball

Unpredictable Results in Women\’s College Basketball

January saw many surprising outcomes for women\’s college basketball, and this trend continues in February. South Carolina holds the top spot in CBS Sports\’ power rankings, but there has been a shift in almost all other positions. After Stanford’s loss to USC, Iowa moved to the No. 2 spot, thanks to a spectacular 51-point performance by freshman JuJu Watkins.

Texas Longhorns’ Ascend in Rankings

Texas probably had the best week, as the Longhorns climbed significantly from No. 15 to No. 7 following victories over Baylor and Kansas State. Texas sports the third-best scoring margin in the nation — trailing only South Carolina and LSU — as they limit opponents to 57.5 points per game while averaging 83.8 points per game. Texas has achieved this even in the absence of star point guard Rori Harmon, who suffered a season-ending ACL injury in December.

North Carolina’s Inconsistent Performances

North Carolina, on the other hand, is experiencing an inconsistent spell. Despite their evident talent, the Tar Heels are currently on a three-game losing streak. Their loss to NC State was by a narrow four-point margin, and they were defeated by Virginia Tech in overtime. However, we’re giving the Tar Heels another week to rebound.

UConn\’s Opportunity to Make a Statement

UConn maintains its No. 8 position in our rankings, and the Huskies have an opportunity to assert themselves when they confront South Carolina in Columbia this weekend. Despite a recent setback against Notre Dame, Paige Bueckers and the Huskies seem to be improving compared to their early-season form. The Sunday matchup with South Carolina will be intriguing as the home team will be without star center Kamilla Cardoso, who will be representing the Brazilian national team in the 2024 FIBA Women\’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

Official CBS Sports Women’s College Basketball Power Rankings

Here are the official CBS Sports women’s college basketball Power Rankings:

First five out: UNLV, Oklahoma, Mississippi State, Florida State, Michigan State