We saw the league’s top two teams fall in wild upsets on day one of the 2026 Big Ten Women’s Soccer Tournament Presented by Allstate, and day two followed it up with back-to-back overtime bouts. It all sets the stage for semifinal fireworks on Sunday.
Two Upsets, Three OT Thrillers, Four Nail-Biting Opening Games
Michigan Stuns Top Seed
Heading into Wednesday’s quarterfinal, Big Ten Champion and No. 1 seed Ohio State hadn’t lost a match since September. The Buckeyes had even beaten the No. 8 seed Wolverines just four days prior. And when Ohio State scored 30 seconds into the game, it looked like it might cruise to the next round.
But anything can happen in the postseason, and Michigan’s Adi Walick had other plans. The junior buried her fifth and sixth goals of the season to defeat the Wolverines’ rival in the Big Ten Tournament for the first time since 2003. Keeper Malia Zillman’s six saves — including a crucial stop near the end of regulation — secured the 2-1 win. Read Michigan’s story here.
Wisconsin Shocks UCLA in OT
The evening matchup between the Badgers and Bruins kept the theatrics alive in St. Louis. No. 2 seed UCLA outshot No. 7 seed Wisconsin 8-0 and earned four corner kicks in the first half. The Badgers generated some offense after the break, but a combined four saves between keepers Drew Stover (Wisconsin) and Daphne Nakfoor (UCLA) kept regulation scoreless and forced overtime.
About two minutes into the extra period, the Badgers earned a corner kick. Izy Traub sent her service to the top of the six-yard box, where a perfectly timed bicycle kick from Hailey Baumann found the back of the net to earn the golden goal and punch Wisconsin’s ticket to the semifinals. Read here.
Spartans’ Golden Goal Earns Overtime Redemption
The rematch of last season’s championship game between No. 4 seed Michigan State and No. 5 seed Washington brought everything women’s soccer fans could’ve hoped for. Senior Bella Najera — who has been an integral part of the Spartans’ offense in three All-Big Ten seasons — netted her second tally of the game in overtime to secure the Spartans’ semifinal bid 3-2.
Spartan Faith George scored the lone goal of a defensive first half before both teams broke it open after the break. Najera converted on a beautiful sequence from Kennedy Bell and Emerson Sargeant to go up 2-0 in the 50th minute. But the Huskies stormed back, as Maylen Montoya and Andrea Leyva scored in the 59th and 82nd minutes, respectively, and forced overtime.
That set the stage for Najera’s game-winner. George sent a corner service into the box, where Washington keeper Tanner Ijams made a save off a header attempt from Addison Baldus. But Najera found and buried the rebound to send the Spartans to the semis.
Purdue Advances with — Another — OT Game-Winner
Clinching its first semifinal bid since 2001, No. 3 seed Purdue triumphed over No. 6 seed Penn State after senior Irene Campo finished a chance from Jaiden Anderson and Tanna Schornstein in overtime.
The Boilers’ claim as the Big Ten’s best offense (3.4 goals per game) was on full display, despite the first half finishing 0-0. Anderson, the league’s leading goalscorer, scored her 19th goal unassisted to open the second half before Penn State responded with a 64th minute score from Paige Kalal. The defenses stood tall down the stretch, teeing up Campo for her game-winner. Purdue outshot PSU 21-7 in the victory. More on the match.
Semifinal Sunday Previews
Spartans Seek More Redemption against Wolverines
Sunday's first semifinal between No. 8 seed Michigan and No. 4 seed Michigan State will air at 2 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network. When the rivals squared off earlier this season, the Wolverines shocked the then top-ranked Spartans in a 3-1 upset in East Lansing behind a brace from Ella Jablinskey. We’ll see if they can do it again on the postseason stage.
Can the Badgers Hold Down the Boilers?
Then at 5 p.m. ET, No. 3 seed Purdue and No. 7 seed Wisconsin take the pitch on Big Ten Network. The Midwest foes didn’t face one another in the regular season. The Badgers are tied for the second-fewest goals allowed in the Big Ten this season, but their defense will be put to the test against that relentless Boilermaker attack.
Here We Go...
The 2026 Big Ten Women’s Soccer Tournament Presented by Allstate continues with the semifinals on Sunday before the championship game is played next Friday on the higher seed’s campus. Get all the tournament info here.