NCAAW: No drama, just dominance from top 5 teams

There were no end-of-the-year upsets awaiting the top five teams in women’s college basketball.

No, the nation’s clear top tier—No. 1 UConn, No. 2 Texas, No. 3 South Carolina, No. 4 UCLA and No. 5 LSU—took care of business in (mostly) dominant fashion during their last action of 2025.

Everyone contributed for undefeated UConn

UConn is off to their best start since the 2017-18 season, advancing their record to 13-0 with a balanced, business-like win at Butler, 94-47. It was also the Huskies’ 51st-straight win over a Big East foe.

In less than 25 minutes, sophomore Sarah Strong led the Huskies in all major statistical categories, with 15 points, seven assists, six boards and three steals. Super senior guard Azzi Fudd added 13 points in just 22 minutes of playing time.

Off the bench, freshman wing Blanca Quiñonez was once again efficient and impactful, going 5-for-7 from the field, 2-for-3 from 3 and scoring 12 points, in addition to matching Strong with three steals.

The Longhorns never let up in 82-point win

Texas had absolutely no time for any end-of-year drama against Southeast Louisiana. The Longhorns led 30-6 after the first quarter, stretched their lead to as many as 88 points and eventually banked the 120-38 blowout victory.

50 points off 30 Southeast Louisiana turnovers, along with 68 points in the paint, was the foundation of Texas’ 40-minute obliteration.

Senior big Kyla Oldacre led the Longhorns with a career-high 22 points, while Madison Booker scored 20 points, achieving that mark for the 33rd time in her career. Five more Longhorns also scored in double figures.

South Carolina surges with a high-scoring second half

South Carolina led visiting Providence by only 12 points at the half, a closer than expected mid-game margin. By the end of the afternoon, the Gamecocks had outgunned the Friars for their program record-tying fifth-straight win by 40 or more points, prevailing 96-55.

Considering South Carolina lost starting senior guard Ta’Niya Latson to a turned ankle in the second quarter, the shellacking South Carolina served in the second half is all the more impressive. Additionally, the tandem of Joyce Edwards and Madina Okot, the recent source of South Carolina’s success, were not the overwhelming duo that delivered blow after blow on the inside, even if the sophomore forward and senior center were again very good.

Rather, the Gamecocks showed they cannot only win, but dominate, in another way. South Carolina swung the ball around for a 24 assists, which helped lead to a season-high 12 made 3-pointers. Junior guard Tessa Johnson netted five of the Gamecocks’ triples, finishing with 18 points to tie Okot for the team lead.

Super senior guard Raven Johnson, freshman guard Ayla McDowell and freshman wing Agot Makeer each made two 3s. Makeer, returning from the concussion that had sidelined her for five games, assumed Latson’s place in the lineup, injecting South Carolina with even more verve as she grabbed 10 rebounds to go with her 10 points.

Overall, six Gamecocks, all five starters and Makeer, reached double figures in scoring, helping South Carolina almost cross 100 points for the seventh time this season.

Betts and the Bruins were too big for the Buckeyes

The Bruins were bigger and, ultimately, better than the Buckeyes, even though a late push from No. 19 Ohio State made UCLA’s 82-75 win less comfortable than it should have been.

Shooting 45 percent from the field, 32 percent from 3 and 69 percent from the line was not an especially spectacular showing from UCLA. However, five more defensive rebounds, nine more offensive rebounds and 14 more overall rebounds indicates that UCLA did the work necessary to earn the win. The Bruins’ attention to the dirty details led to 35 second-chance points, compared to 10 for the Buckeyes.

Lauren Betts was, literally, at the center of UCLA’s success. The 6-foot-7 senior center led UCLA with 18 points while also grabbing a season-high 16 rebounds, including nine of the Bruins’ offensive boards. Betts also made her presence felt on the defensive end, helping UCLA hold Ohio State to 32 points in the paint while also blocking three shots.

Everybody eats as LSU scores more than 100 again

A season-high 23 points from sophomore center Kate Koval led LSU in another laugher that ended with the Tigers, once again, scoring over 100 points. The 109-41 domination of Alabama State was the 11th time LSU has run the scoreboard past the century mark.

The Tigers did their damage despite quite afternoons from leading scorers Flau’Jae Johnson and MiLaysia Fulwiley, with the senior guard totaling just nine points and the junior guard putting in only five.

From off the bench, two Tiger freshmen guards added some extra scoring pop. ZaKiyah Johnson scored 17 points and grabbed six rebounds, while Bella Hines scored 13 points and contributed five boards and five steals.

Sunday’s results didn’t tell us anything we did not already know about the nation’s top five teams, especially as only UCLA faced a quality opponent. That will begin to change rather quickly.

After the Bruins travel to Penn State for a should-be win on New Year’s Eve, they host LA rival and No. 17-ranked USC on Saturday. Wins by 40 points or more will no longer be routine for the three SEC teams. While South Carolina can somewhat ease into the conference slate with games against Alabama on Thursday and Florida on Sunday, Texas hosts No. 15 Ole Miss on Sunday. LSU, most especially, will immediately see an upgrade in competition. The Tigers face No. 11 Kentucky in Baton Rouge on Thursday before traveling to No. 12 Vanderbilt on Sunday.

UConn, however, should continue to add to their 51-straight Big East wins, likely to remain untested until a mid-January matchup with No. 18 Notre Dame.