In a historic feat, the South Carolina Gamecocks have emerged as the national champions in women's college basketball, securing the top spot in the first-ever Associated Press Top 25 poll released after the NCAA tournament. The Gamecocks, who clinched their second title in three years with a thrilling 87-75 victory over Iowa, received all 35 first-place votes from a national media panel on Monday.

South Carolina's dominance throughout the season is evident, as they held the number one ranking for every week except the preseason poll, where they started off at sixth. The team's undefeated season, finishing with a remarkable 38-0 record, places them among an elite group of just ten teams in history to achieve such a feat.

This year marks a significant milestone for the AP's women's Top 25 poll, as for the first time in its 47-year history, the final rankings were released after the NCAA tournament, rather than prior to it. Previously, the final poll had been unveiled on the eve of the tournament, after Selection Sunday.

The Iowa Hawkeyes, who faced off against South Carolina in the championship game, were unanimously chosen as the number two team in the nation, their highest finish since 1988. University of Connecticut (UConn) and NC State, the other two teams in the Final Four, secured the third and fourth spots in the final poll, respectively. UConn's presence within the top 10 has been a consistent pattern since 1994, while NC State's ascent from being unranked in the preseason to landing at number three is an impressive achievement.

USC, the University of Southern California, secured the fifth spot in the final poll, making their first appearance in the rankings since 2014. This accomplishment marks their highest end-of-season ranking since 1986, when they finished in third place.

Other notable teams in the top 10 include LSU, Texas, and Oregon State, all of whom reached the Elite Eight in the tournament, as well as traditional powerhouses Stanford and UCLA.

The NCAA tournament saw strong performances from several teams that resulted in their inclusion in the final rankings. Duke, West Virginia, and Iowa State all secured spots in the Top 25 after their impressive showings. Duke's victory over second-seeded Ohio State and their close match against UConn in the Sweet 16 propelled them into the rankings. Despite West Virginia's loss to Iowa in the second round, they pushed the Hawkeyes to their limits in an intense battle. Iowa State's overtime defeat to Stanford in the second round also earned them a place in the rankings.

Meanwhile, UNLV, Fairfield, and Louisville dropped out of the rankings after suffering losses in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

In terms of conference representation, the Pac-12, in its final season in its current form, emerged as a strong force in women's college basketball. The conference sent a remarkable seven teams to the tournament, with five reaching the Sweet 16. USC, Oregon State, Stanford, UCLA, Colorado, and Utah all secured spots in the season-ending Top 25.

Additionally, the Big 12 boasted six teams in the final poll, followed by the ACC with five teams and the Big Ten with three. The SEC and Big East each had two representatives, while the West Coast Conference saw Gonzaga making an appearance.

South Carolina's triumph and their commanding presence throughout the entire season reinforce their status as true champions. The Gamecocks' undefeated run and their claim to the top spot in the final AP poll will now serve as inspiration for future teams aspiring to achieve greatness in women's college basketball.