Pac-12 women’s basketball standings have Stanford and Utah at the top

The Pac-12 women’s basketball landscape endured a number of changes over the past weekend.

USC gave Colorado its first home-court loss of the season, which knocked the Buffaloes out of a second-place tie with Utah. The Utes are now all alone in second place, one game behind first-place Stanford. Later this season, Stanford goes to Utah and Colorado, so the Buffaloes’ loss deprives them of a realistic chance to pass Stanford. They might tie Stanford, but it will be very hard to vault past the Cardinal in one month.

UCLA’s losses to Colorado and Utah knocked the Bruins out of the Pac-12 title hunt. Arizona’s loss to Washington State did the same to the Wildcats’ conference championship hopes. Teams eliminated themselves from title contention or at least hurt their odds.

The other big story: Washington State — by beating the Arizona schools on the road — moved into the NCAA Tournament field. If the Cougars can stack together a few more wins in February, they should give the Pac-12 eight teams in the Women’s NCAA Tournament.

Here are the full standings at the end of January:

USC remains the only Pac-12 team to defeat the Cardinal, who swept the Oregon schools this past week but didn’t dominate. An injury to guard Talana Lepolo has slowed this team down.

Utah had a great weekend, sweeping USC and UCLA to stay one game behind Stanford in the Pac-12 race. Utah hosts Stanford later this season. The Utes have a real chance to share the Pac-12 title.

USC’s win over Colorado likely cost the Buffaloes a shot at the Pac-12 title. They now have to make up ground against Utah and Stanford, and they need to make up two games against Stanford, not just one. Beating the Cardinal later this season won’t be enough. They’ll need other sources of help. That’s asking a lot.

UCLA had a terrible Mountain road trip. USC men’s basketball can certainly relate to that. The Bruins lost to Colorado and Utah in one-score games which were decided in the final seconds. UCLA’s Pac-12 title hopes are done and gone.

Arizona lost at home to Washington State, a crucial blow to any remaining Pac-12 title chances this team might have had.

USC didn’t just beat Colorado on the road; it dominated in Boulder, handing the Buffs their first home-court loss of the season. USC isn’t an NCAA Tournament lock just yet — the Trojans have to win a few more games — but they’re now getting very close. It’s great to see.

Beating Arizona in Tucson has Washington State on the good side of the bubble. The Pac-12 is now likely to send eight teams to the NCAA Tournament.

Oregon gave Stanford a tough battle on Sunday but fell short.

Washington has been competitive all season but hasn’t been able to close down opponents late in tight games.

Oregon State’s bubble position took a big hit with a loss to Cal, days after a close loss at Stanford. It was a brutal Bay Area road trip for the Beavers.

Cal beat Oregon State and showed that it is not a pushover.

ASU came very close to notching its first Pac-12 win of the season on Sunday, but barely lost to Washington in Tempe.