Pac-12 women’s basketball power rankings: Oregon State electric as Stanford holds steady

Alec Dietz, Eugene Register-Guard
Oregon State’s Talia von Oelhoffen, center, shoots around Oregon’s Sarah Rambus during the first half at Matthew Knight Arena Sunday, Feb 4, 2024.
Oregon State’s Talia von Oelhoffen, center, shoots around Oregon’s Sarah Rambus during the first half at Matthew Knight Arena Sunday, Feb 4, 2024.

Several top matchups and electric finishes played out over the weekend as Stanford still reigns supreme while USC rose from a weekend sweep of the Oregon schools.

Here's our latest Pac-12 women's basketball power rankings.

1. Stanford

Last week: 1

What to know: The Cardinal sit two games ahead in first of the conference standings, and are fresh off a 84-49 dismantling of rival Cal. With upcoming games against the Arizona schools and then the Oregon schools, Stanford will likely wrap up the No. 1 seed sooner than later.

Oregon’s Kennedi Williams, left, passes the ball behind USC’s Kaitlyn Davis during the second half at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene Friday, Feb. 16, 2024.
Oregon’s Kennedi Williams, left, passes the ball behind USC’s Kaitlyn Davis during the second half at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene Friday, Feb. 16, 2024.

2. USC

Last week: 4

What to know: The Trojans are heating up at the right time with six straight wins, including two over the Oregon programs over the weekend. The win streak has pushed the Trojans into a tie for second in the Pac-12 standings.

3. Oregon State

Last week: 2

What to know: A six-game win streak was snapped by USC on Sunday, but not before a thrilling buzzer-beating 3-pointer to beat No. 9 UCLA on Friday – all without Raegan Beers. It’s unclear how long Beers will sit out with an undisclosed injury, but the Beavers proved they could keep up with anyone, even without one of their best players.

4. Colorado

Last week: 3

What to know: Though the Buffaloes lost to Utah on a last-second shot, they’ve been one of the most consistent teams in the Pac-12 this season and are set up nicely for a top-4 finish if they take care of business the rest of the way for a coveted bye in the first round of the Pac-12 Tournament.

5. Utah

Last week: 6

What to know: The Utes picked up a huge win against Colorado, but currently sit on the outside looking in when it comes to earning a bye as a top-4 seed in the conference. A big weekend awaits against the LA schools on the road next weekend.

6. UCLA

Last week: 5

What to know: The Bruins couldn’t get the job done in Corvallis and had to settle for a road split against the Oregon schools last weekend. Once the heavy-favorite to win the Pac-12, UCLA has split each of its weekends aside from its opening weekend and a recent weekend over the Arizona schools. The Bruins take on the mountain schools at home next in a pair of must-wins for conference seeding purposes.

7. Arizona

Last week: 9

What to know: The Wildcats picked up a much-needed sweep over the Washington schools at home but face a stiff challenge on the horizon in Stanford and Cal next weekend. The game against the Golden Bears, in particular, is big.

8. Cal

Last week: 7

What to know: The Golden Bears fell to Stanford but have a big chance to solidify themselves as the best among the bottom-six teams in the conference when they take on the Arizona schools this weekend. A sweep would all but assure they finish closer to sixth than 12th in the Pac-12.

9. Washington State

Last week: 8

What to know: The Cougars bounced back from five straight defeats to beat Arizona State on Sunday in what could be a big stabilizing win for a team adjusting to injuries. WSU takes on the Oregon schools next week at home.

10. Washington

Last week: 10

What to know: The Huskies have lost six games in a row and sit at just three wins in conference play after getting ranked toward the tail-end of nonconference play. UW will play three ranked teams over its last four games.

11. Arizona State

Last week: 12

What to know: The Sun Devils moved out of last in the Pac-12 with an overtime win over Washington on Friday and have won three conference games already this year. ASU won just one Pac-12 game a year ago.

USC’s JuJu Watkins, left, shoots over the Oregon defense during the first half at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene Friday, Feb. 16, 2024.
USC’s JuJu Watkins, left, shoots over the Oregon defense during the first half at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene Friday, Feb. 16, 2024.

12. Oregon

Last week: 11

What to know: The Ducks dropped their ninth straight game on Sunday against UCLA and its fourth by more than 20 points. After an encouraging game against No. 11 Oregon State, the Ducks haven’t been competitive and will face the Washington schools next week hoping to snap its losing streak.

Alec Dietz covers University of Oregon football, volleyball, women’s basketball and baseball for The Register-Guard. You may reach him at adietz@registerguard.com and you can follow him on Twitter @AlecDietz.

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Pac-12 women’s basketball power rankings: Oregon State still electric

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