Iowa women’s basketball on fringe of top 25 in latest USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll

Iowa is on the fringe of cracking the top 25 in the latest USA TODAY Sports Women’s Basketball Coaches Poll.

After two dominant wins for Iowa women’s basketball over Northern Illinois (91-73) and Virginia Tech (71-52), the Hawkeyes received more love in the Nov. 12 edition of the USA TODAY Sports Women’s Basketball Coaches Poll.

In the Hawkeyes‘ two games this season, senior transfer guard Lucy Olsen has taken charge by leading the team in average points scored (19.5), assists (5.5), and minutes per game (37.2). The hot start from the former Villanova Wildcat has been exactly the offensive force the Hawkeyes envisioned ahead of the season.

Senior center Addison O’Grady has also found herself off to a scorching start by averaging 15 points, three rebounds, and one block per game. While the center’s stats may look tame, her near perfect 14-for-15 shooting performance through two games has been spectacular.

Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

As for the rankings, there was no movement within the top five programs as No. 1 South Carolina remains atop the list, followed by No. 2 UConn, No. 3 USC, No. 4 Texas, and No. 5 Notre Dame.

Outside of the third-ranked Trojans, the Big Ten features five other programs within the Top 25 including No. 6 UCLA, No. 12 Ohio State, No. 14 Maryland, No. 20 Nebraska, and No. 24 Illinois.

Below is the complete USA TODAY Sports Women’s Basketball Coaches Poll rankings for Nov. 12, 2024:

Ranking Team Record Points
1 South Carolina Gamecocks 2-0 772 (29)
2 UConn Huskies 2-0 740 (1)
3 USC Trojans 2-0 707 (1)
4 Texas Longhorns 2-0 674
5 Notre Dame Fighting Irish 1-0 652
6 UCLA Bruins 2-0 598
7 LSU Tigers 2-0 586
8 Iowa State Cyclones 3-0 547
9 Oklahoma Sooners 2-0 516
10 North Carolina State Wolfpack 1-1 476
11 Kansas State Wildcats 2-0 462
12 Ohio State Buckeyes 1-0 439
13 West Virginia Mountaineers 2-0 382
14 Maryland Terrapins 3-0 378
15 North Carolina Tar Heels 2-0 327
16 Duke Blue Devils 2-1 281
17 Baylor Bears 1-1 256
18 Louisville Cardinals 1-1 205
19 Kentucky Wildcats 2-0 165
20 Nebraska Cornhuskers 2-0 158
21 Ole Miss Rebels 1-1 145
22 Alabama Crimson Tide 3-0 123
23 Stanford Cardinal 3-0 99
24 Illinois Fighting Illini 2-0 87
25 South Dakota State Jackrabbits 2-0 50

Schools Dropped Out

No. 19 Florida State; No. 20 Creighton; No. 24 Indiana;

Others Receiving Votes

Oregon 42; Florida State 38; Iowa 34; Tennessee 33; Utah 17; Creighton 11; Auburn 11; TCU 10; Michigan State 9; Middle Tennessee 8; Indiana 8; Fairfield 7; UNLV 6; Michigan 4; Penn State 3; Mississippi State 3; Saint Joseph’s 2; Gonzaga 2; Richmond 1; Columbia 1

Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions.

Follow Scout on X: @SpringgateNews