The USC women’s basketball team was ranked #1 in the AP Pre-Season Top 25 poll released Tuesday afternoon. It’s the second straight season the Gamecocks will start at the top of the AP ranking. The Gamecocks return all 11 starters from last season’s Final Four team and signed the nation’s top recruiting class according to some of the analysts.
The Gamecocks received 14 of the 29 first place votes. Connecticut is ranked 2nd with 10 first place votes, and Stanford 3rd with 5. Maryland and NC State complete the top five.
USC will open their season at 5th ranked NC State, one of eight opponents who will begin the season ranked in the top 25.
AP Women’s Pre-Season Top 25
| RANK | SCHOOL (FIRST-PLACE VOTES) | POINTS | PREVIOUS RANK |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Carolina (14) | 705 | 6 |
| 2 | UConn (10) | 696 | 1 |
| 3 | Stanford (5) | 682 | 2 |
| 4 | Maryland | 632 | 7 |
| 5 | NC State | 589 | 3 |
| 6 | Louisville | 575 | 8 |
| 7 | Baylor | 521 | 5 |
| 8 | Indiana | 521 | 12 |
| 9 | Iowa | 513 | NR |
| 10 | Oregon | 479 | 23 |
| 11 | Michigan | 403 | 16 |
| 12 | Iowa State | 376 | NR |
| 13 | Kentucky | 368 | 18 |
| 14 | Oregon State | 273 | NR |
| 15 | Tennessee | 244 | 13 |
| 16 | Florida State | 231 | NR |
| 17 | Ohio State | 197 | 22 |
| 17 | Georgia Tech | 197 | NR |
| 19 | West Virginia | 192 | 17 |
| 20 | UCLA | 175 | 9 |
| 21 | South Florida | 146 | 19 |
| 22 | Arizona | 135 | 11 |
| 23 | Texas A&M | 123 | 4 |
| 24 | Virginia Tech | 98 | NR |
| 25 | Texas | 79 | NR |
