10 takeaways from the first AP women’s hoops poll

The 2024-25 preseason women’s college basketball Associated Press Top 25 was released on Tuesday. It features the defending national champions at the top and a familiar program in the top 10 for the 30th consecutive season.

It’s also notable that some top programs aren’t ranked in the run-up to the season, which tips off Nov. 4.

Here are 10 takeaways from the first AP women’s hoops poll of the season:

The defending national champions start at the top

Dawn Staley’s South Carolina Gamecocks begin the season ranked No. 1 after an undefeated 2023-24 championship season. Despite losing Kamilla Cardoso to the Chicago Sky, the Gamecocks look primed for their title defense with returnees Raven Johnson, Te-Hina Paopao, Tessa Johnson, MiLaysia Fulwiley, Chloe Kitts and Ashlyn Watkins.

Geno Auriemma’s Huskies start in the top 10 once again

For the 30th consecutive season, Auriemma and the UConn Huskies are ranked in the top 10 of the preseason poll. With star Paige Bueckers returning, the Huskies have what it takes to be a contender if they can get through their difficult non-conference schedule and avoid the injuries that plagued them during the 2023-24 season.

Star freshmen return for sophomore seasons at USC, Notre Dame

USC begins the 2024-25 season ranked No. 3 in the country. Despite the move to the Big Ten conference for the Trojans, USC returns its star from last season, JuJu Watkins, who averaged 27.1 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish start the season at No. 6 and get their star Hannah Hidalgo back for another year. With senior Olivia Miles returning from a knee injury, “this looks to be the best Irish team under [Niele] Ivey,” according to ESPN’s Charlie Creme.

Texas brings a talented 1-2 punch

Ranked No. 4 in the preseason poll, the Texas Longhorns get senior Rori Harmon back from an ACL injury. After averaging 14.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 7.8 assists while shooting 52.3 percent from the floor, Harmon will be paired with talented sophomore Madison Booker, who is coming off an impressive freshman season in which she put up 16.5 points per game.

UCLA adds to its talented roster

Starting the season at No. 5, the Bruins return Lauren Betts, who nearly averaged a double-double during the 2023-24 season and ranked fifth nationally in field-goal percentage (64.3 percent), and Kiki Rice, who put up 13.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists. In addition, the Bruins welcome transfers Charlisse Leger-Walker, who scored the ninth-most points (530) in a season by a Washington State player during the 2022-23 season, and Timea Gardiner, who averaged 8.7 points and 3.5 rebounds while converting 47.7 percent of her shots from the floor and 36.2 percent of her threes during her 2022-23 freshman season at Oregon State.

LSU loaded with experience

Despite the departure of star Angel Reese to the Chicago Sky, Kim Mulkey’s Tigers bring back a lot of experience. Led by junior Flau’jae Johnson and seniors Aneesah Morrow and Last-Tear Poa, the Tigers possess a veteran group that is sure to pose a significant challenge to opponents.

Current and former Big 12 schools making noise

For the second time in three seasons, the eighth-ranked Iowa State Cyclones are in the top 10 of the preseason poll. Sophomore Audi Crook returns after averaging 19.2 points and 7.8 rebounds on 57.7 percent shooting from the field. The Cyclones also get fifth-year senior Emily Ryan, the school’s all-time assist leader, back for another season. Oklahoma comes in at No. 10, its highest ranking in the preseason poll since 2010. The Sooners add Oregon State transfer Raegan Beers to their lineup as they begin their first season in the SEC.

Alabama returns to the poll

For the first time since 1998, the 24th-ranked Crimson Tide return to the preseason poll. Ranked for the first time overall since 1999, the team returns stars Sarah Ashlee Barker and Aaliyah Nye, both of whom averaged double-figure scoring during the 2023-24 season.

SEC leads the way with seven ranked teams

In addition to South Carolina, LSU, Alabama and newcomers Texas and Oklahoma, Ole Miss (20) and Kentucky (22) will begin the season as ranked teams. The ACC and Big Ten are close behind with six teams each.

Familiar programs unranked

With Hall of Fame coach Tara VanDerveer’s retirement and Cameron Brink’s departure to the Los Angeles Sparks, Stanford will begin the 2024-25 season unranked for the first time since 1999, ending the second-longest active preseason streak behind UConn. Similarly, Iowa enters the season unranked after head coach Lisa Bluder’s retirement and Caitlin Clark leaving the program for the Indiana Fever of the WNBA.