The Huskies received all 40 first-place votes Friday from a national media panel. It's the seventh time in school history Connecticut has held the top preseason ranking by The Associated Press. UConn also was the unanimous choice atop the poll the final 15 weeks last season.

Stanford was voted second. Ohio State was third, with Notre Dame and North Carolina rounding out the first five.

UConn won its sixth national championship last season to cap a 39-0 record. Huskies coach Geno Auriemma returns four starters, including Player of the Year Maya Moore.