Linder’s 2025-26 preseason women’s basketball ballot for the Associated Press

The Associated Press women’s basketball poll will be released Tuesday, so in the spirit of transparency, here is my ballot.

My preseason rankings are purely mathematical. Basically, it’s the percentage of returning points (including 50 percent of transfers’ points from last year) divided by last year’s record.

Teams get an additional bonus for each round won in last year’s NCAA tournament.

The only teams I considered in my ballot were 2025 Power 5 NCAA tournament teams, plus any non-Power 5 teams that reached the second round (like Richmond and South Dakota State).

At any rate, here is my ballot (with 2025 records and postseason):

1. Connecticut (37-3, national champion)

2. UCLA (35-3, national semifinalist)

3. South Carolina (35-4, national runner-up)

4. Texas (35-4, national semifinalist)

5. LSU (31-6, regional finalist)

6. Duke (29-8, regional finalist)

7. Tennessee (24-10, regional semifinalist)

8. Oklahoma (27-8, regional semifinalist)

9. Iowa State (23-12, first round)

10. North Carolina State (28-7, regional semifinalist)

11. West Virginia (25-8, second round)

12. TCU (34-4, regional finalist)

13. Kentucky (28-8, second round)

14. North Carolina (29-8, regional semifinalist)

15. Maryland (25-8, regional semifinalist)

16. Michigan State (22-10, second round)

17. Mississippi (22-11, regional semifinalist)

18. Oklahoma State (25-7, first round)

19. Michigan (23-11, second round)

20. Notre Dame (28-6, regional semifinalist)

21. USC (32-4, regional finalist)

22. Baylor (28-8, second round)

23. Iowa (23-11, second round)

24. Richmond (28-7, second round)

25. Louisville (22-11, second round)

Others considered (in order): Vanderbilt, South Dakota State, Kansas State, Ohio State, Washington, Nebraska.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com