UCLA passes UConn to earn No. 1 spot in women’s basketball poll for first time

The voting for the No. 1 spot in the USA TODAY Sports women’s basketball coaches poll was extremely close for a second consecutive week. This time, however, the result was a little different.

UCLA takes over at the top, edging last week’s No. 1 Connecticut by three poll points. The Bruins received 16 of 31 No. 1 votes and claim the No. 1 ranking for the first time in the history of the coaches poll, which USA TODAY began administering the poll in the 2003-04 season.

UConn once again has 14 first-place nods, the same number as last week, but UCLA’s net gain of three firsts made available by Notre Dame’s rough week led to the change at the top.

The last No. 1 vote again went to Texas, which moves up a spot to No. 3. South Carolina climbs a notch to No. 4, and LSU vaults ahead of Southern California to round out the top five. Ohio State, Maryland and Duke hold down the next three positions.

As for the Fighting Irish, they tumble from third to 10th after losses to TCU and Utah. TCU, which also owns an earlier victory against No. 24 North Carolina State, leaps eight places to No. 13. Michigan State moves into the poll at No. 25 this week, replacing fellow Big Ten member Nebraska.