UK Hoops in top 20 of both major women's college basketball polls

The Kentucky Wildcats women's basketball team is expected to field another NCAA Tournament team and possible Final Four contender when they hit the court this upcoming season.

That's why head coach Matthew Mitchell's club is ranked in the top 20 of both major preseason polls. UK comes in at No. 17 in USA Today/Coaches Top 25 Poll and No. 18 in the AP Top 25 Poll. The preseason rankings mark the sixth consecutive season the Wildcats have been ranked inside the top 20 of both major polls to start the season.

Kentucky ended the 2014-15 season at No. 11 and No. 16 in the final polls, marking the sixth-straight season UK has been inside the top 20 in the final polls. UK has been ranked in each poll since week 13 of the 2009-10 season, the longest ranking streak in program history.

Kentucky will begin its 2015-16 season this Sunday with an exhibition game vs. Union at 5 p.m. ET inside Memorial Coliseum before regular-season play opens at home on Nov 13 vs Rice at 7 p.m. ET.

USA Today/Coaches Top 25

1. Connecticut (38-1)

2. South Carolina (34-3)

3. Notre Dame (36-3)

4. Tennessee (30-6)

5. Baylor (33-4)

6. Maryland (34-3)

7. Florida State (32-5)

8. Louisville (27-7)

9. Oregon State (27-5)

10. Ohio State (24-11)

11. Texas (24-11)

12. Duke (23-11)

13. Mississippi State (27-7)

14. Stanford (26-10)

15. Arizona State (29-6)

16. Texas A&M (23-10)

17. Kentucky (24-10)

18. Oklahoma (21-12)

19. South Florida (27-8)

20. North Carolina (26-9)

21. George Washington (29-4)

22. DePaul (27-8)

23. Iowa (26-8)

24. Northwestern (23-9)

25. Princeton (31-1)

AP Preseason Top 25

1. UConn (38-1)

2. South Carolina (34-3)

3. Notre Dame (36-3)

4. Tennessee (30-6)

5. Baylor (33-4)

6. Ohio State (24-11)

7. Florida State (32-5)

8. Louisville (27-7)

9. Maryland (34-3)

10. Oregon State (27-5)

11. Mississippi State (27-7)

12. Texas (24-11)

13. Texas A&M (23-10)

14. Duke (23-11)

15. Arizona State (29-6)

16. Stanford (26-10)

17. Oklahoma (21-12)

18. Kentucky (24-10)

19. Northwestern (23-9)

20. South Florida (27-8)

21. George Washington (29-4)

22. North Carolina (26-9)

23. Syracuse (22-10)

24. Michigan State (16-15)

25. Chattanooga (29-4)