AP Top 25: Conference tournaments answer some questions, raise others ahead of Selection Sunday
GREENVILLE, S.C. — In every South Carolina player’s locker at Bon Secours Wellness Arena hung the shadow of someone cutting down the nets.
For the first time in four years, the Gamecocks didn’t put their own likeness in the photo. Instead, it was Texas that won its first SEC Tournament title and with it an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament. This gave them an extra boost of confidence ahead of the most crucial part of the season.
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South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley gave her group some support of her own after the loss.
“[I] I told them the last time we lost in that situation, we won a national championship,” Staley said, citing the 2022 team that lost to Kentucky in the title game. “So you have to think about that. That might be exactly what this team needs.
A portion of the 31 automatic bids were landed over the weekend to begin filling out the 2026 NCAA Women’s Tournament bracket. Texas (SEC), Duke (ACC), UCLA (Big Ten) and West Virginia (Big 12) will hear their names called Selection Sunday, and almost all will host first- and second-round contests. UConn, the presumptive No. 1 seed, will face Villanova in the Big East Championship on Monday (Peacock, 7 p.m. ET).
Western Illinois (Ohio Valley), Samford (South), Rhode Island (A-10), South Dakota State (Summit) and High Point (Big South) are all already dancing, with additional spots awaiting teams throughout the week. Those who have already completed their season will take a brief rest and keep their eyes open to the mid-majors to see if the bubble is bountiful or bursting.
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The most telling aspect of last week’s major conference tournaments is how the bracket could make or break a deep race. In Greenville, No. 2 seed Vanderbilt could have improved its standing by advancing to the SEC title game. Rather, the Commodores were defeated in a non-competitive loss to Ole Miss.
It’s the second time the Rebels have smothered Vanderbilt (27-4), using their length to upset star duo Mikayla Blakes and Aubrey Galvan. The committee will do its best to keep them apart for as long as possible, but Vandy sure doesn’t want to see Ole Miss in his bracket.
In the Big Ten, Michigan (25-6) is recovering from a second resounding defeat against Iowa in two weeks. The Hawkeye defense put together Syla Swords and Olivia Olsen to limit Michigan to its two worst scores of 42 and 44 points. The Wolverines are winless when scoring less than 70, although three of those losses have been by three points each against Vanderbilt, UConn and UCLA.
The ACC delivered on its promise with the only overtime game of the day between Duke and Louisville, while Notre Dame made a run against the Blue Devils in the semifinals. Missing one of the best players in the country can take you far.
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And in the Big 12, West Virginia won the title with its proven swimming approach of peaking at the right time. The Mountaineers’ press is problematic, and they often made the most of it in March.
For next week, coaches or players cannot do anything regarding the table. They have done their job, they will rest and they will be back on track in a few days. The only thing they can do is work on themselves and deal with the break when it comes.
This is clearer to some than others after the events of this weekend. There’s a chance Texas overtakes South Carolina for the third overall seed, and thus the right to play the super-regional closer to home in Fort Worth.
“I’ll go wherever they send me,” Schaefer said. “I’ll take this team to Timbuktu. I don’t care. They’ll go anywhere. They don’t care. They’re good enough.”
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Yahoo Sports AP voting
1. UConn
2.UCLA
3.Texas
4. South Carolina
5. LSU
6. Iowa
7. Duke
8. Vanderbilt
9. Ohio State
10. Louisville
11. Oklahoma
12.Kentucky
13.Michigan
14. West Virginia
15. TCU
16. Minnesota
17. Maryland
18. Michigan State
19. Notre Dame
20. Ole Miss
21. Princeton
22. North Carolina
23. Georgia
24. Fairfield
25. Colorado
Official AP Top 25
1. UConn
2.UCLA
3.Texas
4. South Carolina
5. LSU
6. Vanderbilt
7. Iowa
8. Duke
9.Michigan
10. Oklahoma
11. Ohio State
12. West Virginia
13. Louisville
14. TCU
15. North Carolina
16.Kentucky
17. Maryland
18. Minnesota
19. Ole Miss
20. Michigan State
21. Baylor
22. Notre Dame
23. Princeton
24. Georgia
25. Texas Technology
