Michigan fell just one game shy of reaching the Final Four for the first time in its women's basketball program's history last season, and it has its sights set on not just getting back to the Elite Eight, but even further. With nearly their entire team returning to Ann Arbor, the Wolverines received a lot of love in the Preseason Women's Basketball AP Poll.
Michigan clocks in at No. 5 in the rankings, the second-highest-ranked Big Ten team, just two spots behind USC at No. 3. While Michigan could very well be the top team in the conference, the Trojans are getting back star JuJu Watkins, who tore her ACL late in the 2024-2025 season, so it makes sense that USC would be looked at as the top threat in the conference.
NEW: Preseason Women's College Basketball AP Poll🏀https://t.co/TtFea1hiZj pic.twitter.com/TGtJsczPG0
— On3 (@On3) October 20, 2026
The best news about Michigan's ranking is that it is the highest preseason ranking in program history. The Wolverines beat out their previous highest preseason ranking by six spots. Michigan was ranked No. 11 to start the 2021-2022 season, making this feel like the year the Wolverines could make some noise.
Michigan has plenty of opportunties to move up the rankings this season
The Big Ten is loaded with ranked teams going into the women's basketball season, making this probably one of the most stacked conferences in college basketball. There are nine Big Ten teams ranked heading into the season, including Michigan, and the Wolverines are currently set to see all of them.
Here is a list of the entire Top 25:
- South Carolina (26)
- UConn (6)
- Southern Cal
- Duke
- Michigan
- Texas
- Louisville
- LSU
- Vanderbilt
- Iowa
- North Carolina
- UCLA
- Notre Dame
- Kentucky
- Washington
- TCU
- Maryland
- Minnesota
- Oklahoma State
- Ohio State
- Oklahoma
- Illinois
- Ole Miss
- West Virginia
- North Carolina
So with the Big Ten teams, Michigan has eight opportunities for ranked wins in conference play, but the Wolverines will also play No. 21 Oklahoma right before conference play begins, and open the season against No. 2 UConn.
That UConn game is the biggest opportunity for Michigan to take a big leap in the rankings early. The Huskies remain the example for success in women's college basketball, but Geno Auremma won't have his star, Azzi Fudd, knocking down shots for UConn. That doesn't mean the Huskies aren't still a dangerous team.
Michigan head coach Kim Barnes Arico spoke at Big Ten Media Days about how this team is so locked in this season that she has never been with a group that wants it more than she does. With its most talented group returning, including stars Syla Swords and Olivia Olson, who were both Preseason All-Big Ten Team members, the Wolverines are ready to go even further this season.
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