Notre Dame moved up to No. 2 in The Associated Press women’s basketball Top 25 on Monday for the Irish’s best ranking since 2019.
The Fighting Irish replaced South Carolina in the second spot behind UCLA after the Gamecocks lost 66-62 to Texas over the weekend. It is Notre Dame’s best ranking since the team was No. 1 on Jan. 21, 2019.
The Bruins remained the unanimous No. 1 choice of the 31-member media panel.
The Longhorns climbed to third with their victory. South Carolina dropped to fourth after seeing its 57-game conference winning streak in the regular season come to an end.
No. 5 LSU and No. 6 USC followed the Gamecocks, each moving up one spot after UConnlost at then-No. 19Tennessee last week. The Huskies fell two places to seventh. Tennessee, which lost to LSU on Sunday, moved up four spots to 15th.
Kentucky moved up to eighth, giving the Wildcats their best ranking since Dec. 8, 2015, when they were seventh. Ohio State was ninth and NC State jumped up four places to 10th. The Wolfpack had wins over then-No. 10 Duke and 22nd-ranked Florida State last week.
WHO’S IN; WHO’S OUT
Creighton and Baylor came into the poll at No. 24 and 25 while Vanderbilt and California dropped out. The Bluejays were ranked in the preseason Top 25 before falling out. Baylor has been in and out of the poll a few times this season.
MILESTONE
The appearance this week was UConn’s 600th straight in the poll. It’s the longest streak ever and dates back to the preseason poll in 1993. South Carolina has the next longest active streak with 242 consecutive weeks in the Top 25.
RECOGNITION
Grand Canyon received its first vote in the poll as the Lopes were ranked 25th on a ballot. The program underwent the transition to Division I in 2013, joining the Western Athletic Conference that season. They are 22-2 this season and have won 20 consecutive games after losses to Middle Tennessee and Oregon.
CONFERENCE BREAKDOWN
The Southeastern Conference still reigns with seven ranked teams. The ACC has six, the Big Ten and Big 12 each have five, and the Big East has two.
GAMES OF THE WEEK
No. 1 UCLA at No. 6 USC (Thursday): First place will be on the line when the Bruins visit the Trojans in the first of two meetings over the next few weeks.
No. 7 UConn at No. 4 South Carolina (Sunday): The Huskies will have their last chance to get a victory against a top opponent before the NCAA tournament.
No. 5 LSU at No. 3 Texas (Sunday): Two of the three teams atop the SEC face off in a key conference showdown.
In a recent update to the women’s AP Top 25 rankings, Notre Dame has surged to the No. 2 spot, with South Carolina following closely behind in 4th place. This marks a significant rise for Notre Dame, showcasing their impressive performance and strength on the court. South Carolina, a perennial powerhouse in women’s college basketball, continues to demonstrate their dominance and skill. It will be exciting to see how these top-ranked teams fare as the season progresses. #WomensBasketball #APTop25 #NotreDame #SouthCarolina
February is here and with that the women’s college basketball season is entering one of the most important periods of the regular season as conference championship races heat up. With that, the AP Top 25 Poll has once again been updated with the latest results in mind.
Conference play is in full swing and, with that, the race for the top of the standings in the regular season is heating up. At this point, there are only so many opportunities to make a move or risk not having enough time to get to the top of their respective conference standings. That also means that teams are jockeying for position in their future conference tournament seeding.
With all of that in mind, here’s a look at the updated AP Top 25 Poll in women’s college basketball for the first week of February.
The UCLA Bruins march on with their undefeated season. Since the last AP Poll came out, the Bruins only had one game, a Big Ten battle against Minnesota that saw the Golden Gophers hang around for a half before the Bruins pulled away to win by 26 points. That improved UCLA to 22-0.
On Wednesday, UCLA is in for a major test when they host the Ohio State Buckeyes. That should, on paper, be the start of the toughest stretch of the season for UCLA. With eight total games remaining, four of those are against ranked teams including two against USC before the season comes to an end.
Jan 9, 2025; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley directs her team against the Texas A&M Aggies in the first half at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images
In SEC play, South Carolina has once again been dominant and their only loss this season remains against UCLA in non-conference play. In the last week, that saw the Gamecocks win a pair of games, starting with a hard-fought win against Tennessee, before returning home for a double-digit win against Auburn.
In this next week, South Carolina is going to hit the road for a pair of tests. First, the Gamecocks are set to travel to play Georgia on the road. That could become a trap because, at the end of the week, they’ll travel to Austin for one of the biggest games of the season against Texas.
Since Notre Dame stumbled in late November in non-conference play, the Irish have been dominant. That has seen them become the frontrunner in the ACC throughout the season and that continued with a pair of double-digit road wins against Virginia Tech and Louisville.
Now considered one of the best teams in the country by the AP Poll, Notre Dame has a target on its back moving forward this season. Of course, the schedule also doesn’t get easier from here. Notre Dame will return home next week before hosting a pair of West Coast schools, hosting Stanford and Cal.
The Texas Longhorns have now won six games in a row since dropping a road test against South Carolina in the middle of January. Last week, that included wins over Missouri and Texas A&M. That win over the Aggies was especially sweet.
The schedule gets tougher next week with some AP-ranked opponents coming up. First, Texas will need to stay focused on Thursday when they take on the Vanderbilt Commodores. Otherwise, they could easily get trapped looking ahead to South Carolina coming to town on Sunday for a rematch.
All the UConn Huskies do in Big East play is win. The last time they had a game that was less than a double-digit win was back in December when they suffered a two-point loss to USC. Last week, for the Huskies, it was a pair of blowout wins over DePaul and Butler consecutively.
Next week, UConn has an interesting test to look ahead to, and it’s not in the Big East. Next Thursday, the Huskies have an interesting test against Tennessee, in a classic women’s basketball matchup. After that, it’s back to Big East play against Providence.
The LSU Tigers seem to have fully bounced back from their loss to the South Carolina Gamecocks with a run of three wins in a row. That included a close win over Oklahoma where the score went on to be 107-100 last Thursday. The Tigers would then follow up with a double-digit win over Mississippi State.
Next week, LSU hits the road for a game against Missouri. After that, they’ll enter one of their toughest stretches of the season, playing teams who either are ranked in the AP Poll or were recently ranked in the AP Poll in four of the next five games, starting with Tennessee.
The USC Trojans stumbled in their second game of the week, dropping a road game against Iowa in front of an emotionally charged crowd. In particular, a four-point first quarter was costly and put a damper on their win over Minnesota earlier in the week. It also cost the Trojans in the AP Poll.
Things aren’t going to get any easier for USC from here in Big Ten play. Next week, the Trojans are set to take on Wisconsin and Ohio State. They’ll need to maintain focus too because UCLA is just around the corner the week after that set of tough games and a loss there would put USC behind the eight-ball in a tough Big Ten.
Ohio State forward Cotie McMahon celebrates a win over Maryland during the 2023-24 season. (Barbara J. Perenic/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK)
Since getting upset by Penn State in January, Ohio State has bounced back with three straight wins and is now ranked in the Top 10 of the AP Poll again. Only one of those games came since the last AP Poll came out, a 10-point game against Washington. That has left them tied for second in the Big Ten standings.
From here, however, Ohio State is really going to get tested by Big Ten play. On Wednesday, the Buckeyes are on the road against UCLA. After that, they’ll stick in Los Angeles for another road test against USC. That could make for a potentially make or break week for the Buckeyes as it relates to their regular season hopes in conference play.
Since their one-point upset loss to a tough Oklahoma State team, TCU has bounced back in a fairly major way. They’ve added wins against Baylor and Iowa State, both of whom are competitive in the Big 12, and now they’re back at the top of the conference standings and are highly ranked in the AP Poll.
Next week has maybe the biggest game of the season for TCU. The Horned Frogs are set to take on Kansas State on Wednesday. Another highly ranked team, the two seem to be the top two competitors in the Big 12 and, with that, the game is going to put someone in the driver’s seat. From there, TCU needs to avoid upsets, starting with Texas Tech at the end of the week.
The Duke Blue Devils had an interesting week in the middle of the season and conference play. They didn’t play a single game. Beating Georgia Tech last Sunday helped the Blue Devils get into the AP Top 10 at the time, but they haven’t played a game since the last poll came out.
Now, Duke is getting ready for a tough game on Monday night when they travel to rival NC State. From there, they’ll play a back-to-back against Clemson before adding another game on Sunday against Miami. That should, in part, make up for the week off that Duke had to try and hit the reset button with.
As we head into the month of February, the latest AP Poll rankings for Women’s College Basketball have been released. Here is the updated Top 25:
1. South Carolina
2. Stanford
3. Louisville
4. NC State
5. UConn
6. Baylor
7. Arizona
8. Texas A&M
9. UCLA
10. Maryland
11. Michigan
12. Kentucky
13. Tennessee
14. Oregon
15. Indiana
16. Arkansas
17. Gonzaga
18. West Virginia
19. South Florida
20. Georgia
21. DePaul
22. Florida State
23. Northwestern
24. Missouri State
25. Iowa
These rankings will surely continue to shift as we near the end of the regular season and head into conference tournaments. Stay tuned for more updates on Women’s College Basketball rankings.
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Women’s College Basketball Rankings, AP Poll Top 25, February rankings, women’s basketball, college basketball, NCAA rankings, top teams, women’s sports, sports news, latest rankings, AP Poll updates, college athletics, basketball standings, top contenders, women’s division.
UCLA, South Carolina and Notre Dame remained the top three teams in the rankings. The Bruins received all 32 first-place votes in the poll from a national media panel, picking up the one that the Gamecocks garnered last week.
The Bruins beat Minnesota 79-53 in their lone game last week to remain as the only unbeaten team in the country. South Carolina knocked off then-No. 18 Tennessee and Auburn. The victory over the Tigers on Sunday came on a day when the Gamecocks retired the jersey of A’ja Wilson.
Texas, UConn and LSU all moved up a spot to follow the Fighting Irish. Ohio State, TCU and Duke remained eight through 10.
No. 11 Kentucky has its best ranking in four years behind first-year coach Kenny Brooks. The Wildcats (19-2), who last were ranked this high in 2021, have their bye week before hitting a tough stretch of the SEC schedule to close the regular season. They still have games left against South Carolina, LSU, Texas and Tennessee.
The Wildcats’ only losses this season came against North Carolina on Dec. 5 and Texas A&M on Jan. 23.
CONFERENCE BREAKDOWN
With no new teams in the poll this week, the Southeastern Conference remained atop the standings with eight teams ranked. The ACC had seven. The Big Ten was next with five. The Big 12 has four ranked teams and the Big East one.
GAMES OF THE WEEK
No. 9 TCU at No. 12 Kansas State (Wednesday): First place in the Big 12 will be on the line when the Horned Frogs visit the Wildcats. Both teams are 9-1 in conference play.
No. 5 UConn at No. 19 Tennessee (Thursday): These two will renew their rivalry with the Huskies visiting the Lady Vols. It will be the first time that UConn sees Tennessee coach Kim Caldwell’s pressing style.
No. 2 South Carolina at No. 4 Texas (Sunday): The Longhorns will try to avenge a 17-point loss in Columbia last month. South Carolina has a one-game lead in the standings on the Longhorns, Kentucky and LSU.
Southern Cal women’s basketball team has fallen to No. 7 in the latest AP Top 25 poll. Despite a strong start to the season, the Trojans have suffered a couple of losses recently, causing them to drop in the rankings.
The team will need to regroup and refocus in order to climb back up the rankings and make a push for the top spot. With plenty of talent and potential, Southern Cal has the ability to bounce back and make a statement in the remainder of the season.
Fans and supporters of the Trojans will be eagerly watching to see how the team responds to this setback and how they perform in the upcoming games. Stay tuned for more updates on Southern Cal women’s basketball as they look to make a run in the rankings.
The Merrimack College women’s basketball team fell to Rider in a nail-biter, losing 65-63 despite a strong late-game comeback. The Warriors initially held a slim lead but trailed 37-28 at halftime. Merrimack clawed back in the final quarter but a crucial turnover prevented them from tying or taking the lead late in the game.
By the Numbers
Final Score: Rider 65, Merrimack 63
Thalia Shepard led all scorers with 20 points.
Madison Roman recorded her second consecutive double-double with 18 points and 13 rebounds.
Yes, But
While Merrimack showed resilience in the second half, the loss highlights ongoing struggles with consistency and capitalizing on crucial moments in tight games.
State of Play
Merrimack is currently 8-12 overall and 4-7 in conference play.
Rider improved to 5-15, with a conference record of 3-8.
What’s Next
The Warriors will look to bounce back against Niagara University on February 6, aiming for a stronger performance to regain momentum in the league.
Bottom Line
Merrimack’s narrow defeat underscores the need for improved execution in high-pressure situations, as they seek to enhance their playoff position in the remaining games.
In a heartbreaking turn of events, the Women’s Basketball team fell to Rider in a close game that saw a late comeback effort ultimately fall short. Despite a strong showing in the second half, the team was unable to overcome Rider’s lead and ultimately suffered a tough loss.
The game started off on a competitive note, with both teams trading baskets and playing tough defense. However, Rider was able to build a lead in the first half that the Women’s Basketball team struggled to overcome. Despite some strong individual performances and a valiant effort in the second half, the team was unable to close the gap and secure the win.
It was a tough loss for the team, but they showed resilience and determination throughout the game. The players never gave up and fought until the very end, showcasing their competitive spirit and teamwork.
Although the outcome was not what the team had hoped for, they can take away valuable lessons and use this experience as motivation to come back stronger in their next game. With hard work and dedication, they have the potential to bounce back and secure victories in the future.
Overall, the Women’s Basketball team put forth a commendable effort in their game against Rider, and despite the loss, they should be proud of their performance. They will regroup, learn from this experience, and continue to strive for success in the rest of their season.
AMES − The Iowa State women’s basketball team is still missing a marquee victory on its March Madness resume.
The Cyclones (15-8 overall, 6-4 in Big 12 Conference play) have another shot to get one Sunday when they host No. 9 TCU at 3 p.m. at Hilton Coliseum.
“I think it could really boost our confidence just taking down a top-ranked team like that and just kind of show us that we belong at the top with the rest of the Big 12 teams,” said Iowa State sophomore Addy Brown. “We need a ranked win.”
A ranked win has eluded the Cyclones all season. They’re 0-5 against teams in the Top 25, falling to Iowa, South Carolina, UConn, West Virginia and most recently Kansas State. The Cyclones had a chance to pick up the upset at Kansas State. But a late 3-point shot by Iowa State’s Emily Ryan was off the mark and sent the game to overtime. The 11th-ranked Wildcats rolled from there.
The good news for the Cyclones is another opportunity presents itself with TCU on Sunday. A victory would not only give Iowa State its first win over a ranked opponent but a very important resume-builder to potentially help the Cyclones get off the NCAA Tournament bubble.
Start time: 3 p.m. CT at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa
TCU 2024-25 schedule
Record: 20-2, 8-1 in Big 12
Nov. 5: Houston Christian, W, 78-41
Nov. 10: New Orleans, W, 107-52
Nov. 13: Texas State, W, 90-31
Nov. 17: NC State, W, 76-73
Nov. 21: Incarnate Word, W, 81-43
Nov. 24: Idaho State, W, 86-46
Nov. 29: Notre Dame, W, 76-68
Nov. 30: South Florida, W, 87-46
Dec. 4: Florida Atlantic, W, 78-42
Dec. 8: South Carolina, L, 85-52
Dec. 15: Louisiana Tech, W, 92-41
Dec. 17: Samford, W, 103-64
Dec. 21: UCF, W, 92-52
Dec. 29: Brown, W, 79-47
Jan. 1: Colorado, W, 63-50
Jan. 4: Cincinnati, W, 81-66
Jan. 8: Kansas, W, 80-73
Jan. 11: Texas Tech, W, 69-43
Jan. 14: UCF, W, 90-81
Jan. 17: Utah, W, 81-73
Jan. 22: Oklahoma State, L, 60-59
Jan. 26: Baylor, W, 80-75
Iowa State 2024-25 schedule
Record 15-8, 6-4 in Big 12
Nov. 4: Chicago State, W, 95-65
Nov. 7: Indiana State, W, 64-42
Nov. 10: Southern, W, 84-56
Nov. 14: St. Thomas, W, 80-47
Nov. 20: Northern Iowa, L, 87-75
Nov. 24: Drake, W, 80-78
Nov. 28: South Carolina, L, 76-36
Nov. 30: Middle Tennessee, W, 75-59
Dec. 3: USC Upstate, W, 92-35
Dec. 8: Central Michigan, W, 82-56
Dec. 11: Iowa, L, 75-69
Dec. 15: Eastern Illinois, W, 87-55
Dec. 17: UConn, L, 101-68
Dec. 21: Oklahoma State, L, 81-75
Jan. 1: Kansas, W, 78-64
Jan. 5: Utah, L, 75-67
Jan. 8: Arizona State, W, 90-83
Jan 11: Arizona, W, 79-58
Jan. 14: Texas Tech, W, 71-58
Jan. 19: West Virginia, L, 82-68
Jan. 22: BYU, W, 82-59
Jan. 25: UCF, W, 90-56
Jan. 30: Kansas State, L, 87-79 (OT)
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Tommy Birch, the Register’s sports enterprise and features reporter, has been working at the newspaper since 2008. He’s the 2018, 2020 and 2023 Iowa Sportswriter of the Year. Reach him at tbirch@dmreg.com or 515-284-8468
Are you a fan of Cyclones women’s basketball and looking for ways to watch their games? Look no further! Here are some tips on how to catch all the action:
1. Tune in to TV: Many Cyclones women’s basketball games are broadcast on popular sports networks such as ESPN, Fox Sports, and CBS Sports Network. Check your local listings or the team’s schedule to find out which channels will be airing the games.
2. Watch online: If you don’t have access to a TV, you can still watch Cyclones women’s basketball games online. Many games are streamed live on websites such as ESPN3 or the team’s official website. You may need a subscription or login information to access these streams.
3. Attend in person: There’s nothing quite like watching a game live at the arena. Check the team’s schedule and see if there are any home games coming up that you can attend. Grab some friends, put on your Cyclones gear, and cheer on the team in person.
4. Follow on social media: Can’t watch the game live? No problem! Follow the Cyclones women’s basketball team on social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for live updates, highlights, and behind-the-scenes content.
With these tips, you’ll never miss a moment of Cyclones women’s basketball action. Get ready to cheer on your favorite team and show your Cyclone pride!
A Vox reader asks: Why do people pay more to watch men’s sports than women’s sports?
For all of Caitlin Clark’s feats on the basketball court — breaking all-time scoring records, taking the Iowa Hawkeyes to two national championships and getting the Indiana Fever to the WNBA playoffs — what might be more impressive is the attention she’s captured and the sheer amount of people who want to see her play and are willing to pay top dollar to watch her dish dazzling assists and launch 3-point daggers from the logo.
In her rookie season, Clark helped the Fever achieve the best attendance in the league — over 17,000 people per game, a 265 percent increase over last season — and their televised games regularly reached over 1 million viewers per contest. Scalpers were selling tickets outside the arena. At one point in the season, they were asking $250 for a ticket that usually went for under $100, while some secondary market sellers were looking for up to $9,000, CNN reported.
Clark’s emergence alongside a new generation of exciting rookies and ultra-talented, already-established veterans has created momentum for women’s basketball and more generally women’s sports. Mainly: People are finally willing to pay more to see women’s basketball? That raises the question: Why weren’t they already?
Why have women’s sports historically been less popular?
At the heart of this question is a pretty simple answer: Men have had decades-long head starts when it comes to sports and professional sporting leagues. To put it in perspective, women were allowed to compete in the 1900 Olympics in five sports; it wasn’t until the 2012 London Olympics that women competed in all of the sports that the men were.
Similarly, in the US, experts specifically point to Title IX — the federal law that bans gender discrimination at schools receiving federal aid — and its passing in 1972 as a watershed moment for gender equality in sports. Before that, US schools had no obligation to provide the same athletic opportunities to girls that they did for boys. It broke down existing barriers to entry, allowing women not only to compete but also receive equal financial opportunity tied to sports (e.g., college scholarships ). But when Title IX solidified women’s rights into law and protected them from discrimination, the NBA was already over 20 years old.
“The easy way to think about it is to look at the overall lack of investment,” Lindsey Darvin, an assistant professor at Syracuse University, told me. Darvin studies women’s sports and gender equity in the intercollegiate and professional sports industry. She said that the NBA, and any other major sports league, have had decades upon decades of resources, both external and internal, infused into them. Women’s leagues are, relatively speaking, still so young and don’t (yet) gather the same kind of attention.
“The amount of investment that’s been put into the NBA — it dwarfs what’s been put into the WNBA,” Darvin said. The WNBA was founded in 1996, almost 30 years ago. The same number of years on the NBA timeline would be the late ’70s, when the league was finally established and on the verge of a massive leap in popularity. While the WNBA is growing, it hasn’t seen the same kind of trajectory — at least not yet.
It took decades for teams like the Lakers, Yankees, Arsenal, Bruins, and Packers to become lucrative sports franchises that generate millionsin revenue each year and play in arenas and stadiums in front of thousands of people. Some professional leagues count revenue in the tens of billions of dollars. Decades of investment — money, advertising, promotion, television deals, sponsorships, etc., — have turned teams and leagues into brand names.
That’s what you’re paying for when you’re purchasing a ticket. That’s also why a men’s pro sports ticket is usually going to be more expensive than a women’s.
How does marketing factor into it?
The last couple of years in women’s college basketball have shown us that women’s sports can challenge men’s in popularity — like, right now. At the 2024 Final Four, tickets for the women’s tickets on the secondary market were going double for the price of the men’s games.
The Caitlin Clark effect was in full motion, and the ratings for Clark and her cohort were at an all-time high. Clark’s last two games were the most-watched in history, averaging close to 14 million and, as The Athletic reported, eclipsed men’s sporting events like every World Series since 2019, every NBA Finals game since 2017, and every Daytona 500 since 2006.
“As a researcher, I don’t like to say the phrase that ‘the stars align’ because that just seems so kind of out there — but the stars aligning is a piece of it, and that’s what happened, right?” Darvin said, noting that Clark’s skill and flashy, appealing game; the success of the Iowa basketball team; and Clark’s marketability and her team’s underdog story were all factors in becoming a phenomenon.
But what intrigues Darvin is now that Clark has graduated and driven similar sellouts in the WNBA, is whether this can convince people — especially those in charge — that people are willing to spend more money to see women’s sports.
One of the trickier reasons about why men’s sports are valued over women’s is because that’s what we’ve been told they were more important for so long. Clark and Iowa basketball are one of the rare examples when investment, promotion, and media hammered home that Clark’s games were worth watching, worth paying for, and even more exciting than the men’s teams.
“You’re steered in directions through marketing, advertisements, and the media — you are basically told what you’re supposed to like and what you should pay for, and what you’re going to enjoy,” Darvin said. “And what is cool to enjoy and pay for has always been men’s sports.”
Essentially, we were told to value Caitlin Clark’s senior season in a way that hadn’t happened in women’s college basketball. But while Clark is the most recent barrier-breaker, she isn’t alone.
During her career, Serena Williams and her rivals were at times bigger stories than male tennis players. (Not unrelated: Tennis has been one of the better sports at striving for equal pay.) Simone Biles and the US women’s gymnastics team are bigger stories than the American men, and similarly, women’s figure skating is usually as popular as men’s at the Olympics. Those are all examples, Darvin said, where women athletes fare better when it comes to marketing and publicity.
The more women’s pro sports are publicized and marketed, the more people are willing to pay to see pro women athletes, and ostensibly the idea is that all this capital turns into growth, opportunity, and equality for women. With more money, perhaps the WNBA will be able to pay rookies more than $76,000 for their first season! A possible sign of progress: Unrivaled, a stateside professional 3×3 women’s league debuted in January with a $200,000 average salary per player and a multiyear media deal with TNT. Darvin also notes that college women athletes signing lucrative NIL deals are also changing the playing field and upping their media profiles.
If there’s one drawback it’s that if all goes according to plan, eventually we’ll get to the point (in the distant future) where women’s pro sports won’t be as accessible. Currently one of the debates around the NBA is that the ratings are down and whether that’s due to it being very expensive to watch or even attend a game. One of the best things about women’s pro sports and women’s basketball is that it’s affordable.
The WNBA’s Caitlin Clark has changed the game between men’s and women’s sports
Caitlin Clark, a rising star in the WNBA, has been making waves in the world of sports with her exceptional talent and skill on the basketball court. As one of the top prospects in the league, Clark has been proving that women can compete at the same level as men in professional sports.
With her incredible scoring ability, court vision, and leadership on the court, Caitlin Clark has been breaking down barriers and changing the perception of women’s sports. She has shown that women are just as capable as men when it comes to excelling in athletics and that gender should never be a limiting factor.
Clark’s success in the WNBA has not only inspired young girls to pursue their dreams in sports but has also sparked important conversations about gender equality in the world of athletics. By dominating on the court and earning respect from her peers and fans alike, Caitlin Clark has proven that women’s sports deserve just as much recognition and support as men’s sports.
As Caitlin Clark continues to make headlines and leave her mark on the WNBA, she is setting a new standard for what it means to be a female athlete in today’s society. With her determination, talent, and passion for the game, Clark is paving the way for future generations of women to thrive in the world of sports and beyond.
Gophers women’s basketball squandered their opportunity to regain a top-25 ranking after falling 69-82 to No. 4 University of Southern California (USC) on Thursday.
Riding the best season start in program history and earning their first AP Top-25 ranking since 2019, the Gophers briefly held the No. 23 spot before falling out of the rankings after last week’s 65-70 loss to the No. 24 Michigan Wolverines.
The Gophers struggled to match and combat the offensive energy of the Trojans early into the game, entering the second quarter with a 10-point deficit. Trojans sophomore guard JuJu Watkins scored 18 of her 20 points in the second half of the game.
“(We) showed some toughness and resiliency, but, you know, unfortunately, it wasn’t enough in the end,” Gophers head coach Dawn Plitzuweit said. “We learned through that experience that we’ve got to probably start a lot better.”
Another offensive hurdle for the Gophers was USC forward Kiki Iriafen. She racked up 23 points and 11 rebounds for the Trojans, going 81.8% in the paint and 2-2 from the 3-point line.
Plitzuweit cited Minnesota’s early turnovers and missed opportunities at the rim as key factors in their early scoring deficit.
“They are loaded with offensive firepower in a lot of different ways,” Plitzuweit said. “We felt different players stepping up and hitting arc shots and that made it really, really tough for us.”
Gophers senior center Sophie Hart said she tried to be the strong offensive powerhouse Minnesota needed to combat USC’s strong post presence.
Hart led the team in scoring and was one of three Gophers to reach double figures, finishing with 18 points and grabbing five offensive rebounds.
The Gophers held their ground defensively, holding the Trojans to a 7-0 run in the first two minutes of the fourth quarter and forcing two turnovers.
Despite the loss being hard to swallow, Hart said the Gophers’ fight in the fourth quarter gave them a boost of confidence in their playing style.
“I don’t know if two years ago, we would have had that same kind of dog in us to battle back like that,” Hart said. “That speaks a lot about our team.”
The Gophers could not keep their early quarter momentum going, struggling to match Watkins’ offensive domination. Watkins’ performance led to her fourth double-double of the season.
The Gophers remain in California for their upcoming match against No. 1 UCLA on Sunday.
The Gophers women’s basketball team had a tough loss this past weekend as they missed their chance to reclaim a spot in the AP Top-25 rankings. Despite a strong effort, the team fell short in a close game, leaving them just outside the coveted rankings.
It was a disappointing outcome for the Gophers, who have been playing well this season and were hoping to make a statement with a win over a tough opponent. However, they will have to regroup and refocus as they continue to push for a spot among the nation’s top teams.
This setback serves as a reminder that the road to success is never easy, and the Gophers will need to stay determined and hungry as they strive to reach their goals. With hard work and perseverance, there is no doubt that this team has the potential to make a strong push for a spot in the AP Top-25 and beyond. Let’s continue to support our Gophers women’s basketball team as they work towards achieving their goals and making us proud.
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The Butler Bulldogs (12-11) will look to stop a five-game road slide when they visit the No. 6 UConn Huskies (20-2) on Sunday, February 2, 2025 at XL Center. The game airs at 1:00 PM ET on SNY.
In its most recent game, UConn was victorious away over DePaul, 84-58. Its leading performers were Azzi Fudd (17 PTS, 5 AST, 50 FG%, 4-7 from 3PT) and Kaitlyn Chen (17 PTS, 77.78 FG%, 3-3 from 3PT). In its previous game, Butler fell to Seton Hall 71-48 away, with Jocelyn Land (14 PTS, 55.56 FG%, 3-6 from 3PT) and Kilyn McGuff (9 PTS, 33.33 FG%, 2-5 from 3PT) leading the way.
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Are you ready for some exciting women’s basketball action? The UConn Huskies will be taking on the Butler Bulldogs on February 2nd, and you won’t want to miss a minute of the game! If you’re wondering how to watch UConn vs. Butler Women’s Basketball, we’ve got you covered.
To catch all the action live, you can tune in to the game on TV or stream it online. The game will be broadcast on ESPN, so if you have access to this channel, you’re all set. If you prefer to stream the game, you can watch it on the ESPN app or website with a cable login.
Don’t miss out on what is sure to be an exciting matchup between these two talented teams. Mark your calendars for February 2nd and get ready to cheer on your favorite team!
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UConn vs. Butler Women’s Basketball
Live stream UConn vs. Butler Women’s Basketball
TV channel for UConn vs. Butler Women’s Basketball
No. 4 USC (19-1, 9-0 in Big Ten) travels to Iowa (14-7, 4-6) for a 1:30 p.m. ET tip-off inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Sunday, looking to extend its win streak to 16 straight.
Sunday’s meeting between the Trojans and Hawkeyes is the first between both programs since USC joined the Big Ten from the Pac-12 over the offseason.
Watkins leads USC in scoring at 24.9 points per game this season, and has finished with at least 20 or more points in 18 games this year. The Trojans are coming off an 82-69 win at home against Minnesota on Thursday.
Iowa appears to be back on track after dropping five straight between Jan. 5-19 with back-to-back wins against Washington and Northwestern. Leading the way for the Hawkeyes in scoring is Villanova transfer Lucy Olsen, who is averaging 15.8 points per game this season.
Sunday’s game is a celebratory one for the Hawkeyes, as they will formally retire former Iowa legend Caitlin Clark’s No. 22 jersey — just the third player in program history to receive that honor.
Here’s what to know on how to watch the USC women’s basketball vs. Iowa game on Sunday, including time, TV channel and streaming information:
What channel is USC women’s basketball vs Iowa on today?
Fox will nationally televise Sunday’s Big Ten showdown between USC and Iowa. Streaming options for the game include the Fox Sports Go app (with a TV login) and Fubo, which carries Fox and offers a free trial to new subscribers.
The Trojans and Hawkeyes are scheduled to tip off at 1:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, Feb. 2 from Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.
USC women’s basketball vs Iowa predictions, picks, odds
This section will be updated.
Prediction: USC 85, Iowa 70
Iowa has struggled against the upper-echelon teams in the Big Ten this season, and Sunday’s contest will likely follow suit. JuJu Watkins and USC will start their two-game road trip with a victory at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
USC women’s basketball schedule 2024-25
Here’s a look at USC’s last five results. To view the Trojans’ full 2024-25 schedule, click here.
Wednesday, Jan. 8: USC 79, No. 8 Maryland 74
Sunday, Jan. 12: USC 95, Penn State 73
Wednesday, Jan. 15: vs. Northwestern (Postponed)
Sunday, Jan. 19: USC 73, Indiana 66
Wednesday, Jan. 22: USC 79, Purdue 37
Thursday, Jan. 30: USC 82, Minnesota 69
Iowa women’s basketball schedule 2024-25
Here’s a look at Iowa’s last five results. To view the Hawkeyes’ full 2024-25 schedule, click here.
Sunday, Jan. 12: Indiana 74, Iowa 67
Thursday, Jan. 16: Nebraska 87, Iowa 84 (OT)
Sunday, Jan. 19: Oregon 50, Iowa 49
Wednesday, Jan. 22: Iowa 85, Washington 61
Tuesday, Jan. 21: Iowa 85, Northwestern 80
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Don’t miss out on the exciting matchup between USC and Iowa in women’s basketball today! Here’s all the information you need to catch the game:
Channel: ESPN
Time: 4:00 PM EST
Streaming: WatchESPN or the ESPN app
Tune in to see these talented teams battle it out on the court for a thrilling game of hoops. Don’t miss a minute of the action! #USCvsIowa #WomensBasketball #CollegeHoops
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The second day of the second month falling on a women’s basketball Sunday feels like kismet. An appropriate date, 2/2, for two of the most iconic No. 22s this decade.
Caitlin Clark’s No. 22 jersey will rise to the rafters of Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City on Sunday, less than a year after her second national championship game in an Iowa Hawkeyes uniform. In Columbia, South Carolina, a garnet one will go up with A’ja Wilson’s No. 22 seven years after her own back-to-back national title appearances.
The number of jersey retirements appears to be ramping up in recent years as players tear through record books and schools turn more attention to blossoming women’s programs. By the end of the Iowa and South Carolina ceremonies, at least four legendary players will have watched their jerseys be raised in the first 33 days of 2025. Two left school within the year. Two more already won WNBA championships together.
Caitlin Clark’s iconic No. 22 will head to the rafters on Sunday in Iowa City. (AP Photo/Matthew Putney, File)
Retired jerseys aren’t one-size-fits-all. Schools have different eligibility requirements for jersey retirements, players have to be ready for the honor, and a lot more people are aware of and passionate about women’s basketball than ever before.
“It hasn’t been such a big ordeal, the women’s retirement of their jerseys compared to the men’s,” Dr. Lisa Delpy Neirotti, director of the Sport Management Program at George Washington University and an advisory board member of the Women’s Sports Foundation, told Yahoo Sports. “And it just stems back to — I’m not saying nobody cared, but there were a lot fewer people who cared about women’s basketball than there are now. Obviously now, it’s going to raise the profile of everything these women do.”
Clark had barely played her final game when Iowa athletics director Beth Goetz announced the honor in April during the Hawkeyes’ team celebration at their arena.
“It is a privilege for me to now make that official,” Goetz said while Clark sat near her, under the jerseys of Michelle Edwards (No. 30) and Megan Gustafson (10). “You will be the last to wear No. 22.”
In mid-December, the school revealed the date as its first Big Ten game against No. 4 USC (1:30 p.m. ET). Fox will stay with the broadcast after the game ends for the ceremony. As was the case in her playing days, ticket prices are soaring with combined interest for Clark and Naismith contender JuJu Watkins of USC.
“Strike while the iron is hot is always my marketing [tip],” Delpy Neirotti said. “Historically, I could see why they would retire [the jersey] after the person has kind of proven themselves even more [in the pros], but in today’s world of trying to get as much media and excitement around your programs, leveraging a star athlete is a great strategy.”
Clark, who turned 23 last week, is accustomed to the pomp and circumstance, whether it was record-breaking celebrations or senior night. Yet, this is the first time she won’t be playing in a game beforehand.
“It’s kind of hard to evoke emotion after you just competed for 40 minutes,” Clark said on the Hawkeyes 247 Sports podcast. “But now that I’m not actually going to be playing, I feel like I’ll probably be a little more emotional even though I’m not a super emotional person.”
The South Carolina athletics department stipulates a five-year waiting period for a jersey retirement, beginning at the conclusion of the student-athlete’s final season. Wilson, who completed her collegiate career in March 2018, became eligible in 2023. In a rare experience, she watched the school unveil a statue of her likeness in front of the arena before her number was raised inside of it. The Gamecocks retired three-time All-American Tiffany Mitchell’s No. 25 last season.
A’ja Wilson’s No. 22 will be honored seven years after her back-to-back national title appearances for South Carolina. (Photo by G Fiume/Maryland Terrapins/Getty Images)
Quick jersey retirement turnarounds
The swiftness of Clark’s honor isn’t without precedent. Iowa retired Gustafson’s number eight months after she won 2019 national player of the year accolades and entered the WNBA.
USC retired Cheryl Miller’s No. 31 in 1986 while she was still playing. The three-time Naismith Award winner played five games in the number while it swayed above her at the Galen Center. It was retired again in 2006 during a joint ceremony with Lisa Leslie and followed by Cynthia Cooper (2011), Pam McGee (’12), Paula McGee (‘12) and Tina Thompson (’19). Watkins, a generational talent breaking their records, could see a similar turnaround.
Texas Tech raised Sheryl Swoopes’ No. 22 in February 1994, less than a year after she scored a record 47 points in the NCAA championship game as a senior. Old Dominion retired inaugural Naismith winner Anne Donovan’s No. 22 the winter after her final season. Maryland, whose head coach Brenda Frese delivered the news in prank form, honored Alyssa Thomas’ No. 25 on her senior day in 2014. Georgia followed the same timeline with Teresa Edwards (No. 5) and Katrina McClain (No. 32)
Last month, Virginia Tech honored Elizabeth Kitley, a 2024 grad and 2023 Naismith finalist with Clark. The most decorated Hokie in program history wore No. 33, and it became the first jersey retirement since Renee Dennis (No. 44) in 1987.
Finding the right time
The day before Kitley’s celebration, her former Las Vegas Aces teammate, Kelsey Plum, watched her No. 10 go up. It had been eight years since the guard set the all-time Division I women’s scoring record at Washington, before Clark broke the mark. She was the first female Husky to receive the honor, joining six men’s players, and there was a months-long celebration the school dubbed “Forever 10.”
Some players aren’t ready for the honor or can’t feasibly fit it into their schedules. That was more difficult when most WNBA players played overseas in the offseason. The day after Tennessee made Candace Parker the sixth player to earn the honor (Pat Summitt’s name is also in the rafters), she jetted off to Russia to re-join UMMC Ekaterinburg.
DeWanna Bonner returned to her alma mater in January 2024 for her No. 24 honor. It had been 14 years since she broke the program’s scoring record and finished as national player of the year runner-up.
Brittney Griner, Bonner’s former Phoenix Mercury teammate, waited 12 years after leading Baylor to an undefeated championship to see her No. 42 head to the rafters a year ago. The national player of the year had a strained relationship with former Baylor head coach Kim Mulkey, who said she required players to graduate for the honor. Griner received a degree in 2019 and new head coach Nikki Collen made it a priority when the star center was released from a wrongful Russian detention.
As interest in women’s sports grows, there is more push for acknowledgement of the game’s greats. Syracuse retired its first female athlete jersey in 2021 after calls from local fans and media members. Felisha Legette-Jack, a 1989 alumna, became the first in 2021 when she took the head coaching job. All-American Kayla Alexander watched her jersey join it in December.
In their waiting era
Winning national player of the year awards is a near-lock for jersey retirement. While most Naismith winners already received the honor, there are nearly a dozen since 1986 who will be waiting a while.
Connecticut, often referred to as the college basketball capital of the world, is stingy with its jersey retirements. The Huskies’ athletic department only allows players inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame to be considered. Players also must be fully retired for four years to be eligible for the Hall.
Ray Allen (No. 34) and Rebecca Lobo (No. 50), both members of the early 1990s squads, were the first in March 2019. Swin Cash (No. 32) followed in 2022, months after she entered the Hall. Sue Bird (No. 10), Maya Moore (No. 23), Diana Taurasi (No. 3) and Breanna Stewart (No. 30) eventually will join them.
Other players won’t have the same opportunity. Notre Dame, where Ruth Riley won the 2001 Naismith, does not retire jerseys. It inducts players to its Purcell Pavilion Ring of Honor, which includes Skylar Diggins-Smith, Niele Ivey, Kayla McBride, Muffet McGraw and Riley. Diggins-Smith entered months after leaving for the WNBA.
Still more schools, such as Oregon, where 2020 national player of the year Sabrina Ionescu set the NCAA Division I men’s and women’s triple-double record, have no formalized criteria. So she could become the first in a rapidly expanding group of women’s basketball honorees.
The University of Iowa recently announced that they will be retiring Caitlin Clark’s jersey, #22, in honor of her incredible contributions to the women’s basketball program. This decision not only recognizes Clark’s exceptional talent and hard work, but also marks a significant moment in the evolution of the women’s game.
Clark, a dynamic and electrifying guard, has taken the college basketball world by storm with her scoring ability, playmaking skills, and competitive spirit. She has quickly become a household name in the sport and a role model for young girls aspiring to play at the highest level.
By retiring Clark’s jersey, Iowa is not only honoring her individual achievements, but also acknowledging the changing landscape of women’s basketball. The game is evolving, with more talented players like Clark emerging and pushing the boundaries of what is possible on the court.
As we celebrate Caitlin Clark’s jersey retirement, we also look ahead to the future of women’s basketball. With players like her leading the way, the sky is the limit for what the next generation of female athletes can accomplish. Congratulations to Caitlin Clark on this well-deserved honor, and here’s to the bright future of the women’s game.
