NCAA underdogs storm the AP Poll's top ranks

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NCAA underdogs break into the AP’s Top 10

NCAA upsets rocked the AP Poll again this week, with significant Top 10 movement as women’s basketball underdogs muscle their way up the table.

• LSU’s victory over once-unbeaten Texas saw the Longhorns fall to No. 4, while the Tigers returned to the Top 10 to claim No. 6.

• No. 7 Kentucky fell one spot after a loss to No. 21 Alabama and a Top 10 win over No. 13 Oklahoma, with the Sooners exiting the single-digits after two losses of their own.

• No. 1 UConn earned unanimous first-place votes after Texas’s defeat, joined in the Top 5 by also-undefeated Vanderbilt. (See full rankings)

Chutes and ladders: Three teams left the AP Poll entirely, as Washington, USC, and North Carolina continue to struggle — with the Trojans snapping a 51-week ranked streak as they strive to find their footing without injured star JuJu Watkins.

• No. 19 Iowa State also saw a precipitous drop, losing three games in a row as injured starter Addy Brown watched from the bench.

• On the flip side, Alabama, No. 23 Notre Dame, and No. 25 Illinois broke back into the Top 25.

Up next: See if another titan topples as Texas Tech — one of just three remaining undefeated DI teams — takes the court against unranked Houston tonight at 7 PM ET, live on ESPN.

WTA rankings shift as Australian Open nears

As top tennis talents turn to the Australian Open, this week’s WTA rankings refresh hints at the drama to come as the year’s first Grand Slam nears.

• After a strong United Cup showing against world No. 2 Iga Świątek, Team USA favorite Coco Gauff jumped to No. 3, leapfrogging fellow US star No. 4 Amanda Anisimova along the way.

• Reigning Australian Open champion Madison Keys hit a slight skid, falling two spots to No. 9 after unwavering No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka ousted her from last week’s Brisbane Open quarterfinals. (See full rankings)

Big picture: Switzerland’s No. 10 Belinda Bencic might have the hottest hand heading into Melbourne, busting into the Top 10 after winning all five of her United Cup singles matches — including a three-set thriller against Poland’s Świątek.

• Bencic is now the first returning mother to crack the WTA’s top ranks since US tennis icon Serena Williams in 2021.

• “I think it’s been a huge goal, maybe a huge ride after the whole comeback, to come back and prove this to myself, that it’s possible,” Bencic said this week.

Stay tuned: Australian Open qualifiers wrap up this week, with the main draw set to kick off on Sunday, live across ESPN and ESPN2.

Denver rookie wins 2026 MAC Hermann Trophy

Denver Summit FC recruit Jasmine Aikey capped her Stanford career with women’s soccer’s top honor on Friday, lifting this year’s MAC Hermann Trophy.

• Aikey is the sixth Cardinal to win the award, joining USWNT standouts like Andi Sullivan (2017), Kelley O’Hara (2009), Catarina Macario (2018, 2019), and Christen Press (2010).

• “I am so happy that Jasmine’s hard work and dedication paid off, as she is one of the most talented and competitive student-athletes I have ever coached,” said Stanford head coach Paul Ratcliffe. (See full release)

Big picture: Aikey topped both Stanford and the ACC in goals scored this season with 21, tallying 11 assists as she led the Cardinal to last month’s College Cup Final.

• Aikey is just the second student-athlete to win both the Hermann Trophy and Academic All-America Team Member of the Year, after Canada legend Christine Sinclair.

Up next: The forward won’t be idle for long, as she gears up for next month’s NWSL preseason after signing a two-year deal with Denver’s incoming expansion team.

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Powerhouse figure skating trio ignites US Olympic dreams

US Figure Skating is hoping to make history, naming powerhouse trio Alysa Liu, Amber Glenn, and Isabeau Levito to this week’s official Olympic roster as Team USA looks to end a 20-year medal drought next month in Milan.

• Glenn earned her spot after winning her third-straight national title last week, followed closely by reigning world champion Liu and 2024 Worlds runner-up Levito.

• “Just so grateful. That was terrifying,” Glenn said after her win. “And I had to skate after two incredible ladies brought down the house.” (See full roster)

Big picture: Liu is the only returning skater with Olympic experience — at 16, she took sixth place in Beijing — but the group’s national podium tally adds to Team USA’s renewed confidence.

• “All we’ve got to do, is do our job,” said Glenn. “I think the US ladies have come so, so far in the last two decades that if all three of us do our jobs in Milan, then more than likely someone’s going to be up there.”

Qatar in talks to host 1st Women’s Club World Cup

2022 Men’s World Cup host Qatar is back in the headlines, reportedly in talks to hold the inaugural Women’s Club World Cup in January 2028.

• Despite recent gains on the men’s side, Qatar’s women’s national team is currently unranked due to lack of official matches since its 2009 founding.

• While the soccer world has long called Qatar’s human rights record into question, FIFA said they haven’t yet received a formal hosting bid for the first-ever women’s club competition.

Taking stock: The Club World Cup is expected to field 16 teams, with European clubs bracing for calendar disruptions thanks to the tournament’s winter kick-off.

• At least five clubs from Europe and two each from Asia, Africa, South America, and North America will compete, with a qualifying tournament to determine the final three participants scheduled for 2027.

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LOVB Austin and Team USA star Madisen Skinner
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