AP Poll - February 17, 1997
Poll 15 of 18 of the 1996-1997 season; Connecticut is No. 1 (unchanged).
| Rank | School | Conference | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Connecticut | Big East | - |
| 2. | Old Dominion | CAA | - |
| 3. | Stanford | Pac-10 | - |
| 4. | North Carolina | ACC | 1 |
| 5. | Georgia | SEC | 1 |
| 6. | Alabama | SEC | 1 |
| 7. | Louisiana Tech | Sun Belt | 3 |
| 8. | Tennessee | SEC | - |
| 9. | Texas | Big 12 | 2 |
| 10. | Florida | SEC | - |
| 11. | Virginia | ACC | 2 |
| 12. | Kansas | Big 12 | 2 |
| 13. | LSU | SEC | - |
| 14. | Texas Tech | Big 12 | 2 |
| 15. | Vanderbilt | SEC | 3 |
| 16. | Notre Dame | Big East | 1 |
| 17. | Illinois | Big 10 | 2 |
| 18. | Stephen F. Austin | SLC | 1 |
| 19. | Michigan State | Big 10 | 1 |
| 20. | Arkansas | SEC | 1 |
| 21. | Clemson | ACC | 1 |
| 22. | Duke | ACC | 4 |
| 23. | George Washington | A-10 | 1 |
| 24. | Tulane | C-USA | 1 |
| 25. | Western Kentucky | Sun Belt | new |