South Carolina Receives 32 First-Place Votes as All 33 AP Voters Keep Gamecocks in Top Three
South Carolina women’s basketball continues to receive overwhelming national recognition after maintaining its position at No. 1 in the latest Associated Press (AP) Top 25 poll released November 9, 2026.
According to the voter breakdown highlighted by On3’s Kevin Miller, the Gamecocks received 32 first-place votes out of 33 ballots, demonstrating how strongly the national voting panel views Dawn Staley’s program.
Even more significantly, every voter placed South Carolina among the nation’s top three teams.
The Gamecocks collected 823 total points, maintaining a comfortable advantage over Michigan, which finished second with 777 points.
The result reinforces South Carolina’s position as the team to beat entering the opening weeks of the 2026-27 women’s college basketball season.
B. How the AP Voters Ranked South Carolina
The November 9 poll featured 33 completed ballots.
South Carolina’s ranking distribution was particularly impressive:
- 32 voters placed South Carolina at No. 1.
- One voter placed the Gamecocks at No. 3.
- No voter ranked South Carolina outside the top three.
- All 33 voters included South Carolina on their ballots.
This produced 823 points, placing the Gamecocks 46 points ahead of second-ranked Michigan.
The single third-place vote did not significantly affect South Carolina’s overall position. Instead, the voting pattern demonstrates how little disagreement exists about the Gamecocks’ standing nationally.
C. The AP Top Five: Where the Competition Stands
The November 9 rankings also revealed an interesting picture of the national championship contenders.
| National rank | Team | Points | First-place votes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Carolina | 823 | 32 |
| 2 | Michigan | 777 | 0 |
| 3 | USC | 734 | 1 |
| 4 | UConn | 733 | 0 |
| 5 | Duke | 681 | 0 |
South Carolina’s advantage is particularly noteworthy considering the competition immediately behind it.
Michigan climbed three positions to No. 2, while USC remained third. UConn dropped two places to fourth following its loss to Michigan.
USC received the remaining first-place vote, showing that at least one voter considered the Trojans the country’s best team.
However, South Carolina’s overall voting support remained substantially stronger.
D. Michigan’s Rise and UConn’s Decline
One of the biggest developments in the latest poll was Michigan’s movement into second place.
The Wolverines improved from No. 5 in the preseason rankings to No. 2 after defeating UConn.
Thirty of the 31 returning AP voters moved Michigan higher following its opening-week performances.
UConn experienced the opposite movement, dropping from No. 2 to No. 4.
The result created an interesting situation near the top of the rankings: Michigan gained national recognition, USC remained third, and UConn lost ground.
South Carolina, meanwhile, maintained its No. 1 position.
E. What the Numbers Say About South Carolina
The most important takeaway is not simply that South Carolina is ranked first.
It is the consistency of the support behind that ranking.
Receiving 32 first-place votes means the overwhelming majority of the national voting panel believes the Gamecocks deserve the top position.
The fact that the remaining voter still placed South Carolina third further illustrates the program’s standing.
For Dawn Staley, this recognition reflects the expectations surrounding a program that has established itself among the leading forces in women’s college basketball.
However, preseason and early-season rankings do not guarantee postseason success.
South Carolina must continue demonstrating its quality through performances against increasingly difficult opponents.
F. What Happens Next?
The Gamecocks now turn their attention to maintaining their position while navigating a demanding early-season schedule.
The upcoming matchup against USC on November 15 is particularly important because both programs occupy the top three positions in the AP poll.
That meeting will provide another opportunity for South Carolina to demonstrate its championship potential against one of the country’s highest-ranked teams.
The national rankings may generate attention, but the more important measure will be how the Gamecocks perform when facing elite competition.
G. Final Takeaway
South Carolina has received a remarkable level of national support in the November 9 AP poll.
With 32 first-place votes, 823 points and all 33 voters placing the Gamecocks inside the top three, Dawn Staley’s team remains the clear No. 1 choice among AP voters.
Michigan’s rise and UConn’s decline have changed the conversation behind South Carolina, but the Gamecocks have maintained their position at the summit.
The next challenge is turning that national recognition into consistent performances throughout the season.
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