AP Women's College Basketball Poll 2025: Final Rankings After UConn Wins March Madness

Connecticut was the unanimous No. 1 pick in the final Associated Press Top 25 poll to close out the 2024-25 season.

The Huskies received all 31 first-place votes following their dominant 82-59 victory over South Carolina in the national championship game. The Gamecocks stayed at No. 2, with UCLA, Texas and USC rounding out the top five.

Week 21 AP Top 25

1. UConn

2. South Carolina

3. UCLA

4. Texas

5. USC

6. TCU

7. Duke

8. LSU

9. North Carolina State

10. Notre Dame

11. Oklahoma

12. Maryland

13. Kansas State

14. North Carolina

15. Tennessee

16. Kentucky

17. Ole Miss

18. Baylor

19. Ohio State

20. Alabama

21. West Virginia

22. Florida State

23. South Dakota State

24. Oklahoma State

25. Michigan

Maryland, Kansas State and Ole Miss were all big movers in the newest poll thanks to their March Madness success. They all reached the Sweet 16, resulting in the Terps and Wildcats climbing six spots and the Rebels moving up eight.

Oklahoma State, on the other hand, paid a high price for its first-round exit at the hands of South Dakota State. The Cowgirls slipped seven slots to 24th.

At no point this year did UConn sit atop the AP poll. The Huskies opened at No. 2 behind reigning champion South Carolina. The fell as low as No. 7 before working their way back to third before the NCAA tournament tipped off.

By the time the Big Dance ended, nobody disputed UConn's status as the best team in women's basketball. Sunday's blowout concluded an incredible run in which it had an average margin of victory of 32.8 points.

Guards Azzi Fudd and Paige Bueckers combined to score 41 points against the Gamecocks, with Fudd being named the Most Outstanding Player. Freshman forward Sarah Strong had a double-double (24 points and 15 rebounds), and fans are already positing she'll follow Bueckers as the next program legend.

On defense, the Huskies held South Carolina to 34.4 percent shooting, including 4-of-16 on three-pointers. Dawn Staley's squad looked flummoxed in a way rarely seen since it asserted itself among the nation's elite.

UConn may not be going anywhere in 2025-26, either, despite Bueckers moving on to the WNBA. Fudd and Strong are both returning, and Bueckers' exit might allow sophomores KK Arnold and Ashlynn Shade to shine with bigger roles.

Head coach Geno Auriemma will have the talent to fuel a possible repeat bid.