Preseason 2019-20: USA Today Sports Top 25 women’s basketball coaches poll
The USA Today Sports Top 25 women’s basketball coaches poll, with last season’s record in parentheses. Total points are based on 25 points for first place through one point for 25th, ranking in last week’s poll and first-place votes received.
| Rank | School (last season’s record) | Points | Last year’s final rank |
First-place votes |
| 1 | Oregon (33-5) | 788 | 4 | 24 |
| 2 | Baylor (37-1) | 773 | 1 | 8 |
| 3 | Stanford (31-5) | 709 | 7 | 0 |
| 4 | Connecticut (35-3) | 678 | 3 | 0 |
| 5 | Maryland (29-5) | 641 | 11 | 0 |
| 6 | Oregon State (26-8) | 604 | 10 | 0 |
| 7 | Texas A&M (26-8) | 587 | 12 | 0 |
| 8 | Mississippi State (33-3) | 554 | 5 | 0 |
| 9 | Louisville (32-4) | 549 | 6 | 0 |
| 10 | South Carolina (23-10) | 539 | 13 | 0 |
| 11 | UCLA (22-13) | 445 | 14 | 0 |
| 12 | North Carolina State (28-6) | 393 | 9 | 0 |
| 13 | Florida State (24-9) | 358 | 23 | 0 |
| 14 | Notre Dame (35-4) | 353 | 2 | 0 |
| 15 | Texas (23-10) | 310 | NR | 0 |
| 16 | Kentucky (25-8) | 282 | 21 | 0 |
| 17 | Syracuse (25-9) | 237 | 16 | 0 |
| 18 | Arizona State (22-11) | 236 | 15 | 0 |
| 19 | Miami (Fla.) (25-9) | 184 | 20 | 0 |
| 20 | DePaul (26-8) | 164 | 25 | 0 |
| 21 | Michigan State (21-12) | 127 | NR | 0 |
| 22 | Arkansas (22-15) | 109 | NR | 0 |
| 23 | Gonzaga (29-5) | 92 | 18 | 0 |
| 24 | Michigan (22-12) | 81 | NR | 0 |
| 24 | Iowa State (26-9) | 81 | 17 | 0 |
Others Receiving Votes: Iowa (29-7) 75; Minnesota (21-11) 73; West Virginia (22-11) 54; Indiana (21-13) 49; Drake (27-7) 48; Rice (28-4) 44; Arizona (24-13) 36; South Dakota (28-6) 20; Marquette (27-8) 18; Tennessee (19-13) 16; Missouri State (25-10) 13; South Dakota State (28-7) 12; Boise State (28-5) 12; Brigham Young (26-7) 10; San Diego State (14-18) 7; California (20-13) 7; Missouri (24-11) 6; South Florida (19-16) 5; Rutgers (22-10) 4; James Madison (29-6) 4; Kansas State (21-12) 3; Central Florida (26-7) 3; Florida Gulf Coast (28-5) 2; Buffalo (24-10) 2; Southern California (17-13) 1; Oklahoma State (14-16) 1; Abilene Christian (23-10) 1.
The USA Today Sports Board of Coaches is made up of 32 head coaches at Division I institutions. All are members of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association. The board for the 2019-20 season: Suzy Barcomb, Seattle; Bart Brooks, Belmont; Dan Burt, Duquesne; Jackie Carson; Furman; Billi Chambers, Iona; Bill Cleary, Colgate; Shane Clipfell, Western Michigan; Bradley Davis, Pacific; Bill Fennelly, Iowa State; Jose Fernandez, South Florida; Ronny Fisher, Campbell; Terry Fowler, South Alabama; Freda Freeman-Jackson, Alabama State; Brenda Frese, Maryland; Julie Goodenough; Abilene Christian; Tamara Inoue, UC Irvine; Belle Koclanes, Dartmouth; Mike Lane, NJIT; Maria Marchesano, Mount St. Mary’s; Katie Meier, Miami (Fla.); Jalie Mitchell, North Texas; Jon Newlee, Idaho; Harry Perretta, Villanova; Kyle Rechlicz; Wisconsin-Milwaukee; Diane Richardson, Towson; Lynne Roberts, Utah; Tarrell Robinson, North Carolina A&T; Matt Ruffing, Evansville; Joni Taylor, Georgia; Jim Turgeon, Denver; Amy Vachon, Maine; Ryun Williams, Colorado State.
