LSU’s grip on the top five didn’t last long to begin the new year.
After opening conference play with back-to-back losses, the Tigers fell from No. 5 to No. 12 in the latest AP Women’s Basketball Top 25, with the most damaging setback coming against Vanderbilt. The Commodores’ win not only marked a major upset, but it also signaled a turning point in how the nation is viewing LSU as SEC play ramps up.
The loss to Vanderbilt was especially jarring given the stakes and the opponent. Entering the matchup, LSU had not dropped a conference game and was still viewed as a legitimate national title contender. Vanderbilt, meanwhile, was climbing but still searching for a signature moment. That moment arrived behind a dominant 32-point performance from Mikayla Blakes, who carved up LSU’s defense and powered the Commodores to their first win over a top-five team since the 2008–09 season.
For LSU, the defeat followed an earlier loss to Kentucky, making it the first time a Kim Mulkey-led team has ever started conference play 0–2. That historical context only magnified the impact of the Tigers’ fall in the rankings. Once viewed as one of the most stable teams in the country, LSU suddenly finds itself fighting to regain momentum in a brutally competitive SEC.
The losses exposed some early-season concerns for the Tigers, particularly on the defensive end and in late-game execution. Vanderbilt controlled the tempo and played with confidence, while LSU struggled to respond once the game began to tilt. It was a reminder that conference play leaves little room for error, especially against teams that are surging with belief.
Now sitting at No. 12, LSU faces a daunting path forward. Things will not get easier, as the Tigers are set to host No. 2 Texas next weekend in what quickly becomes a must-respond moment. Another loss could push LSU even further down the rankings and raise more questions about its ceiling this season.
Meanwhile, Vanderbilt’s rise to No. 7 underscores just how costly the loss was for LSU. What began as a single upset has reshaped both programs’ trajectories early in 2026. For LSU, the challenge now is clear: regroup, respond, and prove that this early stumble does not define its season.
More college sports news:
- Kane Wommack says Alabama’s culture showed itself when the punches came
- Three Clemson defenders projected as first round picks in latest CBS Sports NFL mock draft
- Latest women's college basketball news
- College basketball's 25 highest-paid coaches in 2025