The University of Connecticut women’s basketball team has dropped to its lowest ranking in the Associated Press Top 25 poll in 30 years. The Huskies, who have been a perennial powerhouse in the sport, fell to No. 18 in the latest poll released on Monday.
UConn had been ranked No. 1 for the last three weeks, but dropped after losing to then-No. 3 Baylor last week. The Huskies had been ranked in the top 10 since the preseason poll was released in November.
The South Carolina Gamecocks and UCLA Bruins remain at No. 1 and No. 2 respectively in the latest poll. South Carolina is undefeated this season and has been ranked No. 1 since the preseason poll. UCLA is also undefeated and has been ranked No. 2 since the preseason poll.
The drop in the rankings for UConn comes as a surprise to many, as the Huskies have been one of the most successful teams in women’s college basketball over the past 30 years. UConn has won 11 national championships since 1995, including four straight from 2013-2016.
The Huskies have also had a streak of consecutive Final Four appearances that lasted from 2000-2016, which is an NCAA record. UConn was also the first team to win four consecutive national championships, a feat that has yet to be matched by any other program.
Despite their recent struggles, UConn still has a chance to make a run in the NCAA Tournament this season. The Huskies have a talented roster led by senior guard Crystal Dangerfield, who was recently named Big East Player of the Year.
UConn will look to get back on track when they face off against No. 5 Louisville in the quarterfinals of the Big East Tournament on Thursday night. With a win, the Huskies could potentially move up in the rankings and make a run at another national championship this season.
