Bruins Ascend to No. 1 as Irish Surge
← D1Ball News
Women's Basketball · Rankings

Bruins Ascend to No. 1 as Irish Surge

UCLA claims the top spot with a 37-1 record while Notre Dame rockets from No. 22 to No. 9 in a poll that rewards staying power.

D1Ball StaffMonday, July 20, 2026

The Bruins are the team of the moment — 37-1 and now sitting at No. 1, rising one spot to dethrone the 38-1 Huskies, who slid to No. 3 despite owning the best record in the poll. The Gamecocks climbed two spots to No. 2 at 36-4, setting up a familiar trio at the summit that nobody seems capable of dislodging.

The Fighting Irish authored the poll's loudest statement, vaulting 13 spots from No. 22 to No. 9 on the strength of a 25-11 campaign. The Horned Frogs also made a massive move, jumping from No. 14 to No. 6 with a 32-6 mark that demands attention. At the other end, the Hawkeyes tumbled nine spots from No. 7 to No. 16, the steepest fall of the week.

Three newcomers entered the fray — the Cavaliers at No. 19, the Crimson Tide at No. 24, and the Huskies at No. 25 — proof that the door to the Top 25 never truly closes.

Data via ESPN · Summarized by D1Ball's editorial engine from official statistics.

More from the newsroom