A lot of high-profile matchups during the holiday week in women’s college basketball produced some mixed results among the top 10. South Carolina stayed above the fray, however, and is now the unanimous No. 1 choice in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll.
© Tim Aylen, Bahamas Visual Services via AP South Carolina players celebrate on the bench during their team’s defeat of Connecticut at Paradise Island, Bahamas, Monday, Nov. 22, 2021.The Gamecocks moved to 8-0 Monday night and aren’t likely to be tested again until a Dec. 12 date with Maryland.
Connecticut narrowly holds on to the No. 2 position by just three poll points over No. 3 North Carolina State. Stanford took a loss to South Florida but moves up to No. 4 thanks to top-10 wins against Indiana and Maryland. Louisville gains a couple of positions to round out the top five.
The second half of the top 10 features a Big Ten trio, headed by Indiana. Maryland slips to No. 8 with still unscathed Michigan holding at No. 9. Baylor moves up a notch to No. 7 and Tennessee remains at No. 10.
Three newcomers join the poll this week, led by No. 22 Florida Gulf Coast. No. 23 Brigham Young and No. 25 Notre Dame also move in.
Florida State, West Virginia and Georgia Tech are the dropouts.