South Carolina leads the USA TODAY Sports preseason women’s basketball poll ahead of Connecticut

The defending champion Gamecocks are ranked No. 1 as they prepare to embark on their title defense. The voting isn’t unanimous, however, as South Carolina was picked first by 27 of the 31 panelists. Perennial power Connecticut received three first-place nods and will open the campaign at No. 2. The final top vote went to No. 3 Southern California. Texas and Notre Dame round out the top five.

TOP 25: Complete USA TODAY Sports preseason women’s basketball poll

IN-DEPTH: Team outlooks for the women’s basketball preseason poll Top 25

Thanks to the additions of Texas and No. 10 Oklahoma, the expanded SEC has four teams in the preseason top 10, with LSU checking in at No. 7. USC is joined by fellow Big Ten newcomer UCLA near the top of the rankings at No. 6. No. 9 Iowa State heads the Big 12 contingent, with No. 8 North Carolina State giving the ACC a second top 10 squad.

With Alabama edging out Gonzaga by eight poll points for the No. 25 spot, the poll is monopolized by the five major conferences. Despite that, however, some familiar names like Iowa and Stanford will begin the year unranked.