Mon Nov 25 18:10:00 UTC 2024: ## UCLA Knocks Off Reigning Champion South Carolina, Claims Top Spot in Women’s Basketball

**Los Angeles, CA** – In a stunning upset, the UCLA Bruins have dethroned the reigning national champion South Carolina Gamecocks, claiming the number one spot in the Associated Press Top 25 women’s basketball poll. UCLA’s dominant 77-62 victory ended South Carolina’s 43-game winning streak and their two-year reign at the top of the rankings. This marks UCLA’s first-ever number one ranking in program history.

The Bruins, who were ranked fifth last week, earned 20 of 32 first-place votes. Their win over South Carolina also snapped the Gamecocks’ undefeated record against number one ranked teams (0-20). Coach Cori Close expressed her elation, highlighting the historic moment shared with UCLA alumni.

The victory wasn’t the only major shakeup in the rankings. UConn remains second with nine first-place votes, while Notre Dame jumped to third after upsetting then-number three USC. South Carolina fell to fourth, and other teams experienced shifts in ranking following a weekend of upsets. Iowa, notably, re-entered the Top 25 at number 22.

South Carolina coach Dawn Staley acknowledged the loss, stating that the defeat will refocus her team. The Gamecocks’ last time outside the number one ranking was in March 2021, with a brief exception in the preseason poll of October 2023. Their defeat to UCLA was their largest margin of loss since 2019 and their first road loss since December 2021. With South Carolina’s fall, Illinois now boasts the longest active winning streak in the country with 10 consecutive victories.

The upset victory marks a significant moment for UCLA women’s basketball, establishing them as a true powerhouse in the national landscape. The changing of the guard at the top of the rankings promises an exciting and unpredictable season ahead.

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