Big Ten overtakes SEC as top women's basketball conference in early projections
Preseason rankings place the Big Ten first based on 13 projected tournament bids, surpassing the SEC despite the latter's recent dominance.
By Anthony Lawson ·
The Big Ten has claimed the top spot in women's college basketball conference power rankings, displacing the SEC from the position it held for several years. This shift follows UCLA's victory in the most recent NCAA tournament, which ended a 26 season drought for the conference. Current projections suggest the Big Ten is poised to extend its lead as the season begins.
Analysts project the Big Ten will earn 13 bids to the NCAA tournament, a figure that would break the conference record of 12 set in the previous two seasons. The conference is also projected to have an average seed of 5.4, with six teams landing in the top 16. These metrics place the Big Ten just ahead of the SEC, which projects 10 bids and an average seed of 5.5.
Depth drives the Big Ten's current standing. While the SEC lacks a clear dominant No. 2 team, the Big Ten features a competitive upper tier. USC, Michigan, and Iowa are all positioned to challenge for the regular season title. Washington, UCLA, and Maryland present additional threats, relying on key transfers such as Tilda Trygger, Addy Brown, and Nunu Agara to maintain their status.
The expanded 76 team field benefits the Big Ten more than any other major conference. With 18 teams, the league projects that 72.2% of its members will make the tournament, the highest percentage in the country. This structural advantage allows the Big Ten to accumulate more spots than the SEC, which has 16 teams and projects 10 bids.
The SEC remains a strong contender, anchored by South Carolina. The Gamecocks have reached the final weekend as a No. 1 seed for six consecutive years and are projected to repeat that feat. However, Texas faces roster turnover after reaching the Final Four in 2025 and 2026, and LSU is projected to perform at a Sweet 16 or Elite Eight level, similar to recent seasons.
Vanderbilt, Kentucky, and Oklahoma represent the swing teams for the SEC. Their performance in early nonconference games will determine whether the conference can close the gap with the Big Ten. A victory for Kentucky over Louisville or Oklahoma over Michigan in December could alter the dynamic, but the SEC currently lacks the top 16 depth to overtake the Big Ten's projected six teams.
The ACC ranks third with 10 projected bids and an average seed of 6.7. Duke emerges as the conference's primary contender after the league missed the Final Four in the last two seasons. Louisville and North Carolina are projected to be competitive, while Notre Dame presents a variable element with Hannah Hidalgo on the roster.
The Big 12 ranks fourth, projecting only 8 bids and no top 16 teams. Oklahoma State and TCU rely heavily on transfer players, creating uncertainty in their preseason outlook. Neither team has a nonconference schedule that offers a strong path to improving their tournament resume without early success.
Kansas is viewed as a potential sleeper if S'Mya Nichols improves in her senior year. The bottom of the Big 12, including Arizona, BYU, and Kansas State, must perform well to narrow the gap with the other power conferences. The current projection suggests the Big 12 will need West Virginia or Baylor to reach the top 16 to move up in the rankings.
Injuries will play a role in these early assessments. Minnesota lost leading scorer Tori McKinney for the fall due to injury, which impacts the Gophers' seeding. Michigan is also dealing with an injury to point guard Mila Holloway. These factors will be monitored as the Big Ten's position is evaluated throughout the season.
