NCAA Men's and Women's Basketball Tournaments Expands to 76 Teams | B1G Today

Big Ten

Women’s Basketball

NCAA Men's and Women's Basketball Tournaments Expands to 76 Teams | B1G Today (vJAqe7A6N_E)

NCAA Men's and Women's Basketball Tournaments Expands to 76 Teams | B1G Today (J-AXScj4MRA)

Big Ten Conference

West

Nebraska Huskers

Nebraska

Nebraska Huskers Women's Basketball team

Nebraska at Oregon | Feb. 19, 2026 | Big Ten Women's Basketball | B1G+ Encore

Box Score

B1G+

Eugene, OR

Oregon Ducks

Oregon Ducks Women's Basketball team

2026-02-20 | Women's Basketball | Nebraska Huskers vs Oregon Ducks | #2725564 | COMPLETE

Pac-12 Conference

Oregon

Nebraska at Oregon | Feb. 19, 2026 | Big Ten Women's Basketball | B1G+ Encore (9Z58FwZ16jQ)

East

Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Rutgers

Rutgers Scarlet Knights Women's Basketball team

Rutgers at Purdue | Feb. 18, 2026 | Big Ten Women's Basketball | B1G+ Encore

Purdue Boilermakers

Purdue

Purdue Boilermakers Women's Basketball team

Rutgers at Purdue | Feb. 18, 2026 | Big Ten Women's Basketball | B1G+ Encore (8YYg92Oymdc)

Washington Huskies

Washington

Washington Huskies Women's Basketball team

Washington at Wisconsin | Feb. 11, 2026 | Big Ten Women's Basketball | B1G+ Encore

Madison, WI

Wisconsin Badgers

Wisconsin Badgers Women's Basketball team

2026-02-08 | Women's Basketball | Washington Huskies vs Wisconsin Badgers | #2754661 | COMPLETE

Wisconsin

Washington at Wisconsin | Feb. 11, 2026 | Big Ten Women's Basketball | B1G+ Encore (LdJD1lhAkNM)

USC Trojans

Southern California

USC Trojans Women's Basketball team

JuJu Watkins Prepares for Her Return This Upcoming Season | USC Women's Basketball

JuJu Watkins Prepares for Her Return This Upcoming Season | USC Women's Basketball (R-xWbPpL-S4)

Cearah Parchment Season Highlight | llinois Women's Basketball

Cearah Parchment Season Highlight | llinois Women's Basketball (DFY01NBfXck)

USC Women's Basketball Poised for Final Four in 2027 | B1G Today

USC Women's Basketball Poised for Final Four in 2027 | B1G Today (bK-5tnX9Dh4)

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: F Shayla Gillmer | Washington Women's Basketball

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: F Shayla Gillmer | Washington Women's Basketball (yayUhXRSia0)

Penn State Nittany Lions

Penn State

Penn State Nittany Lions Women's Basketball team

SENIOR HIGHLIGHTS: G Vitoria Santana | Penn State Women's Basketball

SENIOR HIGHLIGHTS: G Vitoria Santana | Penn State Women's Basketball (GYceURwWD7g)

USC Women's Basketball

10th double double of the season for Kiks today 🔥

25 pts &amp; 14 reb in the @WashMystics dub

(🎥 @WomensHoops_USA) https://t.co/u3rhaUFzaE

Tweet 2077207080398885123

Northwestern Women’s Basketball

Northwestern

Tweet 2077177674561163579

Northwestern Women’s Basketball(41688179)

Tweet 2077177678034075668

UCLA Women's Basketball

UCLA

Things we love: being back in Pauley, and seeing you in those seats! 🤩

Thanks to all our season ticket members who came out to yesterday’s open practice!

#GoBruins https://t.co/Yh4gCEjfZ7

Tweet 2077171311722520974

Tweet 2077171318970298662

Tweet 2077171333654532334

Maryland Women’s Basketball

Maryland

🎥 Get to Know freshman Jordyn Jackson!

@JaylaJordyn x  #faMily 🐢 https://t.co/hdXPqpK2te

Tweet 2077166254079566242

Maryland Women’s Basketball(873861104)

Purdue Women's Basketball

Dodge, dip, duck, dive and Boiler Up 🚂⬆️

Spent our morning with some great kids at the @LafayetteYMCA! https://t.co/jm5WC1Qfbo

Tweet 2077156258923041149

Purdue Women's Basketball(38053254)

Ohio State WBB

Ohio State

Tweet 2077151518478807260

Ohio State WBB(900280416)

Together Again 🤗 

@Coach_Berube caught up with longtime friend and @seattlestorm HC @SoniaRaman at the team's downtown practice! https://t.co/u1a7c4HTbZ

Tweet 2077122414568198431

<div class="payload-richtext"><a href="https://img.boostsport.ai/boost-cms/2026%20Distinguished%20Scholar%20Recipients-1.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">
 Full Distinguished Scholar Recipient List
 </a>    ROSEMONT, Ill. - The Big Ten Conference announced Monday that 1,926 students on varsity rosters have earned the Big Ten Distinguished Scholar Award. The list includes students from all 18 institutions, plus Johns Hopkins and Notre Dame and 41 sports who have recorded a minimum grade-point average (GPA) of 3.7 or higher for the previous academic year.    The 2025-26 class of Distinguished Scholar Award Recipients includes 350 students who maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA during the previous academic year, represented in bold on the official list.    Big Ten Faculty Representatives established the Distinguished Scholar Award in 2008 to supplement the Academic All-Big Ten program. Distinguished Scholar Award recipients must have earned Academic All-Big Ten recognition in the previous academic year, must have been enrolled full time at the institution for the entire previous academic year (two semesters or three quarters) and earned a minimum GPA of 3.70 or better during the previous academic year, excluding any summer grades. The Academic All-Big Ten threshold is a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher for a student's academic career.     A complete list of the 2025-26 Big Ten Distinguished Scholar Award recipients can be found above.    </div>

Distinguished Scholar 2025-26

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Minnesota

Michigan State

Michigan

Iowa

Indiana

Illinois

Women's Volleyball

Softball

Women's Rowing

Field Hockey

Wrestling

Women’s Tennis

Men’s Tennis

Women’s Swimming & Diving

Men’s Swimming & Diving

Women’s Soccer

Men’s Soccer

Women’s Outdoor Track & Field

Men’s Outdoor Track & Field

Women’s Lacrosse

Men’s Lacrosse

Women’s Indoor Track & Field

Men’s Indoor Track & Field

Men’s Hockey

Women’s Gymnastics

Men’s Gymnastics

Women’s Golf

Men’s Golf

Football

Women’s Cross Country

Men’s Cross Country

Men’s Basketball

Baseball

Big Ten Recognizes 2025-26 Distinguished Scholar Award Recipients 

<div class="payload-richtext">PORTLAND, Ore. - As the sun set over the rolling hills of Cooper Mountain Vineyards on Saturday evening, “Big Life Series: Pacific Northwest” concluded its immersive educational experience where student-athletes from all 18 Big Ten institutions learned firsthand about the rich culture and history of the Pacific Northwest.   Over the course of less than 48 hours, over 175 student-athletes and administrators engaged in programming that included visits to Multnomah Falls, the Oregon Historical Society, the Grande Ronde Reservation, and Cooper Mountain Vineyards. The event brought together participants from all 18 Big Ten institutions, creating opportunities for learning, dialogue, and relationship-building among student-athletes from across the conference.    “Big Life Series: Pacific Northwest was a remarkable experience that allowed attendees to better understand and interact with the history, culture, landscape, and people that give the Pacific Northwest its distinct identity,” said Big Ten Chief Operating Officer Kerry Kenny. “The unique opportunity to connect student-athletes from across the country to an immersive experience outside of their traditional element is what distinguishes the Big Ten in preparing these young men and women for life after campus.”    At the Oregon Historical Society on Saturday morning, student-athletes learned about how Oregon became the state it is today, including the often-untold Black, Native American, and Japanese history that has shaped the state. Participants also toured the Yasui Family exhibit, learning about the challenges Japanese Americans faced during World War II and the advocacy efforts that helped advance civil rights in the decades that followed.    The quote on the back of the Big Life Series: Pacific Northwest T-shirt: “What is done to the least of us can be done to all of us” was from Presidential Medal of Freedom winner Minori Yasui.    “I found his bravery in speaking out about these issues incredible,” said Indiana women’s track & field sprinter Kristina Vincic. “Having a voice isn’t an easy thing and it takes time to build one. That’s something we can definitely tie in to our teams.”     After learning about Native American history at the Oregon Historical Society, participants experienced its living impact firsthand at the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Veterans Powwow. Student-athletes learned about the traditional longhouse, witnessed cultural traditions, and took part in the Grand Entry ceremony.  Often competitors on the field, student-athletes joined together to dance with members of the Grande Ronde Confederation and in honoring Veterans. For many student-athletes, it is the moment they said they will remember most about the trip.    “It was beautiful seeing the tradition unfold right before my eyes and getting involved with it,” said Penn State football student-athlete Armstrong Nnodim. “As athletes we get caught up in the competitive world, so to come here and bond with everyone from different backgrounds was amazing.”   Launched in 2022, the Big Life Series is part of the Big Ten’s commitment to providing educational and developmental opportunities beyond competition. The Pacific Northwest program represented the latest installment of the initiative, connecting student-athletes with the people, places, and histories that shape communities throughout the conference’s expanded footprint. For a full list of Big Ten student-athletes who participated in “Big Life Series: Pacific Northwest”, click <a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.boostsport.ai%2Fboost-cms%2FBig%2520Life%2520Series%2520-%2520PNW%2520Particpant%2520List.pdf&data=05%7C02%7Cmbeck%40bigten.org%7Cd0617ab4c96a4bf79db008dedc36f22d%7C5c35f07cce5e4fa582baa44898424550%7C1%7C0%7C639190325738707341%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=GjLuIJk14zxzwkzs%2F2YwIayNyP0Z%2BMluB6cv5PAsGcA%3D&reserved=0" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">
 here
 </a>. </div>

Big Ten takes on the spirit of the Pacific Northwest at the Oregon Historical Society

Big Life Series Showcases the Spirit of the Pacific Northwest

<div class="payload-richtext">ROSEMONT, Ill. - As part of the “Big Life Series: Pacific Northwest”, the Big Ten will host over 150 student-athletes, coaches and administrators from all 18 Big Ten schools in Portland, Ore. from Friday, July 10 to Sunday, July 12. The program is designed to deepen participants’ understanding of the region’s rich history, culture and communities through an immersive educational experience.   Programming will begin Friday evening with a nature walk through Multnomah Falls to showcase the region’s deep ties to nature and the history of the Pacific Northwest landscape.    On Saturday, student-athletes will visit the Oregon Historical Society and have the chance to learn about the Japanese American West Coast experience and hear firsthand from a member of the Oregon Black Pioneers. Through discussions centered on resilience, community, and historical impact, participants will gain a deeper appreciation for the individuals and stories that have shaped the Pacific Northwest.    The group will then travel to the Grand Ronde Reservation for a Veterans Powwow, which will provide an opportunity to engage with living cultural traditions and better understand the history, values and contributions of the Native American communities across the region.   The evening will conclude with a dinner at Cooper Mountain Vineyard, where student-athletes will have a hands-on discussion about the agricultural history of the region and the grape-growing operation.   The Big Life series is an immersive educational experience started in 2022 that focuses on engaging, educating, and empowering Big Ten student-athletes, coaches, and administrators. With trips to Selma, Alabama; Mount Vernon, Iowa; and Portland, Oregon attendees learn about the historical and cultural significance of the region. Since its inception, over 500 students-athletes have participated in these programs. Along with the educational component of the experience, the Big Ten uses these trips to leave a lasting impact in the communities it visits.  For a full list of Big Ten student-athletes attending “Big Life Series: Pacific Northwest”, click <a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.boostsport.ai%2Fboost-cms%2FBig%2520Life%2520Series%2520-%2520PNW%2520Particpant%2520List.pdf&data=05%7C02%7Cmbeck%40bigten.org%7Cd0617ab4c96a4bf79db008dedc36f22d%7C5c35f07cce5e4fa582baa44898424550%7C1%7C0%7C639190325738707341%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=GjLuIJk14zxzwkzs%2F2YwIayNyP0Z%2BMluB6cv5PAsGcA%3D&reserved=0" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">
 here
 </a>.   </div>

Big Life Series: Pacific Northwest

Big Life Series Heads to the Pacific Northwest

<div class="payload-richtext">ROSEMONT, Ill. – The University of Washington are champions of the inaugural Allstate Big Ten Women’s Championship Series, the conference announced Wednesday. The Huskies (113.2 points) earned the title over runners-up UCLA (112), with Michigan (105.6), USC (104.4) and Ohio State (100.8) rounding out the final Top-5 of the year-long competition.Across the 2025-26 campaign, Washington excelled in numerous women’s sports including soccer, where they captured both the Big Ten regular-season and tournament titles, and rowing, at which they won six of seven grand finals to repeat as conference champions. The Huskies also piled up points with Top-4 finishes at the Big Ten cross country, indoor track and field, and outdoor track and field championship meets, headlined by sisters Amanda and Hana Moll who finished No. 1 and No. 2 in pole vault at the NCAA Championships this year.“Winning is in the DNA of Washington. Having success across the board is something that’s critically important to us,” said Washington Athletic Director Pat Chun. “We take an extraordinary amount of pride in winning this Allstate Women’s Championship award, and being the inaugural winners, especially because the Big Ten conference is so difficult across the board in all sports. This is a league that historically has prioritized women’s sports and is at the current peak of women’s college sports, and for us to be able to win this, it’s really hard to articulate but we take an immense amount of pride in winning this. All of our teams will celebrate this, the way our department is wired this is really a statement about everybody at UW.”UCLA finished just 1.2 points off the Championship Series-winning total, propelled by Big Ten basketball regular-season and tournament crowns on their way to the NCAA championship, and capturing both conference titles in gymnastics. An outstanding year for Michigan was highlighted by regular-season and tournament championships in tennis, and a dominant performance at the swimming and diving championships.In October the Big Ten Conference, Big Ten Network and Allstate announced the creation of the Allstate Big Ten Women’s Championship Series, a new competition designed to spotlight and celebrate excellence in women’s athletics across the conference. The championship series is the centerpiece of a first-of-its kind, multi-year partnership that established Allstate as the Official Insurance Partner of the Big Ten Conference, and reflects Allstate’s 20-year legacy of supporting college athletics, as well as its ongoing commitment to women’s sports.Allstate’s longstanding support of college athletics is part of its commitment to empowering young people to lead in their communities. Allstate has been a proud member of the college athletics community for more than 20 years through its university and conference sponsorships, academic scholarships and community impact initiatives. Since 2005, the Allstate Good Hands Nets program has raised millions of dollars in scholarships with every field goal and extra point scored. Since 2008, the Allstate Good Works Teams have honored hundreds of student-athletes for their service off the field, supporting causes such as youth empowerment and hunger relief. For more than 20 years, the company has been the title sponsor of the Allstate Sugar Bowl, one of the premier events in college football.</div>

WASH 2025-26 WCS Graphic

Washington Wins Inaugural Allstate Big Ten Women's Championship Series

2025-26 AOY Graphic

Indiana’s Mendoza, UCLA’s Betts Named Big Ten Athletes of the Year (070826)

<div class="payload-richtext">For the first time in league history, a Big Ten Tournament will be held in Las Vegas! Fifteen teams will head to T-Mobile Arena from March 3–7 for the 2027 Allstate Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament. With a conference title and a bid to the NCAA Tournament on the line, who will leave a champion? Check out more information on the tournament below, <a href="https://bigten.org/user/ticketing/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">
 click here for ticketing updates
 </a>, and get ready to find out.  <h3>When is the 2027 Allstate Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament? </h3>Wednesday, March 3 through Sunday, March 7.  <h3>Where is the 2027 Allstate Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament? </h3>T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nev., home of the Vegas Golden Knights (NHL) and select Las Vegas Aces games (WNBA). You can <a href="https://www.t-mobilearena.com/events/detail/2027-big-ten-womens-basketball-tournament-will-be-hosted-at-t-mobile-arena" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">
 get more venue information here
 </a>.  <h3>How can I watch the 2027 Allstate Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament? </h3>TV information has yet to be announced. To get updates, <a href="https://bigten.org/user/subscribe/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">
 fill out this form and select women’s basketball
 </a>.  <h3>How many teams make the Allstate Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament? </h3>The 15 teams with the best records in regular-season conference play will qualify for the tournament.  <h3>Where can I get tickets to the 2027 Allstate Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament? </h3>Ticketing information has yet to be released. <a href="https://bigten.org/user/ticketing/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">
 Click here and select women's basketball
 </a> to subscribe for ticketing updates.  <h3>How much are tickets to the 2027 Allstate Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament? </h3>Ticketing information has yet to be released. <a href="https://bigten.org/user/ticketing/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">
 Click here and select women's basketball
 </a> to subscribe for ticketing updates.  <h3>Who won the 2026 Allstate Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament? </h3>The UCLA Bruins won the 2026 Allstate Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament and went on to win the national championship. <a href="https://bigten.org/wbb/article/59569/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">
 Read the championship recap
 </a>.  <h4>The road to Vegas starts in November. Stay in the loop all season long – <a href="https://bigten.org/user/subscribe/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">
 click here
 </a>. </h4> 
 <img
 alt="UCLA WBBT Champs.jpg"
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 width="5693"
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The 2027 Allstate Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament will be held in Las Vegas at T-Mobile Arena!

2026-6-26 2027 WBBT Placeholder Landing Page + FAQs

2025-26 Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament 

<div class="payload-richtext">ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference has announced the full breakdown of conference opponents for all 18 schools for the 2026-27 women’s basketball season. Each member institution will play an 18-game conference schedule, playing one school both home and away, while facing 16 teams once. Of the single-play opponents, member institutions will play eight at home and eight on the road.The complete list of the Big Ten single-play and repeat opponents is below. Game dates, times and television information will be announced at a later time.ILLINOIS Home: Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, Penn State, Purdue, Washington, Oregon Away: Indiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Ohio State, Rutgers, Wisconsin, UCLA, USC Home/Away: NorthwesternINDIANA Home: Illinois, Maryland, Nebraska, Ohio State, Rutgers, Wisconsin, UCLA, USC Away: Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Penn State, Washington, Oregon Home/Away: PurdueIOWA Home: Indiana, Maryland, Northwestern, Purdue, Rutgers, Wisconsin, UCLA, USC Away: Illinois, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Ohio State, Penn State, Washington, Oregon Home/Away: NebraskaMARYLAND Home: Illinois, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Rutgers, UCLA, USC Away: Indiana, Iowa, Northwestern, Penn State, Purdue, Wisconsin, Washington, Oregon Home/Away: Ohio StateMICHIGAN Home: Indiana, Iowa, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State, Rutgers, Washington, Oregon Away: Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, Purdue, Wisconsin, UCLA, USC Home/Away: Michigan StateMICHIGAN STATE Home: Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Penn State, Purdue, Wisconsin, Washington, Oregon Away: Illinois, Maryland, Nebraska, Northwestern, Ohio State, Rutgers, UCLA, USC Home/Away: MichiganMINNESOTA Home: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Penn State, Rutgers, Washington, Oregon Away: Maryland, Michigan State, Nebraska, Northwestern, Ohio State, Purdue, UCLA, USC Home/Away: WisconsinNEBRASKA Home: Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin, Washington, Oregon Away: Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Northwestern, Purdue, Rutgers, UCLA, USC Home/Away: IowaNORTHWESTERN Home: Indiana, Maryland, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Penn State, Washington, Oregon Away: Iowa, Michigan, Ohio State, Purdue, Rutgers, Wisconsin, UCLA, USC Home/Away: IllinoisOHIO STATE Home: Illinois, Iowa, Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Purdue, Washington, Oregon Away: Indiana, Michigan, Nebraska, Penn State, Rutgers, Wisconsin, UCLA, USC Home/Away: MarylandOREGON Home: Indiana, Purdue, Iowa, Wisconsin, Maryland, Rutgers, UCLA, USC Away: Illinois, Northwestern, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State, Minnesota, Nebraska Home/Away: WashingtonPENN STATE Home: Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Ohio State, Purdue, Wisconsin, Washington, Oregon Away: Illinois, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, UCLA, USC Home/Away: RutgersPURDUE Home: Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Wisconsin, UCLA, USC Away: Illinois, Iowa, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State, Rutgers, Washington, Oregon Home/Away: IndianaRUTGERS Home: Illinois, Michigan State, Nebraska, Northwestern, Ohio State, Purdue, UCLA, USC Away: Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Washington, Oregon Home/Away: Penn StateUCLA Home: Illinois, Northwestern, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State, Minnesota, Nebraska Away: Indiana, Purdue, Iowa, Wisconsin, Maryland, Rutgers, Washington, Oregon Home/Away: USCUSC Home: Illinois, Northwestern, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State, Minnesota, Nebraska Away: Indiana, Purdue, Iowa, Wisconsin, Maryland, Rutgers, Washington, Oregon Home/Away: UCLAWASHINGTON Home: Indiana, Purdue, Iowa, Wisconsin, Maryland, Rutgers, UCLA, USC Away: Illinois, Northwestern, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State, Minnesota, Nebraska Home/Away: OregonWISCONSIN Home: Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Northwestern, Ohio State, Rutgers, UCLA, USC Away: Indiana, Iowa, Michigan State, Nebraska, Penn State, Purdue, Washington, Oregon Home/Away: Minnesota</div>

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2026-27 Big Ten Conference Women’s Basketball Opponents Announced

<div class="payload-richtext">ROSEMONT, Ill. – With the 2026 WNBA season starting on Friday, a total of 39 standouts from Big Ten Conference institutions secured spots on opening day rosters, with eight additional alums serving on WNBA coaching staffs, including two head coaches. The combined total of 47 Big Ten representatives in the WNBA includes former student-athletes from 14 of the conferences’ 18 member institutions, with UCLA (12) pacing the contingent. Atlanta Dream Brionna Jones (Maryland) Naz Hillmon (Michigan) Holly Winterburn (Oregon) Jordin Canada (UCLA)Chicago Sky Rachel Banham (Minnesota) Jacy Sheldon (Ohio State) Gabriela Jaquez (UCLA)Connecticut Sun Diamond Miller (Maryland) Kennedy Burke (UCLA) Gianna Kneepkens (UCLA) Charlisse Leger-Walker (UCLA)Golden State Valkyries Kaila Charles (Maryland) Veronica Burton (Northwestern) Natalie Nakase – Head Coach (UCLA)Indiana Fever Caitlin Clark (Iowa) Shatori Walker-Kimbrough (Maryland) Kelsey Mitchell (Ohio State) Stephanie White – Head Coach (Purdue) Monique Billings (UCLA)Los Angeles Sparks Chance Gray (Ohio State) Erica Wheeler (Rutgers) Ebony Hoffman – Assistant Coach (USC) Kesley Plum (Washington)Minnesota Lynx Janel McCarville – Assistant Coach (Minnesota) Lindsay Whalen – Assistant Coach (Minnesota) Nia Coffey (Northwestern)New York Liberty Sabrina Ionescu (Oregon) Satou Sabally (Oregon) Betnijah Laney-Hamilton (Rutgers) Rebekah Gardner (UCLA)Phoenix Mercury Shay Ciezki (Indiana) Tangela Smith – Assistant Coach (Iowa) Alyssa Thomas (Maryland) Kristi Toliver – Associate Head Coach (Maryland) Kahleah Copper (Rutgers) Sami Whitcomb (Washington)Portland Fire Megan Gustafson (Iowa)Seattle Storm Mackenzie Holmes (Indiana) Grace VanSlooten (Michigan State)Toronto Tempo Nyara Sabally (Oregon) Kiki Rice (UCLA) Sadie Edwards – Assistant Coach (USC)Washington Mystics Lucy Olsen (Iowa) Lauren Betts (UCLA) Angela Dugalić (UCLA) Michaela Onyenwere (UCLA) Kiki Iriafen (USC)</div>

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39 Big Ten Conference Alums on 2026 WNBA Opening Day Rosters

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UCLA's Lauren Betts Named Honda Sport Award Winner for Basketball

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2025-26 Five Big Ten Student-Athletes Named to CSC All-America Women's Basketball Team 

<div class="payload-richtext">ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference had eight student-athletes chosen in the 2026 Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) Draft presented by State Street Investment Management SPY that took place Monday night at The Shed at Hudson Yards in New York City. It was the third year in a row that at least seven players were drafted and most since 2002.UCLA concluded the event as the first program to have six players taken in a single draft. The Big Ten has now had multiple student-athletes from current member schools chosen in the WNBA Draft in every one of the league’s 30 seasons of existence.UCLA’s Lauren Betts was the first Big Ten player selected this year as the No. 4 overall pick in the first round by the Washington Mystics. Betts was the third lottery pick in Bruin history, joining Lisa Willis (2006) and Noelle Quinn (2007).UCLA’s Gabriela Jaquez heard her name called next as the fifth pick by the Chicago Sky in the first round. Jaquez was the first Big Ten player drafted to the Chicago Sky since 2020. She joined Betts as the first collegiate teammates since 2020 to be taken in the top five in the same draft.The Toronto Tempo, an expansion team set to embark on its inaugural season, used its first-ever WNBA Draft pick to select UCLA’s Kiki Rice in the first round at No. 6. With her selection, it was the second time in WNBA history that three straight draftees came from the same school (UConn – 2016).The next Bruin off the board in the first round was Angela Dugalić to the Washington Mystics at No. 9. Her selection tied the Big Ten Conference record for the most players drafted in the top 10 of a single draft (2017).UCLA’s Gianna Kneepkens wrapped up the first round by going to the Connecticut Sun as the No. 15 pick. With a total of five first-rounders, the Bruins set a WNBA Draft record for the most players selected from a single school in the first round.The second round continued with another UCLA representative in Charlisse Leger-Walker, who was drafted to the Connecticut Sun with the 18th pick. Leger-Walker was the first New Zealander ever drafted into the WNBA and joined Kneepkens as the first Bruins selected by the Sun franchise.Ohio State’s Chance Gray was the next Big Ten player drafted as the No. 24 pick by the Los Angeles Sparks. Gray extended Ohio State’s streak to four straight years with a draftee and was the first Buckeye to be selected by the Sparks since 2011 (Jantel Lavender).Michigan State’s Grace VanSlooten kept things going as the 39th pick in the third round by the Seattle Storm. VanSlooten was the first-ever Spartan taken by the Storm and seventh Big Ten player overall.2026 WNBA Draft – Big Ten Selections Round 1 No. 4      Lauren Betts (UCLA) – Washington Mystics No. 5      Gabriela Jaquez (UCLA) – Chicago Sky No. 6      Kiki Rice (UCLA) – Toronto Tempo No. 9      Angela Dugalić (UCLA) – Washington Mystics No. 15   Gianna Kneepkens (UCLA) – Connecticut SunRound 2 No. 18   Charlisse Leger-Walker (UCLA) – Connecticut Sun No. 24   Chance Gray (Ohio State) – Los Angeles Sparks Round 3 No. 39   Grace VanSlooten (Michigan State) – Seattle Storm</div>

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Eight Big Ten Women’s Basketball Players Selected in Record-Setting 2026 WNBA Draft 

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UCLA Women's Basketball Captures 2026 NCAA Championship

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2025-26 UCLA Outlasts Texas, Advances to National Title Game

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2025-26 Ohio State's Jaloni Cambridge Honored with Dawn Staley Award

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 2026 Big Ten Women's Basketball Postseason Central
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 >USC rookie Jazzy Davidson added to her collection on Wednesday after being named the 2026 WBCA NCAA Division I Freshman of the Year presented by Adidas, the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association announced. Earlier this season, she was honored as the 2026 USBWA Tamika Catchings National Freshman Player of the Year and earned recognition as the National Freshman of the Year from The Athletic. Davidson became the second Trojan in program history to take home all three national newcomer of the year honors, joining teammate JuJu Watkins. She wrapped the season leading USC outright in every major statistical category including points (17.9), rebounds (5.6), assists (4.1), steals (2.0) and blocks per game (2.0), making her the only Division I player to accomplish that feat this year. The guard joined Watkins, Sarah Strong, Maya Moore, Cheryl Miller, and Candace Parker as the only freshmen in women's college basketball history to record 500+ points, 150+ rebounds, 100+ assists, 50+ steals and 50+ blocks. </li><li
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 >The WBCA announced its All-America Team on Thursday, which featured 10 student-athletes from the Big Ten. UCLA’s Lauren Betts and Ohio State’s Jaloni Cambridge made the list, followed by honorable mention selections in Indiana’s Shay Ciezki, Iowa’s Ava Heiden and Hannah Stuelke, Maryland’s Oluchi Okananwa, Michigan’s Olivia Olson and Syla Swords, UCLA’s Kiki Rice and Washington’s Sayvia Sellers. </li><li
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 >Senior Lauren Betts was tabbed as a finalist for the 2026 John R. Wooden Award presented by Principal, the Los Angeles Athletic Club announced Tuesday. The UCLA standout was also selected as one of 10 Wooden All-Americans. </li><li
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 >The Big Ten Conference is making its return to college basketball’s final weekend for the fourth time in as many years with UCLA set to face Texas in the NCAA Women’s Final Four on Friday at approximately 9:30 p.m. ET live on ESPN from Mortgage Matchup Center. </li><li
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 >UCLA advanced to the NCAA Final Four in back-to-back years for the first time in program history by taking down Duke, 70-58, in the Sacramento 2 Region Final. </li><li
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 >A familiar foe awaits UCLA in the semifinals on Friday. The Longhorns are the only team to defeat the Bruins this season after walking away with a 76-65 win in November. </li><li
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 >Texas holds an 8-7 edge in the all-time series with UCLA, but the teams are tied at 2-2 when they’ve faced off in the NCAA Tournament. </li><li
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 >Current Big Ten programs have advanced to the NCAA Women’s Final Four 24 times and have won four national championships (USC – 1983, 1984; Purdue – 1999; Maryland – 2006). </li><li
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 >UCLA’s Lauren Betts was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Sacramento 2 Regional and was joined on the All-Regional Team by teammate Angela Dugalić. Michigan’s Olivia Olson and Syla Swords were on the Fort Worth 3 All-Regional Team, the first time in program history that two Wolverines made a regional team. </li><li
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 >For the fifth time in the last six years, the Big Ten has collected double-digit wins in the NCAA Tournament. A pair of conference records were set with 15 victories through the first two rounds (11 in 2004; 10 in 2005; 13 in 2023 and 2025) and 18 wins through the Elite Eight, eclipsing the previous standard (16) from a season ago.</li><li
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 >The Big Ten set a conference record by having a team reach the Elite Eight in seven consecutive tournaments, with seven different schools accounting for a combined 11 appearances (Michigan and UCLA – 2026; UCLA and USC – 2025; Iowa – 2024; Iowa, Maryland and Ohio State – 2023; Michigan – 2022; Indiana – 2021; Iowa – 2019). </li><li
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 >For the sixth consecutive year, the Big Ten Conference sent at least two teams to the NCAA Sweet 16 as Michigan, Minnesota and UCLA took part this year. The Big Ten tied a conference record with four Sweet 16 participants in 2021 and 2022 and has sent at least three teams to the third round on nine occasions (2003, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025 and 2026).</li><li
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 >The Big Ten set a new conference record after 11 teams reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The previous record (10) was set last season. </li><li
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 >For the 25th consecutive season (not counting the 2019-20 campaign that ended prematurely due to the COVID-19 pandemic), the Big Ten sent at least eight of its women's basketball programs into postseason play. Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio State, Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washington were selected for the NCAA Tournament. Wisconsin has been representing the conference in the Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament (WBIT).</li><li
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 >For the second time in conference history, 12 programs earned their way into the NCAA Tournament, led by No. 2 overall seed UCLA. The 12 berths were the top mark among all Division I conferences, followed by the SEC (10), ACC (9) and Big 12 (8).</li><li
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 >The 12 selections tied the conference record for most teams chosen in one season, which was set during the 2025 NCAA Tournament. It is the 21st time in the past 25 years and 28th time in Big Ten history that at least six current conference members have been selected to compete in the NCAA Tournament. The Big Ten has had at least four of its schools selected for NCAA Tournament action every year since 1986.</li><li
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 >Northwestern named Carla Berube as its head women’s basketball coach on March 25. Berube spent seven years at Princeton, where she led the Tigers to 147 wins, five Ivy League championships and five NCAA Tournament appearances. The 26-year coaching veteran and seventh head coach in program history was recognized as the 2026 Kathy Delaney-Smith Mid-Major Coach of the Year by Her Hoop Stats.</li><li
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 >Penn State welcomed back four-year letterwinner Tanisha Wright as the seventh head coach of the Lady Lion basketball program. Wright returns to Happy Valley following a five-year stint coaching in the WNBA, including three seasons as the head coach for the Atlanta Dream. This will be the first NCAA head coaching role for the 19-year WNBA veteran. </li><li
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 >Rutgers hired Gary Redus II to lead the Scarlet Knights’ women’s basketball program. Redus is stepping into his first head coaching position after serving as an assistant coach at LSU for the past four seasons, which included the program’s first national championship in 2023. </li><li
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 >Top-seeded UCLA won its second straight Big Ten Conference Tournament title with a 96-45 victory over second-seeded Iowa. For the first time in program history, the Bruins won back-to-back conference tournament crowns after earning their first Big Ten Tournament Championship a season ago. The 51-point margin of victory broke the record for the largest in a Big Ten Tournament Final as the previous record was Iowa’s 33-point victory over Ohio State in 2023. The Bruins shot 63.5 percent (40-for-63), the highest field goal percentage by a team in any Big Ten Tournament game. UCLA also set the record for assists in any Big Ten Tournament game with 34 helpers and tied the record for most steals in the Big Ten Tournament Championship Game with 15. </li><li
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 >UCLA’s Kiki Rice was named the Jim and Kitty Delany Most Outstanding Player of the 2026 Allstate Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament after averaging 16.6 points and 5.3 assists over three games. Rice was joined on the Big Ten All-Tournament Team by teammate Lauren Betts, Ohio State’s Chance Gray and Iowa’s Ava Heiden and Hannah Stuelke. </li><li
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 >UCLA captured the 2025-26 Big Ten Women’s Basketball Championship outright for the first time in program history. The Bruins finished the regular season undefeated on their home court for the first time since their 2016-17 campaign and wrapped up their conference slate with a perfect 18-0 record. UCLA was just the fourth team in Big Ten history to go undefeated in conference play – Ohio State (1985), Purdue (1999) and Maryland (2015). </li><li
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 >HISTORY. MADE. The Big Ten is the first conference to ever have nine teams ranked in three different Associated Press (AP) polls in a single season – Dec. 8, Dec. 15 and Jan. 5. The Big Ten has had nine programs ranked in the AP poll four times, first achieved on Dec. 2, 2024, and is the only conference to have nine ranked teams since 1996. </li><li
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 >The Big Ten had a 170-33 (.837) combined record in non-conference play this season, which ranked second behind the SEC (197-24, .891) and ahead of the Big 12 (156-39, .800) and ACC (144-72, .667). </li><li
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 >Big Ten Conference Deputy Commissioner and Michigan women’s basketball great Diane Dietz was honored Jan. 11 with the lifting of her No. 21 jersey into the rafters at the Crisler Center. Dietz, who competed in Maize and Blue from 1979-82, was the program’s first 2,000-point scorer, a record that stood for more than 30 years. She still ranks fourth all-time in scoring with 2,076 points, a feat she achieved before the addition of the three-point line to the women’s game. Dietz is also second all-time in 30-point games (11) and in field goals made (940) and is only one of two players with at least 900 makes. She graduated as the Wolverines’ all-time leader in steals (229), a mark that currently ranks fourth in program history. Dietz was also a standout in the classroom and is one of only two Michigan student-athletes to have been inducted into the Academic All-America Hall of Fame (2009). The three-time Academic All-American was the first female recipient of the Big Ten Medal of Honor in 1982, which is considered the most prestigious honor a Big Ten student-athlete can receive. Dietz was inducted into the Michigan Athletics Hall of Fame in 1996 and is a member of the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame after her induction in 2019.</li><li
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 >The 2025-26 season was the final ride for storied Northwestern head coach Joe McKeown, who announced on March 24, 2025, that he intended to retire at the conclusion of the season. McKeown is the longest-tenured and winningest head women’s basketball coach in Northwestern history. This was his 18th season in Evanston and his 40th season overall as a head coach. </li></ul></div>

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2026 Big Ten Women's Basketball Postseason Central

Carla Berube Named Northwestern Head Women’s Basketball Coach

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