South Carolina Remains No. 1 in AP Women’s Basketball Rankings After Impressive 2-0 Start
South Carolina women’s basketball is already proving why it entered the 2026-27 campaign as the nation’s top-ranked team. After opening the season with two impressive victories against ranked opponents at neutral sites, Dawn Staley’s Gamecocks have maintained their position at the top of the national rankings.
The Gamecocks began their campaign with a victory over Maryland in Paris before delivering a commanding performance against North Carolina in Charlotte.
Their impressive start has strengthened their position among the leading national championship contenders.
On Monday, the Associated Press published its latest women’s basketball Top 25 rankings, with South Carolina retaining the No. 1 position after receiving 32 of 33 available first-place votes.
Only one other program received a first-place vote, highlighting just how strongly the national voters currently view Staley’s team.
Updated AP Women’s Basketball Top 25 Rankings
Here is the complete updated national ranking, including the number of first-place votes received:
| Rank | Team | First-place votes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Carolina Gamecocks | 32 |
| 2 | Michigan Wolverines | — |
| 3 | Southern California Trojans | 1 |
| 4 | UConn Huskies | — |
| 5 | Duke Blue Devils | — |
| 6 | Texas Longhorns | — |
| 7 | Louisville Cardinals | — |
| 8 | Vanderbilt Commodores | — |
| 9 | LSU Tigers | — |
| T-10 | UCLA Bruins | — |
| T-10 | Iowa Hawkeyes | — |
| 12 | Kentucky Wildcats | — |
| 13 | Notre Dame Fighting Irish | — |
| 14 | Oklahoma Sooners | — |
| 15 | TCU Horned Frogs | — |
| 16 | Washington Huskies | — |
| 17 | Ohio State Buckeyes | — |
| 18 | Minnesota Golden Gophers | — |
| T-19 | Maryland Terrapins | — |
| T-19 | Oklahoma State Cowgirls | — |
| 21 | Ole Miss Rebels | — |
| 22 | Illinois Fighting Illini | — |
| 23 | North Carolina Tar Heels | — |
| 24 | West Virginia Mountaineers | — |
| 25 | Nebraska Cornhuskers | — |
Also receiving votes: Baylor, NC State, Arizona State, Virginia, Kansas, Florida, Michigan State, Fairfield, Colorado, Tennessee and Princeton.
South Carolina Continues to Set the National Standard
Remaining at No. 1 reinforces the expectations surrounding South Carolina heading into another demanding season.
The Gamecocks also claimed the top position in the SEC preseason rankings, further establishing their standing as the conference’s leading contender.
Their dominance in the preseason USA Today Coaches Poll was equally impressive. South Carolina received 26 of 32 first-place votes to secure the No. 1 position.
With another updated coaches poll approaching, the Gamecocks are expected to remain among the leading teams.
However, maintaining that position will require consistent performances against some of the strongest programs in the country.
A Challenging Schedule Awaits Dawn Staley’s Team
South Carolina’s road toward another championship opportunity will not be an easy one.
The 2026-27 schedule features 15 games against teams currently ranked in the AP Top 25, giving the Gamecocks plenty of opportunities to test themselves against elite competition.
Their ranked opponents include:
- No. 3 Southern California
- No. 4 UConn
- No. 5 Duke
- No. 6 Texas
- No. 8 Vanderbilt
- No. 9 LSU
- No. 10 UCLA
- No. 12 Kentucky
- No. 13 Notre Dame
- No. 14 Oklahoma
- No. 19 Oklahoma State
- No. 19 Maryland
- No. 21 Ole Miss
- No. 23 North Carolina
South Carolina will meet Oklahoma twice, bringing the total number of games against ranked opponents to 15.
The Gamecocks have already taken care of two of those challenges, defeating Maryland and North Carolina to begin their season.
Beyond the currently ranked programs, South Carolina will also face Tennessee and Florida, both of which received votes in the latest AP poll.
This demanding schedule will provide Staley’s squad with several opportunities to demonstrate its championship credentials.
Clemson Rivalry Comes Next for the Gamecocks
Before looking further ahead, South Carolina must prepare for its annual rivalry meeting with Clemson.
The Gamecocks will travel to the Upstate on Thursday for a 7 p.m. matchup against the Tigers.
ESPN2 will televise the contest, while fans can also follow the action through the ESPN app.
South Carolina enters the rivalry with an impressive record of 15 consecutive victories over Clemson. The Gamecocks have not lost to their in-state rivals since 2009.
Another victory would extend that remarkable run and provide additional momentum as the season progresses.
The Real SC Showdown: South Carolina vs. USC
Following the Clemson matchup, the Gamecocks will face an even bigger national test against No. 3 Southern California in Greenville.
The highly anticipated meeting, described as “The Real SC” showdown, is scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m.
ABC will provide national television coverage, while the ESPN app and ESPN+ will offer streaming options.
With both programs carrying significant national expectations, the contest represents one of the most important early-season opportunities for South Carolina.
A victory would strengthen the Gamecocks’ position at the top of the rankings and provide another valuable result against an elite opponent.
Final Takeaway: South Carolina Has Its Eyes on Another Championship
Dawn Staley’s team has made an impressive opening statement by winning its first two games against ranked competition and retaining the No. 1 position in the AP poll.
However, the real challenge is only beginning.
With 15 scheduled games against AP-ranked opponents, additional tests against Tennessee and Florida, and major matchups against Clemson and Southern California approaching, South Carolina will have little room for complacency.
The Gamecocks have the ranking, the talent and the expectations. Now they must continue proving why they belong at the top of women’s college basketball.
For Staley and her players, the ultimate objective remains clear: turn another promising start into a championship season.
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