AP Poll - January 17, 1982
Poll 9 of 18 of the 1981-1982 season; Louisiana Tech is No. 1 (unchanged).
| Rank | School | Conference | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Louisiana Tech | Independent | - |
| 2. | USC | WCAA | - |
| 3. | Rutgers | AIAW Region 1B | 2 |
| 4. | Cheyney | Independent | 3 |
| 5. | NC State | ACC | 3 |
| 6. | Maryland | ACC | 3 |
| 7. | Old Dominion | Independent | 1 |
| 8. | Kentucky | SEC | 2 |
| 9. | South Carolina | Independent | 5 |
| 10. | Long Beach State | WCAA | 7 |
| 11. | Oregon | NWBL | - |
| 12. | Texas | AIAW Region 4 | - |
| 13. | Georgia | SEC | 1 |
| 14. | Penn State | Independent | 2 |
| 15. | Villanova | AIAW Region 1B | 3 |
| 16. | Colorado | AIAW Region 7 | 1 |
| 17. | Memphis | Metro | 2 |
| 18. | Stephen F. Austin | Independent | 1 |
| 19. | Arizona State | WCAA | 6 |
| 20. | Auburn | SEC | new |
| 20. | Ohio State | Big 10 | new |