The emotional rollercoaster of wins and losses is felt by more than just those in the locker room. It is what lets someone walk into the office the next day with their alumni tie on and a smile on their face. It is the ammunition needed for the next family dinner to put your brother-in-law in his place. A win over a rival will put a coach\u2019s athletic director and university president in a very good mood the next morning in staff meetings. Rivalries run deep and that is why seasons are made or lost in these signature games \u2013 no one wants to become the next round of bulletin board material.<\/p>\n
*A special thanks to everyone who noticed that we were off last week \u2013 our backlog of game film got the best of us, so we appreciate your patience!<\/p>\n
We are excited to announce the launch of TWO new podcasts for all the women\u2019s sports fans out there looking for a daily dose of women\u2019s sports news and analysis. Stream on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or anywhere you listen to podcasts, and make sure to subscribe!<\/p>\n TIP-OFF<\/strong><\/p>\n Opening and closing the window<\/strong>:\u00a0In the insanity that is college athletics today, there is one thing we can count on \u2013 no one can agree on when the transfer portal should open and close. In each sport, coaches and administrators argue over what would work and what seems appropriate. If the transfer portal opens when postseason action begins, then those who have qualified say they are at a disadvantage. If we had a dollar for every time we have heard\u00a0\u2018how am I supposed to recruit the portal when I am preparing my team for postseason competition?\u2019\u00a0there would be no need to play the Powerball each week. No matter what timeframe and limits are placed on the transfer portal window for any sport, the rules and system will be stretched by coaches, agents and student-athletes. If you think tampering is not happening, then we regret to tell you that you are wrong. It is here to stay until people are exposed and punishments are given out.<\/p>\n In November 2025, the Division I Men\u2019s and Women\u2019s Basketball Oversight Committees proposed that the notification-of-transfer windows open for 15 days starting after the conclusion of the 2026 Men\u2019s and Women\u2019s Final Fours.\u00a0On Jan. 14, the NCAA\u00a0Division I Cabinet approved those changes, as well as others, in several sports, including men\u2019s wrestling, men\u2019s ice hockey and men\u2019s and women\u2019s track and field, which were recommended by the oversight committees for each sport. These changes are effective immediately.<\/p>\n For women\u2019s basketball, the 15-day window will be open from April 6-20 at the conclusion of the Final Four. There was also a change to when student-athletes can request to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal after a coaching change occurs.\u00a0The 15-day period for transfers after a head coaching change starts five days after a new coach is hired or publicly announced. If the new head coach is not announced within 30 days of the last coach\u2019s departure, the transfer window opens on the 31st day. It should also be noted that midyear transfers in basketball will not be eligible to compete at a second school if they enrolled at an NCAA school during the first academic term, whether they competed there or not.<\/p>\n The transfer window is now shorter and aligns with the overall conclusion of the college basketball season. These parameters seem reasonable and are much of what coaches have been asking for since the portal overtook college athletics. But again, let us not be fooled \u2013 decisions on new destinations for hundreds of players who intend to transfer will be made long before this 15-day window opens. How conferences and the NCAA handle those under-the-table transactions is the next great mystery in college basketball.<\/p>\n Want more women\u2019s hockey content? Subscribe to The Ice Garden! The staff of The Ice Garden has paved the way for women\u2019s hockey coverage from the college ranks to international competitions. Of course, that includes in-depth coverage of the PWHL too. For a limited time, free signups at The Ice Garden can sample all the work they do. Check it out, sign up now!<\/p>\n SEC Shake-Ups<\/strong>:\u00a0It is hard to not to argue that the SEC has been the best conference women\u2019s college basketball this season. As of Jan. 26, it has the lowest conference average NET ranking in Division I. On that same day, it set a record with 10 teams ranked in the AP Top 25 poll, the most teams ever in a single week in the 50-year history of the poll. There are 16 teams in the SEC, and so scheduling can either be your best friend or an utter nightmare. In a 16-team schedule (eight on the road and eight at home), including one rotating home-and-home opponent, there are nights when you could say the SEC is eating their own. Teams in the bottom half of the standings, surprising a favorite for an upset, is not uncommon. Holding home court is essential and finding road wins is the key to winning the coveted SEC title.<\/p>\n No. 5 Vanderbilt suffered their first loss of the season at the hands of No. 3 South Carolina on Jan. 25 at home, giving the Gamecocks a decisive win on the road 103-74. It was the bounce-back game head coach Dawn Staley<\/a> needed from her team after their setback in Norman to No. 10 Oklahoma earlier in the week (94-82). The Sooners had dropped three SEC matchups before knocking off South Carolina and used it as a springboard to dispatch of Auburn on the road 72-65 on Jan. 25.<\/p>\n If you want to hear about the rigors of SEC scheduling, dial up Vic Shaefer. The head coach at Texas had his team off to an 18-0 start before back-to-back road games at now No. 6 LSU and No. 3 South Carolina. The Longhorns dropped both but seem to be finding their footing again after annihilating this in-state conference rival, Texas A&M, on Jan. 18 by 45 points. No. 18 Kentucky has run into the SEC buzzsaw with three losses in a row, including a 72-67 home defeat on Jan. 24 to now No. 23 Georgia. The Bulldogs have been steadily gaining traction with a strong non-conference slate and have run off three SEC victories in a row.<\/p>\n Ever so quietly, the leader in the SEC clubhouse as of Jan. 28 is No. 15 Tennessee. The Lady Vols sit at 6-0 and are the only undefeated team in conference play. Early struggles in the season had many thinking this might not be as strong a team as many thought head coach Kim Caldwell had assembled in her second season. But the fast-paced, non-stop chaos speed that Tennessee plays at is working \u2013 they are second in SEC games in scoring defense, giving up just 61.3 points per game, and are scoring at a clip of over 75 per game. No player is averaging over 28 minutes per game in conference action, and they have three double-figure scorers. They will look to stretch their winning streak to seven on Jan. 29 when Mississippi State comes to town.\u00a0<\/p>\n No one in the SEC is comfortable at the moment because they know any night you can be knocked off your winning perch. The narrative to watch as February looms is how many teams could get into the NCAA Tournament field \u2013 who and where they each play will give us a better picture in the coming weeks. Conspiracy theories are abundant \u2013 just head to the Forty Acres to investigate.<\/p>\n Poll Watch:\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0With its record-setting 10 ranked teams in the AP Top 25, the SEC is dominating this week\u2019s poll. Three of the top five spots are SEC schools, including Vanderbilt, who stays at No. 5, even after their first loss of the season at the hands of No. 1 UConn. Iowa is up two spots to No. 8 as the Hawkeyes have won eight in a row since a late December loss to the top-ranked Huskies. Other big movers north include No. 10 Oklahoma (up six spots), Tennessee to No. 15 (two spots) and into the poll for the first time since 2022, No. 23 Georgia. Kentucky tumbles seven places to No. 18 after losing three in a row and Nebraska is out of the Top 25 after also dropping three in a row. The Cornhuskers did snap their skid with an 81-75 victory over R\/V Illinois on Jan. 24. The mid-majors are still very much in the Top 25 conversation, with Princeton firmly at No. 19 and Rhode Island and Fairfield receiving votes. All three of those teams are undefeated in their respective conferences to date.<\/p>\n STAR POWER<\/strong><\/p>\n It was a big week of performances in the\u00a0American Conference,\u00a0<\/strong>which means there are two\u00a0Player of the Week honors<\/strong> that capture our spotlight. Temple guard Tristen Taylor<\/a> claimed the honor after powering the Owls to two conference victories. The 5\u20196 junior from Dallas, Texas, had 16 points and five assists in the 86-83 win over South Florida on Jan. 20 and then followed it up with a career-high 32 points on Jan. 24 in their 83-82 win over Charlotte. Taylor went 6-for-6 from both the three-point line and the charity stripe in the game. She poured in\u00a017 fourth-quarter points to spark the largest comeback in program history, as the Owls erased a 26-point deficit to secure\u00a0the win.\u00a0<\/p>\n Abby Cater-ing: Serving Points on a Platter \ud83c\udf7d\ufe0f<\/p>\n \ud835\ude3c\ud835\ude62\ud835\ude5a\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude58\ud835\ude56\ud835\ude63 \ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude63\ud835\ude5b\ud835\ude5a\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude5a\ud835\ude63\ud835\ude58\ud835\ude5a \ud835\ude4b\ud835\ude61\ud835\ude56\ud835\ude6e\ud835\ude5a\ud835\ude67 \ud835\ude64\ud835\ude5b \ud835\ude69\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude5a \ud835\ude52\ud835\ude5a\ud835\ude5a\ud835\ude60 \u2014 Wichita State Women\u2019s Basketball (@GoShockersWBB) January 26, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Wichita State graduate student Abby Cater<\/a> was also named Player of the Week<\/strong>\u00a0in the American after a dominate performance powered the Shockers to a 66-59 win over Memphis on Jan. 20. The 5\u20197 guard, who transferred from Austin Peay, dropped 42 points on the Tigers, going 15-for-29 from the field and 8-for-8 from the free throw line, helping to snap a seven-game losing streak for Wichita State. Cater\u2019s 42-point performance is\u00a0tied for the second-most in American Conference history and set a new program record as well. It is the seventh most points scored in a game this season in Division I.<\/p>\n There is some serious freshman star power in the\u00a0Big 12 Conference,<\/strong>\u00a0and it starts with\u00a0Jaliya Davis of Kansas.<\/strong>\u00a0The 6\u20192 forward from Overland Park, Kan., was named\u00a0Freshman of the Week for the fourth straight week\u00a0after posting over 20 points in two key Jayhawks victories. She had 25 points in the Jan. 20 victory at Arizona (80-69) and followed it up with 22 on Jan. 25 in the 83-61 win over in-state rival Kansas State. Davis, who missed six weeks earlier this year due to injury, was 7-for-8 from the field and 8-for-12 from the free-throw line against the Wildcats in 28 minutes of action. The McDonald\u2019s high school All-American is averaging 20.8 points per game on the season and has not attempted a single 3-point shot.\u00a0Davis becomes the fifth player ever to win the league\u2019s Freshman of the Week title four consecutive times.<\/p>\n Mountain West Player of the Week honors went to Nala Willams of San Diego State<\/strong>\u00a0after the senior led the Aztecs to another victory and moved their conference record to 9-0. The 5\u20198 guard had 20 points and 10 assists in just over 25 minutes on the floor in the 94-66 win over San Jose State on Jan. 24. Williams, who spent three seasons at Cal State Dominguez Hills, is the first SDSU player in the Mountain West era to have at least 20 points, 10 assists and no turnovers in a game. She is also the third player in the nation to have that stat line in a single game this season.<\/p>\n Zoe Brooks<\/a> for NC State was named ACC Player of the Week<\/strong>\u00a0after leading the Wolfpack to a key conference road win. The 5\u201910 junior guard had a career-high 37 points in the 78-76 overtime victory at Virginia on Jan. 24, going 8-for-15 from the floor and 19-for-20 from the free throw line. Brooks, a native of Plainsfield, N.J., scored 23 of her 37 points in the second half and overtime, including six of the team\u2019s 12 in OT. She\u00a0set the program record for the most free throws made and attempted in a game, while her 37-point performance was the ninth-highest scoring effort in NC State history and the most since 1998.<\/p>\n A week of big performances by rookies means four is the lucky number for the\u00a0Co-Freshman of the Week in the Big South Conference. Longwood guard Jesstynie Scott<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0garners her fourth award of the season after averaging 16 points and five steals in two games for the Lancers. The 5\u201910 native of Americus, GA, had a career-high 20 points, going 7-for-13 from the field, in the 74-50 win over USC Upstate on Jan. 23. Scott also had a career-high seven steals in the victory.\u00a0Georgia Simonsen<\/a> of Radford\u00a0<\/strong>shares the award with Scott after averaging 14 points, six rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game in two wins. The 6\u20191 forward from Fairfax, Va., ironically set a career-high in the Highlanders\u2019 78-63 win over Longwood on Jan. 21, posting 18 points (8-for-14 from the floor) and pulling down six boards. This was also Simonsen\u2019s fourth conference award of the season.<\/p>\n Order \u2018Rare Gems\u2019 and save 30% If you enjoy Megdal\u2019s coverage of women\u2019s basketball every Wednesday at The IX Sports, you will love \u201cRare Gems: How Four Generations of Women Paved the Way for the WNBA.\u201d Click the link below to order<\/a> and enter MEGDAL30<\/strong> at checkout to save 30%!<\/p>\n FULL COURT PRESS<\/strong><\/p>\n Rivalry games are must-watch TV, not only for the action on the court but also for the rabid fanbases that come out in droves to cheer on their teams. You can always find a few visitors scattered through the arena, trying to will their team to a decisive road win. Emotions will run high, and you must keep the nerves in check \u2013 who is walking out after the final buzzer with the upper hand this time around? It\u2019s time to curl up on the couch with your lucky alumni t-shirt on and find out (check your local listings for game times and broadcast availability):<\/p>\n Jan. 28<\/strong><\/p>\n Grand Canyon at Utah State<\/p>\n North Texas at UTSA<\/p>\n R\/V Minnesota at Penn State<\/p>\n BYU at R\/V Oklahoma State<\/p>\n Arizona at Arizona State<\/p>\n UNLV at New Mexico<\/p>\n Jan. 29<\/strong><\/p>\n Arkansas State at Georgia State<\/p>\n Kansas at No. 12 TCU<\/p>\n No. 4 Texas at Florida<\/p>\n No. 9 Michigan at Indiana<\/p>\n Quinnipiac at Fairfield<\/p>\n No. 5 Vanderbilt at No. 17 Ole Miss<\/p>\n No. 8 Iowa at USC<\/p>\n No. 3 South Carolina at Auburn<\/p>\n Notre Dame at Cal<\/p>\n Sacramento State at Montana State<\/p>\n Jan. 30<\/strong><\/p>\n Columbia at No. 19 Princeton<\/p>\n Campbell at William & Mary<\/p>\n Drexel at Monmouth<\/p>\n The IX Basketball, a 24\/7\/365 women\u2019s basketball newsroom powered by The Next Jan. 31<\/strong><\/p>\n Ohio at Miami (OH)<\/p>\n Ball State at Kent State<\/p>\n Lindenwood at Morehead State<\/p>\n DePaul at Villanova<\/p>\n South Dakota State at South Dakota<\/p>\n UCF at Iowa State<\/p>\n Utah at BYU<\/p>\n Oregon at No. 16 Maryland<\/p>\n Murray State at Belmont<\/p>\n Gonzaga at Washington State<\/p>\n Feb. 1<\/strong><\/p>\n No. 15 Tennessee at No. 1 UConn<\/p>\n No. 24 Alabama at No. 6 LSU<\/p>\n No. 9 Michigan at No. 13 Michigan State<\/p>\n No. 14 Baylor at No. 22 West Virginia<\/p>\n No. 12 TCU vs. No. 21 Texas Tech<\/p>\n Northern Iowa at Drake<\/p>\n Notre Dame at Stanford<\/p>\n R\/V Nebraska at No. 11 Ohio State<\/p>\n Feb. 2<\/strong><\/p>\n R\/V North Carolina vs. R\/V NC State<\/p>\n No. 3 South Carolina at Texas A&M<\/p>\n Boston U at Holy Cross<\/p>\n Feb. 3<\/strong><\/p>\n SIUE at Lindenwood<\/p>\n Little Rock at UT Martin<\/p>\n UTSA at UAB<\/p>\n Tulsa at Wichita State<\/p>\n *All statistics cited in this column are sourced from university and conference-provided statistics<\/p>\n![\"TCU](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/M-Campbell.jpeg\")
TCU head coach Mark Campbell has mastered the transfer portal the past three seasons. Will the new window impact how coaches manage their roster management this spring? (Photo credit: Vasha Hunt | Imagn Images)<\/p>\n
<\/strong>
In case you missed it, The Ice Garden<\/a> is now part of The IX Sports family!<\/p>\n![\"Texas](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/J-Lee-TX.jpeg\")
Texas guard Jordan Lee (7) dismantled Texas A&M at home to get back on the winning side of the house in the SEC.
(Photo credit: Dustin Safranek | Imagn Images)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/TN-Jan.-2026.jpeg\")
Tennessee head coach Kim Caldwell and freshman guard Mia Pauldo<\/a> (13) have the Lady Vols undefeated in SEC play and on top of the standings. Pauldo leads Tennessee in scoring in conference play at 16 points per game. (Photo credit: Angelina Alcantar | News Sentinel\/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GA-HC-2026.jpeg\")
Head coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson and the Georgia Bulldogs are back in the AP Top 25 for the first time since 2022 at No. 23 this week. (Photo credit: Jeff Blake | Imagn Images)<\/p>\n\n
\u2b50\ufe0f 42 PTS | 7 REB | 2 STL | 2 BLK
\u2b50\ufe0f Wichita State single-game scoring record
\u2b50\ufe0f Home win over Memphis#FearTheWheat<\/a> \ud83c\udf3e pic.twitter.com\/qsJFNAdASs<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/J-Davis-KU.jpeg\")
For the fourth straight week, Kansas standout Jaliya Davis<\/a> (25) has been named Big 12 Freshman of the Week.
(Photo credit: Jordyn Pennington\/Kansas Athletics)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Zoe-Brooks-NC-State.jpeg\")
NC State guard Zoe Brooks, here in action earlier this season, was named ACC Player of the Week after a career night in an overtime win for the Wolfpack over Virginia. (Photo credit: Cory Knowlton | Imagn Images)<\/p>\n
<\/strong>
Howard Megdal, founder and editor of The IX Basketball and The IX Sports, wrote this deeply reported book. \u201cRare Gems\u201d follows four connected generations of women\u2019s basketball pioneers, from Elvera \u201cPeps\u201d Neuman to Cheryl Reeve and from Lindsay Whalen to Sylvia Fowles and Paige Bueckers.<\/p>\n
<\/strong>
The IX Basketball<\/a>: A basketball newsroom brought to you by The IX Sports<\/a>. 24\/7\/365 women\u2019s basketball coverage, written, edited and photographed by our young, diverse staff and dedicated to breaking news, analysis, historical deep dives and projections about the game we love.<\/p>\n