Defending national champion Notre Dame is the No. 1 team in the preseason USA TODAY Sports women’s basketball coaches poll.

The Fighting Irish received 30 of 32 first-place votes from the panel. They return most key contributors from last year’s title squad. The group includes Arike Ogunbowale, who sank the buzzer-beating trey in the final against Mississippi State, along with Jessica Shepard and Jackie Young.

Connecticut opens with the No. 2 ranking, claiming the other two first-place nods. The Huskies have become accustomed to occupying the top spot. but they’ve left Final Four weekend without the title for the past two seasons.

TOP 25:Complete USA TODAY Sports women's basketball preseason poll

The last time Connecticut was not No. 1 in the preseason poll was the beginning of the 2012-13 season.

Oregon, which reach the Elite Eight each of the last two seasons, begins at No. 3. Louisville and Baylor round out the top five, and two-time national runner-up Mississippi State opens at No. 6.