Posted: Nov 11, 2002
Nov. 11, 2002
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The preseason women's basketball coaches poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, 2001-02 record, total points based on 25 points for first place through one point for 25th, and final 2001-02 ranking. The USA TODAY/ESPN Board of Coaches is made up of 40 head coaches at Division I institutions. All are members of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association.
| Rank | Team | 2001-02 Record | Total Points | 2002 Rank |
| 1. | Duke (25) | 31-4 | 976 | 4 |
| 2. | Tennessee (8) | 29-5 | 944 | 3 |
| 3. | Connecticut (6) | 39-0 | 804 | 1 |
| 4. | LSU | 18-12 | 786 | 22 |
| 5. | Kansas State | 26-8 | 773 | 10 |
| 6. | Stanford | 32-3 | 755 | 8 |
| 7. | Texas Tech | 20-12 | 735 | 12 |
| 8. | Purdue | 24-6 | 665 | 14 |
| 9. | Georgia | 19-11 | 630 | NR |
| 10. | Vanderbilt (1) | 30-7 | 598 | 5 |
| 11. | Texas | 22-10 | 551 | 13 |
| 12. | Notre Dame | 20-10 | 535 | NR |
| 13. | North Carolina | 26-9 | 457 | 11 |
| 14. | Penn State | 23-12 | 403 | 18 |
| 15. | Louisiana Tech | 25-5 | 329 | 19 |
| 16. | Arkansas | 20-12 | 322 | NR |
| 17. | Minnesota | 22-8 | 306 | 21 |
| 18. | Colorado State | 24-7 | 217 | 24 |
| 19. | Oklahoma | 32-4 | 200 | 2 |
| 20. | TCU | 24-7 | 181 | 25 |
| 21. | Iowa State | 24-9 | 172 | 16 |
| 22. | Cincinnati | 27-5 | 166 | 23 |
| 23. | Old Dominion | 28-6 | 161 | 7 |
| 24. | Boston College | 23-8 | 156 | NR |
| 25. | George Washington | 21-9 | 124 | NR |