Best of the West WBB power rankings: UCLA on top as Washington and Utah climb, ASU slides after winning streak ends
The Best of the West offers a candid assessment of the top teams in the western third of the country — a collection that includes the Mountain West and the former Pac-12 schools now scattered across the ACC, Big 12, Big Ten and West Coast Conference.
The rankings will be published on the Hotline weekly throughout the regular season.
Results through Monday.
1. UCLA (14-1, 4-0 Big Ten)
Last week: 1
Results: won at Penn State 97-61, beat USC 80-46
NET ranking: No. 2
Up next: at Nebraska (Sunday)
Comment: It wasn’t close after the first quarter against USC. The fourth-ranked Bruins led by 15 points at halftime and continued to pile on for their eighth consecutive win. Lauren Betts had 18 points and 12 rebounds as the Bruins dominated in paint scoring (42-10) and rebounds (46-26).
2. USC (10-4, 2-1 Big Ten)
Last week: 2
Results: lost at UCLA 80-46
NET ranking: No. 22
Up next: vs. Oregon (Tuesday)
Comment: USC coach Lindsey Gottlieb labeled the loss to UCLA “embarrassing,” and it was the most one-sided defeat in her five seasons with the Trojans. Their other losses this season are to No. 1 Connecticut, No. 3 South Carolina and No. 18 Notre Dame. USC’s strength of schedule is third nationally.
3. Stanford (13-3, 2-1 ACC)
Last week: 3
Results: lost at North Carolina State 74-46, won at North Carolina 77-71 (OT)
NET ranking: No. 33
Up next: vs. Wake Forest (Thursday)
Comment: After a disastrous second half (42-20) against the Wolfpack, Stanford bounced back to upset then-No. 16 North Carolina on Sunday. Chloe Clary returned after a two-game absence (illness) to put up 12 points and nine rebounds in 38 minutes for the Cardinal.
4. Washington (12-2, 2-1 Big Ten)
Last week: 6
Results: beat Michigan 64-52
NET ranking: No. 31
Up next: vs. Michigan State (Thursday)
Comment: Washington pulled off the West’s biggest upset of the week, topping then-No. 6 Michigan as Avery Howell led the Huskies with 22 points and a career-high 16 rebounds. UW held the Wolverines 40 points below their scoring average and out-rebounded them 43-27.
5. Oregon (13-3, 1-2 Big Ten)
Last week: 4
Results: beat Northwestern 87-54
NET ranking: No. 26
Up next: at USC (Tuesday)
Comment: Oregon shook off a double-overtime loss to then-No. 6 Michigan with a dominant win over Northwestern in advance of a date with USC. Katie Fiso scored 17 points and Mia Jacobs added 16 against the Wildcats. Forward Ehis Etute started for the first time this season.
6. Utah (11-4, 2-1 Big 12)
Last week: 8
Results: lost to ASU 69-68, beat TCU 87-77 (OT)
NET ranking: No. 42
Up next: at Kansas (Wednesday)
Comment: Utah couldn’t close out the Sun Devils but did just that against previously undefeated TCU. Lani White hit a 3-pointer with 12 seconds left to force overtime, and the Utes scored 20 points in five minutes to secure the upset. White finished with 25 points, largely offsetting Olivia Miles’ 31 for TCU.
7. Arizona State (15-1, 2-1 Big 12)
Last week: 5
Results: won at Utah 69-68, lost at BYU 71-62
NET ranking: No. 44
Up next: vs. UCF (Wednesday)
Comment: ASU’s season-opening winning streak ended one victory shy of the school record. The Sun Devils edged Utah on McKinna Brackens’ free throws with one second left, then fell to BYU largely due to a 54-25 rebound deficit. The Hotline’s ranking margin between Utah, ASU and BYU is razor-thin.
8. BYU (13-2, 2-1 Big 12)
Last week: 7
Results: lost to TCU 72-48, beat ASU 71-62
NET ranking: No. 46
Up next: at Arizona (Tuesday)
Comment: BYU was limited to a season-low 48 points at home by then-No. 8 TCU, then responded with 20 second-chance points and a 43-28 second-half advantage in downing previously undefeated ASU. The Cougars were a pedestrian 10-of-39 from 3-point range against ASU but made three early in the fourth quarter for some breathing room.
9. Colorado State (13-2, 4-0 Mountain West)
Last week: 9
Results: won at Grand Canyon 61-47, beat Fresno State 86-83
NET ranking: No. 57
Up next: vs. New Mexico (Wednesday)
Comment: Colorado State won a high-scoring game over Fresno State for its sixth consecutive victory. The Rams are tied for the Mountain West lead going into challenging matchups with New Mexico and Boise State.
10. Colorado (11-4, 2-1 Big 12)
Last week: 10
Results: beat Arizona 75-56 and Cincinnati 79-68
NET ranking: No. 63
Up next: at Baylor (Thursday)
Comment: Colorado took care of business in two Big 12 home games, including a dominant first quarter (17-5) against Arizona. The Buffaloes benefitted from 40 bench points in handling the Bearcats, led by Desiree Wooten’s season high 19. Eight teams in the Big 12 are 2-1 in conference play.
11. Santa Clara (13-4, 3-1 WCC)
Last week: 11
Results: beat Seattle 94-65, lost at Loyola Marymount 92-85, beat Gonzaga 77-73
NET ranking: No. 62
Up next: at San Francisco (Thursday)
Comment: Santa Clara capped a 2-1 week with its first win over Gonzaga since February 2023. That took some of the sting away from losing to Loyola Marymount. Ashley Hawkins had 16 points and 11 assists against the Zags and is the WCC Player of the Week. The Broncos have matched their 2023-24 and 2001-02 starts.
12. Gonzaga (11-6, 3-1 WCC)
Last week: 13
Results: beat Pepperdine 75-52, won at Seattle 85-59, lost at Santa Clara 77-73
NET ranking: No. 70
Up next: vs. Portland (Saturday)
Comment: Gonzaga also went 2-1 for the week and was within one point of Santa Clara with 1:50 remaining. Freshman forward Lauren Whittaker averaged 19.6 points and 10.6 rebounds over the three games and was named WCC Freshman of the Week for the sixth time. A native of New Zealand, Whittaker missed last season due to a knee injury. Coach Lisa Fortier won her 300th career game over Seattle.
13. UC Irvine (13-2, 4-0 Big West)
Last week: 14
Results: beat Cal State Bakersfield 82-63 and Cal State Fullerton 64-51
NET ranking: No. 72
Up next: at Long Beach State (Thursday)
Comment: UC Irvine is on a 12-game winning streak and leading the Big West. Hunter Hernandez had 26 points against Fullerton and has scored 25 or more in five of her last six games. The senior guard is a two-time All-Big West first-team honoree.
14. Cal (9-7, 0-3 ACC)
Last week: 12
Results: lost at North Carolina 71-55 and North Carolina State 71-60
NET ranking: No. 60
Up next: vs. Duke (Thursday)
Comment: Cal dropped two places in the Hotline rankings following four losses in the past five games. The Bears are 0-5 in Quadrant I games and winless in ACC play. Freshman Taylor Barnes had 15 points and 11 rebounds against North Carolina State. Starting point guard Puff Morris missed both games with a leg injury.
15. Oregon State (11-5, 3-0 WCC)
Last week: not ranked
Results: won at Saint Mary’s 63-57, beat Pacific 81-61
NET ranking: No. 77
Up next: at Washington State (Thursday)
Comment: The Beavers have won five in a row and moved into the Hotline rankings for the first time this season. They are 12th nationally in schedule strength, which is paying off with a fast start in WCC play. Guard Jenna Villa scored a career high 32 points against Pacific.
Also considered: Montana State, San Diego State and UNLV
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