Big 12 women's basketball power rankings: Oklahoma closing in on another conference title
Despite the loss of four starters this offseason, Oklahoma is closing in on a successful defense of the Big 12 championship it split last season with Texas. With five games left in the regular season, Oklahoma has a two-game lead in the standings over Texas, Kansas State and West Virginia. The last team not named Baylor to win two Big 12 titles in a row were these same Sooners, who did so during the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons.
Here are the newest power ranking:
1. Oklahoma (18-6, 12-1)
What to know: Oklahoma still isn't being respected nationally. At No. 23, the Sooners own the Big 12's fourth-best ranking in the Associated Press poll. Oklahoma is now 3-1 against No. 5 Texas, No. 7 Kansas State and No. 21 Baylor.
2. Texas (23-3, 10-3)
What to know: Earlier this week, freshman guard Madison Booker was named to the Naismith Trophy midseason team. Kansas State center Ayoka Lee was the only other Big 12 player on that 30-player honor roll.
3. Kansas State (21-4, 10-3)
What to know: After missing a month following ankle surgery, Lee played 33 minutes and had 20 points and seven blocks in a double-overtime loss at Iowa State on Wednesday. She also hit a buzzer-beating shot in the first overtime.
4. West Virginia (21-3, 10-3)
What to know: Arguably, WVU has one big win. And the Penn State team that was No. 25 in December when West Virginia beat them is now in fifth place in the Big Ten. The Mountaineers' next three games are against currently-ranked foes, though.
5. Iowa State (14-9, 8-5)
What to know: The Big 12's regular-season championship is likely out of the question now. But can the Cyclones gain enough momentum to defend the conference tournament title that they won last year?
6. Baylor (18-6, 7-6)
What to know: After losing to Oklahoma this week, the Bears shouldn't be trying to chase down the Sooners and first place anymore. Baylor should instead be vying to earn one of the conference tournament's top four seeds and a two-round bye.
7. Kansas (14-10, 7-6)
What to know: Kansas has won four straight games. That's the good news. The bad news? The Jayhawks are 1-5 in road games in conference play and three of the next four contests will be played outside the Lawrence city limits.
8. Oklahoma State (12-12, 5-8)
What to know: Oklahoma State snapped a six-game losing streak — its longest skid since the 2021-22 season — by beating Texas Tech on Wednesday. Can the Cowgirls get on a roll with Cincinnati and UCF set to come to Stillwater?
9. BYU (15-11, 5-8)
What to know: BYU swept the Big 12's weekly awards as Lauren Gustin (player) and Amari Whiting (freshman) were honored. Having done so on Dec. 4, Texas is the only other team to sweep those honors this season.
10. Cincinnati (12-12, 4-9)
What to know: Cincinnati senior forward Jillian Hayes has left her mark in the team's record books. Hayes currently ranks among the top five all-time Bearcats in career blocks and rebounds. She's also eighth in steals.
11. Texas Tech (16-10, 5-8)
What to know: Texas Tech remained winless in February after a 60-50 loss to Oklahoma State on Wednesday. After in-state trips to play No. 21 Baylor and No. 5 Texas over the next week, the Lady Raiders could be 0-6 this month.
12. Houston (12-12, 3-10)
What to know: Houston opened the season by scoring 311 points in its first three games (103.6 ppg). Since then, Houston has topped 80 points just four times and only once in Big 12 play. Houston ranks ninth in the conference in scoring offense.
13. TCU (15-9, 2-11)
What to know: If TCU can get center Sedona Prince (finger) and guard Madison Conner (knee) healthy, the Horned Frogs may be the one team that nobody wants to see in Kansas City at the Big 12 tournament.
14. Central Florida (12-11, 3-10)
What to know: Central Florida has split its last four games, and each of those has been decided by six points or less. Is another close call upcoming during the Knights' trip this weekend to play Kansas State?
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Big 12 women's basketball power rankings: Can anybody catch Oklahoma?
