The 2025-26 women’s college basketball season ended spectacularly at the Final Four in Phoenix. The national semifinals brought drama between coaches, appearances from legendary alumni of the teams and high anticipation for next season.
Here are The Arizona Republic’s way-too-early top 10 team rankings for next season. (Spoiler: National finalist UCLA didn’t make our list because so many players have exhausted their eligibility.)
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UConn: Despite losing All-American Azzi Fudd and Serah Williams to graduation, and UConn’s 54-game win streak snapped by South Carolina in the Final Four, the Huskies are returning most of their rotation and four starters in National Player of the Year Sarah Strong, Blanca Quinonez, KK Arnold, plus adding top-recruited incoming freshman big Olivia Vukosa.
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Michigan: After the Wolverines were in the USA TODAY Sports team poll’s top 10 most of this season, they’re running it back with this year’s best sophomore core and perimeter play, including All-American Olivia Olson, Mila Holloway, Syla Swords and Te’Yala Delfosse after losing to Texas in the Elite Eight.
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USC: JuJu Watkins’ return from her season-long knee injury absence to join Jazzy Davidson, Kennedy Smith, and the nation’s No. 1 recruit Saniyah Hall will help the Trojans return to prominence.
4. South Carolina: Losing the Gamecocks’ second-best scorer, Ta’Niya Latson, and Raven Johnson to graduation won’t be an issue because transfers and prep star Jerzy Robinson will fill those spots, and they still have one of the SEC’s best scorers, Joyce Edwards.
5. LSU: Flau’jae Johnson is off to the WNBA, but LSU always gains top transfers, who will complement their returning four starters, including guards MiLaysia Fulwiley and Mikaylah Williams.
6. Vanderbilt: With the 2026 NCAA Coach of the Year Shea Ralph and the nation’s leading scorer Mikayla Blakes, the Commodores will reload after being upset by Notre Dame in the Sweet 16.
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7. Duke: The Blue Devils had the third-best defensive efficiency in the nation this past season, and reached the Elite Eight, led by two-way star freshman Toby Fournier, Riley Nelson and Delaney Thomas.
8. Texas: Senior point guard Rori Harmon’s playmaking and high efficiency will be missed, but the Longhorns still have the nation’s best wing, Madison Booker, and sophomore Jordan Lee, who is poised for a breakout year.
9. Notre Dame: The Fighting Irish’s leader of all major individual stats, Hannah Hidalgo, willed her team to the Elite Eight after an inconsistent regular season, and will do it again for another deep tournament run with one of the nation’s best recruiting classes.
10. Ohio State: Elite junior guard Jaloni Cambridge (23.2 points per game) and her sister, sophomore Kennedy Cambridge, will lead the Buckeyes in their redemption after being a No. 3 seed upset during the second round by Notre Dame.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Way too early Top 10 women’s college basketball poll for 2026-27 season
