AP Poll - March 8, 1981
Poll 16 of 18 of the 1980-1981 season; Louisiana Tech is No. 1 (unchanged).
| Rank | School | Conference | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Louisiana Tech | AIAW Region 4 | - |
| 2. | Long Beach State | AIAW Region 8 | - |
| 3. | Tennessee | AIAW Region 2 | - |
| 4. | Kansas | AIAW Region 6 | - |
| 5. | Rutgers | AIAW Region 1B | - |
| 6. | Old Dominion | AIAW Region 2 | - |
| 7. | UCLA | AIAW Region 8 | 1 |
| 8. | Cheyney | AIAW Region 1B | 1 |
| 9. | USC | AIAW Region 8 | - |
| 10. | Kentucky | AIAW Region 2 | - |
| 11. | Texas | AIAW Region 4 | - |
| 12. | Oregon | AIAW Region 9 | - |
| 13. | Maryland | AIAW Region 1B | - |
| 14. | NC State | AIAW Region 2 | 2 |
| 15. | Minnesota | AIAW Region 6 | - |
| 16. | Clemson | AIAW Region 2 | new |
| 17. | Auburn | AIAW Region 3 | 1 |
| 18. | Colorado | AIAW Region 7 | new |
| 19. | Stephen F. Austin | AIAW Region 4 | - |
| 20. | East Carolina | AIAW Region 2 | 3 |