The 2025 portion of the women’s college basketball season is nearly over, and the premier programs in the nation are separating themselves from the pack. So, who are the elites on the ladies’ side of the game?
We aim to answer that question with our updated women’s college basketball rankings, which showcase the top 25 teams in the country on Christmas Day 2025.
25. Tennessee (LW: 23)
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Kim Caldwell’s Tennessee squad boasts a strong starting five that features four different players averaging 10 points or more per night. Including junior Talaysia Cooper. The talented guard is posting 14.5 points, 6.2 boards, and leads the team with 4.5 assists a night
The 8-3 Lady Vols have lost all three of their games against ranked teams this season. It’s why they land near the back of our latest college basketball rankings.
24. Notre Dame (LW: 25)
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After four straight trips to the regional semifinals, Niele Ivey is hoping top star Hannah Hidalgo can take Notre Dame further in 2025-26. The junior is off to an outstanding start and is third in the nation in scoring (25.1 PPG). They’ve also gotten big-time play from senior Cassandre Prosper (16.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.2 steals a night).
While they have some solid secondary players, this team will go as far as the Player of the Year contender takes them this season.
23. USC (LW: 24)
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Freshman Jazzy Davidson has starred for a rock-solid USC team that enters the weekend with a 7\9-3 record. Although they came up well short in games against South Carolina and UConn this season, they do own key wins over NC State and Washington.
This Trojan team can make some noise in the Big Ten, but they have a clear ceiling with top star Juju Watkins out for the year.
22. Ohio State (LW: 21)
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Sophomore Jaloni Cambridge leads an Ohio State team that has been a very effective group on offense. While they have a loss to UConn on their 2025-26 resume — no shame in that — they head into Christmas Day with an impressive 11-1 record and own a win over West Virginia.
If Kevin McGuff can develop freshman Dasha Biriuk and Bryn Martin into impact players as we make our way to March, the Buckeyes will have a chance at a Big Ten title for the second time in the last three years.
21. Baylor (LW: 15)
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Baylor opened the year with a big win over Duke, and for the most part, has continued that momentum into Christmas Eve. They enter the weekend with an 11-3 record and have gotten some real strong play from sophomore Taliah Scott and senior forward Darianna Littlepage-Buggs.
Scott is leading the way in scoring (20.8 PPG), while Littlepage-Buggs is posting10 and 10 a night. The Bears will go as far as Scott takes them this season. However, they have hit a slump recently, losing games to in-state schools Texas and Texas Tech.
20. Louisville (LW: 17)
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Laura Ziegler and Tajiana Roberts have been a nice one-two punch for Louisville so far this season. They are the main reason why the Cardinals are among the best teams in the ACC after a 12-3 start. While the Cardinals have three losses this season, they have come against ranked teams, including an elite UConn squad.
However, they have turned things around of late against ranked teams. Posting wins against North Carolina and Tennessee recently.
19. Nebraska (LW: 22)
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Year 10 is delivering the best team yet for Nebraska head coach Amy Williams. A key reason why is the play of sophomore Britt Prince. She has taken another leap forward and leads the team in scoring (18.6 PPG). She is the tip of the spear for an offense that is averaging 89.6 PPG.
They have some big tests from ranked teams next week, including USC.
18. Ole Miss (LW: 14)
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Coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin looks to have another good Ole Miss squad on her hands in 2025-26. The Rebels head into the weekend 12-2 and near the top of the SEC standings. The biggest reason for their strong start is the dynamic play of senior forwards Cotie McMahon and Christeen Iwuala.
Not only are they leading the team in scoring (18.4 and 15.8 PPG, respectively), but they also have been reliable on the boards. Combining for over 15 rebounds a night. While they have a win over Notre Dame, a recent loss to Michigan State is why they slip a bit in our latest college basketball rankings.
17. Iowa (LW: 12)
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Although Iowa took a step back last season, its first in four years without Caitlin Clark and legendary coach Lisa Bluder, year two for coach Jan Jensen has been far better as the Hawkeyes begin the year 10-2.
Leading the way this season is sophomore Ava Heiden, 14.6 points and 7.8 boards, and senior Hannah Stuelke, 13.4 points and 8.4 rebounds, a night. They are a key reason for their fast start, but they hit some big bumps in the road in losses to in-state rivals Iowa State and UConn.
16. North Carolina (LW: 20)
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North Carolina had their best year yet under coach Courtney Banghart when it posted 29 wins and went to the regional semis in the tournament last season. They are looking to maintain that new standard in 2025-26, and the 11-3 team has been rock-solid due to the play from guard Indya Nivar and forward Ciera Toomey.
Unfortunately, the Tar Heels drop in our latest college basketball rankings as they continue to struggle against ranked teams. They are 0-3 against top-25 schools this year, including recent defeats to Texas and Louisville.
15. Michigan State (LW: 18)
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Michigan State is off to a strong start in 2025-26 due to having one of the best offenses in college basketball. The team is fifth in the nation in scoring (92.2 PPG) and is led by the impressive play of guard Kennedy Blair. The sophomore is second on the team in scoring (12.6 PPG) and is leading in rebounds (7.1) and assists (5.8). The 11-1 group also has five players scoring 10 or more points a night.
14. Alabama (LW: 19)
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Head coach Kristy Curry has her Alabama team off to an unbeaten start this season. They own a sparkling 14-0 record, and it is mostly due to a defense that is third in the nation, giving up just 50.8 PPG.
The combo of Jessica Timmons and Essence Cody has grown into a formidable duo this year for the Crimson Tide. In just 25 minutes a night, Cody is posting 15.4 points, 5.8 boards, and leads the team in blocks with 1.8 per night.
13. Texas Tech (LW: 16)
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In year six, Texas Tech coach Krista Gerlich has her best team yet after winning their first 14 games. That is a win total that is nearly as much as the Lady Raiders program has won in entire seasons over the last decade.
Their unbeaten start is due to the impressive play of veteran guards Snudda Collins, Bailey Maupin, and Jalynn Bristow. The trio is posting close to 45 points and 14 boards a night. That and their top 10 defense are why they are among the top 25 teams in the nation right now.
12. Kentucky (LW: 13)
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Year two for Kentucky head coach Kenny Brooks is off to a really good start. The Wildcats kicked off this year’s campaign by winning 12 of their first 13, including a big W over Louisville. A major reason for the impressive start to the season is junior Clara Strack.
The one-time Virginia Tech recruit is posting a 16 and 10 double-double nightly. However, beyond the play of their top star, Kentucky is a legit top 25 team because of a defense that is giving up just 50.8 PPG, which is fourth best in the nation.
11. Vanderbilt (LW: 11)
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Led by sophomore Mikayla Blakes (24.2 PPG), Vanderbilt leads the SEC after getting off to an impressive 12-0 start. The Commodores are also getting a strong season from freshman guard Aubrey Galvan. The Illinois native is posting 10.3 points, 4.0 boards, and 7.2 assists per game, which is the 10th best in the nation.
While Vandy lacks a win against a ranked program, they have dominated their competition, and the closest an opponent has gotten was a nine-point win over Austin Peay in the third game of the season.
10. Michigan (LW: 9)
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Michigan is among the top-scoring teams in the nation (92.5 PPG) because of a quartet of guards all averaging double-digit points this season. But the best of the bunch is uber-talented sophomore Olivia Olson, who leads the team in scoring at 18.5 PPG, and is also adding 5.3 boards and 2.1 steals per night.
Although they fell to UConn earlier this year, they still own a 10-1 record, including a win over Notre Dame.
9. Oklahoma (LW: 10)
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Following an early-season loss to UCLA, Jennie Baranczyk’s Oklahoma team has gotten on a roll. Winning 11 straight to land near the top of the SEC standings with a 12-1 record. The Sooners have five players posting 10 or more points a game. Impressive freshman Aaliyah Chavez is leading the way with 18.9 points a night.
It is why they are second in the nation in scoring heading into the weekend (96.2 PPG).
8. Maryland (LW: 8)
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Maryland has gotten off to an impressive 13-0 start due to some great play from their quartet of guards. The group features WNBA Draft prospect Yarden Garzon, but is led by junior Oluchi Okananwa, who is posting 15.5 points and 5.4 rebounds a night. The unbeaten squad that owns a win over Kentucky is already halfway toward its win total from last season.
7. Iowa State (LW: 7)
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Legendary Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly may have his best team ever overseeing the Cyclones program. A major reason is the nation’s most dominant scorer, Audi Crooks. The junior is on the radar of WNBA Draft scouts after posting a career high 28.9 points a game on an astounding 71.6% from the floor.
Forward Addy Brown is also playing a major role as she averages a near double-double each night (14.6 points and 9.5 boards). Iowa State is a dark horse team this season, and their recent win over Iowa is proof.
6. TCU (LW: 6)
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TCU is off to an impressive 13-0 start due to the performance of seniors Marta Suarez (18.8 points and 6.5 rebounds) and Olivia Miles (18.9 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 7.6 assists). But they have also dominated much of their competition with an elite defense that is giving up just 49.5 PPG — No. 1 in the nation.
After winning 34 games and reaching the regional final last year, Mark Campbell’s team has continued that momentum in their 2025-26 campaign.
5. LSU (LW: 4)
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Kim Mulkey has an LSU team that can match Pokey Chatman’s groups from two decades ago and win 30 or more games for a fourth straight season. A major reason why is the strong play of stud WNBA Draft prospect Flau’Jae Johnson.
She and junior Milaysua Fulwiley are scoring just over 30 points combined and lead an offense that has seven different players averaging double digits. The Tigers unsurprisingly lead the nation in scoring (107.9 PPG).
4. South Carolina (LW: 3)
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To the surprise of no one, Dawn Staley has another very good South Carolina team in the 2025-26 season. Both Ta’Niya Latson and Madina Okot are getting serious WNBA Draft buzz this year, but sophomore Joyce Edwards has stolen the show so far as she leads the team in scoring (22.0 PPG) and is shooting an outstanding 62.8% from the field — which, oddly enough, is similar to what she is averaging from the line.
Although they have a razor-thin loss to Texas, they own a pair of wins over ranked teams, USC and Louisville, and are the third-best scoring team in the country (92.6 PPG).
3. UCLA (LW: 5)
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UCLA has several players who could be top 20 picks in the 2026 WNBA Draft, including the early favorite to go No.1, Lauren Betts. They have had a very strong start to their campaign and own wins over a trio of ranked teams — including Oklahoma — because of the impressive play of senior guard Kiki Rice and Betts.
The duo is combining for 30 points, 14 boards, over 5 assists, and 2 steals a night for the Big Ten program.
2. Texas (LW: 1)
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Vic Schaefer has turned Texas into a yearly powerhouse in college basketball, and the team seems primed to win 30 or more games for a third straight season, for the first time since the 1980s. A major reason is the performance of their top star, forward Madison Booker.
The junior leads the team in scoring (18.7), rebounds (7.4), and is second in assists (4.2) and steals (3.0). Along with talented point guard Rori Harmon — who is fourth in the nation in assists — the Longhorns offense is a top 10 group heading into Christmas Day.
1. UConn (LW: 2)
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What a shocker. Coach Geno Auriemma has a UConn team that is a serious threat to win a second straight championship in March. The Big East’s greatest team has kicked off the season with a 12-0 record and already owns wins over four ranked teams, including a dominant victory over Iowa most recently.
While they lost star Paige Bueckers in the WNBA Draft, they have a pair of future top 15 picks in senior guard Azzi Fudd and sophomore forward Sarah Strong. The duo has been dynamite, combining for close to 40 points and 8 assists a night for a team that is a top-10 on both offense and defense this season.
After earning his journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos served as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sucka … More about Jason Burgos