Big Ten Women’s Basketball has never looked more loaded. From Iowa's veteran core to USC's long-awaited return of JuJu Watkins, coaches and players across the conference spent Big Ten Basketball Media Days Presented by TIAA laying out exactly what it'll take to win in a league that doesn't let up.  

Every team will need an edge because this year's gauntlet schedule ends at the 2027 Allstate Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament in Las Vegas, with the hardware and a cemented spot in the national title picture on the line. Here's what the Big Ten's coaches and top players had to say as they look ahead to the 2026-27 season. 

Illini Keep Rising 

Head coach Shauna Green has built up the Illinois women’s basketball program — and the Orange and Blue faithful are buying in. The Illini have recorded four consecutive top-five attendance marks in the wake of double-digit home win seasons, back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances and the 2024 WBIT Championship. 

“[The players are] starting to understand that, of course, winning's the best thing ever, winning's fun,” Green said. "It’s hard, and then the grind of it, the process and what it takes to be elite is really, really difficult, but it's all worth it.” 

Last season, the Illini were the youngest team in the NCAA Tournament and in the Big Ten, and they’re hoping to take the next step this season. 

“I know I keep saying the same thing. That year taught us so much, but it's just the truth,” Green said. "It's hard to describe every single thing they learned because we learned probably hundreds of things each day. I learned about them, and they learned about me, and we learned about each other, and we learned about the league.” 

The key to their recent success? Berry Wallace, who’s returning for her junior campaign after leading the team with 18.4 points per game in 2025. Illinois will be even more dangerous this year as star sophomores Cearah Parchment (8.4 avg rebounds) and Destiny Jackson (5.17 assists per game) have a year of experience under their belts. 

“We have so much depth,” Wallace said. “I think it's really cool to get to go out there and compete with [teammates] every day. I think we're all just making each other better and just getting us ready for this year.” 

The program has set a new standard, and with 11 players and most of its scoring output returning, the group is ready to take the Illini to new heights. 

“We bought into this program because we believe in what coach stands for,” senior Jasmine Brown-Hagger said. “We talk about it all the time, and we chose to stay because of each other and because of coach... That’s why we have so much trust and belief in this program.” 

With plenty of experience under their belts, Green’s group is using last year’s heartbreak and turning it into fuel.  

“It's always really tough to end your season on a loss,” Wallace said. “I think growing from that and growing from our season in general... When you have six of those tough games, especially in the tournament, that's a little different. Just using that as a tool for the next year coming and especially next year in March... all the adversity that we faced as a team will help us [and] encourage us going forward.” 

Hoosiers Bring in Young Talent, Emphasize Maturity 

The Hoosiers face a bit of roster churn in 2026, with key contributor Shay Ciezki moving on to the WNBA and six other players entering the portal. But Indiana head coach Teri Moren reloaded her roster, signing the No. 8 recruiting class in the country powered by three four-star recruits: Naismith High School All-American GiGi Battle, McDonald's All-American Addy Nyemchek, and Ashlinn James (via ESPN). Added Australian center Zoe Jackson will hope to hold down the post. 

With the talented newcomers, Moren will rely on senior guard Lenée Beaumont and junior forward Zania Socka-Nguemen to set the standard. The returners each averaged 11+ points per game last year. They lead a Hoosiers group that wants to have more leadership throughout the season. 

Indiana just missed the NCAA Tournament in 2026, but Moren says that there’s a “different feel” going into this year. 

“We lacked maturity. I think we lacked leadership also,” Moren said. “I think we fixed that. I think we as a staff have been more intentional about meeting with our team bi-weekly right now... We talk about adversity and we talk about what leadership qualities we have to have. We talk about goal setting, we talk about standards and expectations.” 

“The leadership meetings, they're great conversations because you have hard, truthful conversations,” Beaumont said. “How are we going to stay together as one? How are we going to understand that it's for the betterment of the team? I think having these conversations now rather than in January when we drop our first Big Ten game — or something along those lines — will be game changing for us.” 

The Hoosiers are emphasizing the elevated culture both on and off the court. To Moren, that includes her team's behavior and how they approach everything thrown at them. Though last year was disappointing, the bar is still high in Bloomington. 

“I think it's pretty simple to say anything less than an NCAA Tournament run is a complete disappointment, truthfully for us,” Beaumont said. “That's just the bare minimum, that's the expectation. Last year obviously that didn't happen, but I'd like to think of that as a fluke. We're back on track... We're back to it, and we have the right pieces to do that.” 

The Return of the Hawkeyes 

Coming off its eighth straight NCAA Tournament appearance and a Big Ten runner-up finish, Iowa returns a trio of crucial contributors in juniors Ava Heiden, Chit-Chat Wright, and Taylor Stremlow. A unanimous All-Big Ten First Team coaches’ selection in 2026, Heiden finished her sophomore campaign with 13 20+ point outings. Wright buried 70 triples, shooting 44% from range, while Stremlow came through in key situations while leading the squad in assists (146).  

Joining that trio is 2025-26 unanimous All-SEC First Team selection Dani Carnegie, who averaged 17.6 points per game last season, and No. 6 overall recruit McKenna Woliczko — the second-highest-ranked recruit in program history.  

“[Coach’s] biggest priority is culture,” Heiden said. “Winning is a byproduct of that... I think that is what ultimately attracts this talent to our program.” 

With that kind of firepower, head coach Jan Jensen’s crew is poised for a run at the conference and national titles. The 2026 Werner Ladder Naismith Women’s College Coach of the Year Semifinalist enters her 27th season in Iowa City and her third at the helm.  

Key to Iowa’s success will be Wright’s ability to steer the ship at point guard. The junior stepped into the role in the middle of last season and feels more comfortable after a full summer of practice. “I found my voice last season,” Wright said. “I think my teammates can attest to that. A lot of that came from the confidence that I built on the court and off the court as well.” 

While the Hawkeyes have all the pieces to the puzzle, they’re still working through the best way to fit them all together. 

“[The new players are] all bringing something different to the table, and I think our staff is continuing to find those right combinations,” Jensen said. “If we stay patient and we see how we can utilize people, that is another big ticket to where this team can go.” 

Heiden is confident that it’ll all come together, as each newcomer has the character that the Hawkeyes need to get back on top. “All of them are here for the right reasons. Everyone’s a sacrificer and a hard worker, someone who is enjoyable to be around on the day to day. I think they really embody our culture and our values.” 

We’ll see how far that culture carries the experienced Iowa squad this season. 

Terps Combine Star Newcomers and Consistency 

Maryland has added a handful of weapons to its arsenal heading into the 2026-27 season. Not only do the Terps return All-Big Ten First Team honoree and leading scorer Oluchi Okananwa, but they boast the No. 7 recruiting class in the country (according to ESPN), headlined by five-star guards Jordyn Jackson and Trinity Jones. Plus, Bri McDaniel is back from injury, and All-ACC transfer Nunu Agara joins the fold, while Mimi Thiero (6-5) and Eva-Grace Yebila (6-4) will add size that adds another dimension to the Terps’ high-energy play. 

Eyeing a 17th straight NCAA Tournament appearance, head coach Brenda Frese and her crew are excited for what’s ahead. 

“It’s exciting,” Frese said. “We’re athletic, we’re fast, we’re a lot deeper. Having Bri McDaniel come back, I love the backcourt with her and Oluchi. Nunu Agara from Stanford is just beyond brilliant and graduated in three years. The veteran leadership those three are going to have for us... We're just really looking forward to the upcoming season.” 

Maryland has one of the best players in the conference in Okananwa, who was named to the Preseason All-Big Ten Team and thrived in year one in College Park. As the Terps look to take major strides this season, Frese said, “[Okananwa] will do anything to win. I think her biggest step, even now, is just her leadership. Putting the team on her back and really wanting to lead this team.” 

Okananwa leads a deep group with veterans that have played in multiple conferences, and one thing her and Frese agree on is their “fearless” freshman class. 

“[The freshmen show] a complete willingness to learn and to be coached,” Okananwa said. “We truly did get blessed and lucky with the freshmen that we have because they're just sponges. It's one of those things where they want to learn from the jump... It didn't really take much work to get them to want to play hard, to want to compete and to want to play for each other.” 

With all the optimism surrounding the program and a Maryland Athletics Hall-of-Famer leading the way, Terps fans have a lot to look forward to with the season approaching. No matter the contest, expect Maryland to be in it. 

“What people should be excited to see is a team full of competitors,” Okananwa said. “A team full of girls who understand that no matter who it is we're playing... we're going to give it our all because that's how much it means to us and that's how much we don't take any of it for granted.” 

Watch Out for the Wolverines 

Michigan returns all three of its top scorers from last season's Elite Eight squad, all coming from its junior class. 2025-26 All-Big Ten honorees Olivia Olson, Syla Swords, and Mila Holloway (currently out with an injury) combined for 45.8 points per game last season, meaning that the Wolverines will return over 55% of their 82.29 points per game (which ranked second in the Big Ten). And if that wasn't enough, head coach Kim Barnes Arico brought in Stanford transfer Courtney Ogden, who averaged 12.9 points per game last year and helped lead the Cardinal to the 2024 Pac-12 Championship. 

Between those four and returners Te'Yala Delfosse and Ashley Sofilkanich (the Wolverines’ fourth and fifth leading scorers from last season), the Maize and Blue's offensive power and postseason experience make them poised to play for a Big Ten title and plenty of March basketball. 

“We’re deep this year,” Swords said. “We could have a lot of people play different positions, so it’s going to be an exciting season.” 

The returning experience has allowed Michigan to advance much farther much faster, which could provide a huge advantage come tipoff. 

“We’re upperclassmen now,” Swords said of the returning core. “We’re not really learning on the go as we had to our freshman year. We know what coach wants [from us]... that makes us feel like we’re so much further along.” 

"It allows us to move faster and to take on new things,” Barnes Arico said. “[We can] continue to grow and continue to work on different things instead of the things we worked on in year one and year two. I’m trying to challenge them at another level now.” 

Olson spoke to Barnes Arico’s leadership and its pivotal role in developing such elite players. “She has more confidence in us than we do [in] ourselves, and she’s constantly pouring into us,” Olson said. “She knows how to coach each of us individually... and she wants to grow a relationship with us outside of basketball.” 

The Wolverines have a tough schedule and high aspirations. But, as Olson and Holloway said to Barnes Arico when they were getting recruited: “Bring on the best competition.” 

Spartans’ New Look 

Needing to replace three of its four leading scorers, Michigan State returns just six of its players from last year's 23-9, NCAA Tournament campaign, and has one of the youngest rosters in head coach Robyn Fralick’s tenure. McDonald’s All-American and five-star recruit Lilly Williams hopes to contribute early alongside redshirt junior Kennedy Blair (14.5 points per game) and Theryn Hallock (10.6 points per game). 

While the Spartans are still piecing together a puzzle featuring nine newcomers, coach described them as an "eager group" that's ready to learn. "They really like being in the gym,” she said. “There’s a youthful spirit that has been really fun to coach and be around.” 

Michigan State’s success will hinge on its freshmen’s ability to adapt quickly, but Hallock and Blair are both confident that they’re up to the task. “We have girls from France and from Australia, and none of them play like freshmen,” Blair said. “Compared to my freshman year, they are three years ahead of me. These girls are very talented, they know what they’re doing... These kids have played high-level basketball.” 

Hallock spoke to the buy-in from the newcomers off the court. “I was a little bit worried because you never know with team chemistry,” she said. “But we upperclassmen really took them under our wing... and we have a good sisterhood going on.” 

Fralick is confident that Hallock and Blair's nine combined years at MSU have helped reestablish their culture. “They know what we do, and they know how we do it,” she said. “Our core values are systematic in who we are, how we act, and what we believe. I think that has been a really good core in our program, especially in a world where there’s more new people. That has stayed consistent.” 

The other part of the Spartans’ identity that remains is the team’s versatility, which Hallock believes will be key to a breakthrough season. “We found a lot of ways to win last year through different players, and I think we’re going to have that again this year,” she said. 

“Coach did a good job in the transfer portal finding what we needed to find," added Blair. “Our floor spacing is way better this year, and it’s better for both me and Theryn with creating." 

The fresh optimism in East Lansing is high, and we’re excited to see it shine on the court this season. 

Momentum in Minnesota 

Coming off one of the best campaigns in program history and its first Sweet 16 appearance since 2005, the Minnesota Golden Gophers are rolling into the new year returning last season's top three scorers in Mara Braun, Grace Grocholski, and Tori McKinney (11+ points per game each). While they lost key contributors in point guard Amaya Battle and center Sophie Hart, the Gophers brought in a key offensive addition in Gracie Merkle, a standout post player from Penn State who ranked fifth in the conference averaging 19.2 points per game last season. 

Minnesota has an older roster with proven production and postseason experience that it hopes will pay off come March. Ever since arriving in Minneapolis, head coach Dawn Plitzuweit said the goal was to build a “player-led program.” 

“It was really challenging in year one because the players didn't even know what it was supposed to look like at that point in time,” Plitzuweit said. “As each year has progressed, our players have not only gotten more comfortable with it, they understand it. I think they could probably coach practices and probably break down film and see different things because they can do it in live action.” 

When speaking about Braun, Grocholski and McKinney, Plitzuweit said they have done a great job holding themselves to a high standard. She called the Gophers’ continuity going into this season “unbelievable.” 

“It’s so vital that we've had a chance to have the consistency within our roster and the consistency with the coaching staff,” Plitzuweit added. “All of it adds up to help us.” 

That shared accountability has created a culture where every player understands their value — a lesson McKinney saw pay off during last spring’s tournament push. 

“I think one of the biggest things that I've learned is how important each person is on the court or not on the court,” McKinney said. “Regardless of if you're on the court or not... you matter so much to our program and our team. You could definitely tell when it came to postseason.” 

McKinney struggled to describe the team’s comraderie, then smiled and called it “the power of friendship.” 

“I love the girls obviously that I've known for a couple of years, but all our newcomers too,” McKinney said. “It’s amazing, and I think our togetherness is going to really help us.” 

Huskers Hunting More 

Armed with a strong returning core led by All-Big Ten junior Britt Prince, Nebraska has the wind of three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances beneath its wings. Prince and classmate Amiah Hargrove combined for over 30 points per game last season (over 38% of the Huskers’ offense) and will be joined by Natalie Potts, who was the 2024 Big Ten Freshman of the Year before getting injured. That trio, combined with Logan Nissley’s sharpshooting (43.3% 3PT), has the potential to take the Huskers to the next level in 2026-27. 

Head coach Amy Williams, now entering her 11th season with the Huskers, appreciates the recent success the Huskers have had and hopes the leadership group brings them to the next level. 

“Winning a couple games in the NCAA Tournament over the last few years, I think being in four of the last five years, makes me really appreciate all the players that we've had that poured into making that happen,” Williams said. “Now this team is looking at that, and they're just not satisfied.”  

Williams pointed directly to her returning core when discussing the program's evolving culture. “From the seven returning players that we have in the program, they came into my office this past spring with kind of a poster of the standards that they wanted to have for the program.” 

While she didn’t go into all the standards, one stood out: embrace the hard. Led by Prince, Nissley, Hargrove, and Potts, Nebraska's veterans aren’t just inheriting leadership roles, but actively defining them. 

“I've had a lot of good experience being led by a lot of great leaders,” Nissley said. “Finding ways that I can be involved with things, whether I'm on the court, off the court, whatever that looks like, [I’m] just trying to pour into people.” 

Prince shares that same philosophy, pointing to team cohesion and daily progress as the foundation for the season ahead. With NCAA Tournament experience under their belt, the Huskers know what they are capable of. 

“I think staying together as a unit [will be crucial],” Prince said. “Just focusing on ourselves and getting better each and every day. Not repeating the things from last year, but growing from it... Staying together as a team will be really important as well.” 

The Wildcats’ Next Era 

The big story in Evanston is reputable first-year head coach Carla Berube, who comes to Northwestern after a seven-year tenure at Princeton. With the Tigers, Berube posted an outrageous .835 winning percentage en route to five conference titles, providing the mix of experience with academic pedigree and athletic success that the Wildcats were looking for. 

“We have some really great relationships,” Berube said. “They understand what was happening at Princeton and what will happen at Northwestern, culture and getting those athletes to buy into that and to see themselves winning games and winning championships and developing.” 

The former NCAA Champion at UConn not only overhauled the staff, but also brought in seven newcomers. After graduating leading scorer Grace Sullivan (21.4 points per game), Wildcat returners and rising stars Casey Harter and Xamiya Walton will look to be the bridge into the new era. 

“There's just a lot of new energy within the team,” Harter said. “It’s coming from the coaches, and it's being spread around the team. I feel like we're held accountable, and we have a high standard for each other. Then we also just have great leadership starting from the coaches and then to everybody on the team, so I think that's big for us.”  

With a fresh slate, a revamped roster, and an appetite to embrace the underdog role, the Wildcats are eager to rewrite expectations. 

“This is like a fresh start in that we aren't the same team as last year, player-wise, coach-wise,” Walton said. “I think that we're gonna be better and that teams should be ready to play us. We're excited to play teams and be that underdog, and we have a lot of eyes on us. We're excited for all of our hard work to be shown.” 

Cambridge Sisters, Buckeyes Stepping Up 

Of the Big Ten’s returning stars, Jaloni Cambridge’s name is near the top of the list. Cambridge and her sister Kennedy hope to take Ohio State to new heights after finishing fourth in the Big Ten and making it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2026. 

Jaloni’s 23.2 points per game led the conference last season, while defensive tower Elsa Lemmilä finished first in the league in blocks (posting one more than Lauren Betts). With rising stars Ava Watson, Kylee Kitts, and Bryn Martin ready to take on bigger roles, the Buckeyes will be tough to beat. 

While Jaloni’s play already speaks for itself, she’s been working on establishing her voice. She attributes much of her improvement to Kennedy. The senior says she has been intentional about making “our younger leaders speak more” during team meetings as she enters her final season. 

“[Jaloni] has a great basketball IQ, so she knows what we should be doing, and she understands our system well,” said head coach Kevin McGuff. “She’s also very well respected by her teammates. When she says something to them, it matters. She’s been working on that, stepping up and using her voice.” 

“[Kennedy] has really instilled that confidence in us,” Jaloni said. “[The upperclassmen] have so much trust and confidence in all of us... They give us the floor to speak, always backing us up. Then on the court, everyone’s stepping up. Everyone’s doing the little things.” 

In addition to the Cambridge sisters, McGuff is particularly excited to see how Lemmilä's work will translate. “I really like the off-season that Elsa had,” he said. “We need her to make a big jump because she’s extremely talented, and we need a little more of a post presence.” 

That strength down low will be critical if the Buckeyes are to achieve their goals, which Kennedy made loud and clear. 

“We are tired of getting to the second round [of the NCAA Tournament] and losing,” she said. “The hungriness, the eagerness, the wanting to do the extra work, trying harder... It’s personal for me... I’m telling you right now, we’re going to make it past the second round.” 

She said it with such intensity that anyone listening believed her. 

Ducks’ Dynamic Junior Class 

Following a 23-13 campaign that included upsetting No. 14 Maryland in the Big Ten Tournament's second round, Oregon enters the 2026 season with returning star duo Ehis Etute and Katie Fiso (28 combined points per game). With guard Sofia Bell out for the season due to injury, head coach Kelly Graves will rely on the two juniors to anchor a veteran lineup along with fifth-year transfer Mallory Heyer, who averaged nearly a double-double during her tenure with Minnesota. 

The Ducks boast the No. 14 recruiting class in the country (via ESPN) in addition to Australian transfer Hilary Fuller, who averaged 14 points per game last season at Belmont. The 6-2 junior will bolster Oregon’s post presence along with Etute, who was tied for the Big Ten lead with nine rebounds per game. 

Graves emphasized Etute’s importance to the team’s success as she goes into her third season in Eugene.  

“She’s got to make the next jump,” Graves said. “She’s got to face the hoop a lot more, and she’s really worked at it. She’s getting better at that mid-range jump shot. If she can knock that down consistently and somebody has to come out and guard her... she’s so quick and strong to the basket that now she becomes an entirely different player... I think she has made that next jump, but we’ll see very soon.” 

Overall, it’s the team’s competitiveness that Fiso thinks will be their edge this season. “We’re all just very relentless, very fierce, both on and off the court,” she said. “We have this competitive fire that we’re going to be carrying with us. Our practices are like dogfights... I think that will carry in a positive way when we start live action.” 

The duo is embracing their leadership roles, Etute with a “cool, calm, collectedness” and Fiso with her drive. “We want to be a team that pushes the pace this year,” Fiso said. “[We’re] instilling that in our younger guards, then reminding our veterans what our goals are and what we want to do with this team.” 

The Ducks are hungry for a breakout year, and establishing that type of desire starts long before they take the court. “That starts in recruiting. I only recruit players who love the game,” Graves said. “Usually, the players that play for me are really passionate about the game, and I am too... I think the team feeds off of that.” 

We’ll see how their competitiveness comes through this season; it could be “diving on the floor, getting the rebounds, and pushing pace,” if you ask Fiso. 

Nittany Lion Legend Takes the Helm 

Penn State alum Tanisha Wright enters her first year as head coach at her alma mater after a decorated playing and coaching career in the WNBA. One of the most iconic players in Nittany Lion history, Wright led PSU to back-to-back Big Ten titles, a program-high No. 5 ranking, four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances (2001-2005), the Sweet 16 (2003), and the Elite Eight (2004). The three-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year looks to bring her winning ways back to State College — this time, as a coach. She’s hoping leaders Petra Božan and Devyn Quigley will help her do just that. 

“I want to introduce a new era, the Lady Lion basketball way, and the tradition and success of Penn State,” Wright said. “Being able to teach all the things that I’ve learned throughout my journey of basketball is what I want to do with our players and impact them not just on the court, but as people.” 

Wright also brings on a coaching staff full of Nittany Lion ties. “Bringing back people who understood what [Penn State] was and what it is was really important... It’s a feeling. It’s an aura that they can just share from their lived experiences.” 

Wright’s blueprint for restoring Lady Lion basketball to national prominence immediately resonated with incoming talent. 

“Coach Tanisha had an amazing idea of building a new program, and she wanted to bring Penn State to the level where it belongs,” Božan said. “I was really thrilled with that idea, and I really wanted to help her with that. She's just an amazing coach with a lot of experience, so I'm really grateful that I have a chance to play at Penn State.” 

That buy-in flows both ways: a coach driven to return Penn State to national prominence, and a roster of players hungry to write its next chapter. 

“It’s definitely in the back of your mind that you're playing for a coach who graduated from this university and made so much history,” Quigley said. “It’s like, ‘Dang, are we going to live up to that?’ But it's a lot of trust we put into her because she knows what it takes. She played at all levels. She coached at the highest level. It's definitely a blessing to be able to be coached by her.” 

Boilermakers’ Big Changes 

Returning just four players from last year’s roster, Purdue head coach Katie Gearlds has brought six transfers and four international freshmen to West Lafayette aiming to improve upon a 13-17 (5-13 B1G) campaign. Among them are former UC Riverside star Hannah Wickstrom — who was fifth in the country averaging 23.4 points per game in 2025-26 — and Houston transfer Kyndall Hunter (9.2 points per game), who add a new dimension to the Boilermakers’ offensive production. Sharpshooter McKenna Layden leads the returning players after shooting 44% from beyond the arc last season. 

Geralds is hoping her players’ intelligence will be a differentiator this season, particularly from the incoming international student athletes. 

“It’s the IQ piece of it,” she said. “[In Europe], it’s a lot more practice, a lot more training... and there’s only 24 seconds on the shot clock. It has been refreshing for me to be around their ability to grasp concepts fairly quickly. And our American folks, we’ve got some higher IQ players.” 

Gearlds had high praise for the young women that accompanied her at Big Ten Basketball Media Days Presented by TIAA. “Hannah can really score the basketball, and she leads in this quiet way of doing everything at 100%. Kyndall’s going to come off a little shy, but she’s pretty vocal out there and has earned the respect of her teammates.” 

Though the team is relatively new, expect fireworks from the Boilermakers when they hit the court. 

“We’re an exciting team to watch,” Hunter said. “The way that we can go on runs, I think, is second to none. Just from practice, we have the flashes of [how] this is going to be an exciting season.” 

Win or lose, Purdue has a mentality that it wants to carry every game. 

“I want the fans to know that we are always gonna put up a fight, whoever we’re playing,” Wickstrom said. “We’re going to battle to the very end of the game and battle in every possession.” 

Scarlet Knights Embracing “Jersey Toughness” 

Rutgers is under new leadership in head coach Gary Redus II. Considered one of the best recruiters in the country, Redus comes to Piscataway from LSU, where he served as an assistant coach during the Tigers’ 2023 NCAA Championship season and back-to-back Elite Eight campaigns. In Baton Rouge, Redus brought in a pair of unanimous No. 1 classes in 2023 and 2025, but he’s brought his own identity to the Scarlet Knights. 

“For me, it's not trying to be like anybody else, and it's not trying to duplicate what anybody else did,” Redus said. “We want it to be our program. We want to put something out there that's going to make our fans proud and make our alums proud, and at the end of the day, we really just want to go out there and play as hard as we possibly can.” 

In his first year as head coach, Redus hopes to reignite the Scarlet Knight program behind strong transfer acquisitions in Mia Pauldo (Tennessee) and Tara Daye (Purdue) alongside four-star recruit Chikae Desdunes. Daye shot an outstanding 47.2% from the floor last season, while New Jersey native Pauldo averaged 10.4 points in her freshman campaign. 

"We’re bringing the New Jersey tough back,” Pauldo said. “We’re bringing that culture back. The fact that [Redus] was able to bring so many New Jersey hoopers back home in itself tells the fans that we care about it as well. We’re going to put everything we have on the court to show that we appreciate the love that they're showing us.” 

With top-tier local talent returning home and a competitive mindset, Redus and the Scarlet Knights are ready to make their presence felt across the Big Ten. 

“We know where our team is, and we know where our program is right now,” Redus said. “We understand that we're just getting started, but that isn't really an excuse for us. We expect to go out and compete every single night... We’re coming in with a chip on our shoulder.” 

New Bruins Crew Begins Title Defense 

Ready to defend its national championship, the 2026-27 UCLA squad looks very different from head coach Cori Close’s historic 37-1 roster. The Bruins lost their six core seniors to the pros — including 2026 Big Ten Player of the Year Lauren Betts and Kiki Rice — and turned to the transfer portal for help. Addy Brown (Iowa State), Elina Aarnisalo (North Carolina), Donovyn Hunter (TCU) and Bonnie Deas (Arkansas) all come in off double-digit scoring average seasons. Just as important as the Bruins’ talent last year was their chemistry, and UCLA must reestablish its culture with seven newcomers. 

“Last year, success leaves clues,” Close said. “We want to make sure we have those clues. I think we have a very proven roadmap that is easy for a group of people to buy into.” 

Close said that she’s been studying Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald and his way of responding after winning. The goal: commitment to the process. 

“I said to our team that I don't care what anyone on the outside says about who we have and what we did last year, [or] what we have moving forward,” Close said. “The most important thing is what [the players] see, feel, and are committed to. There are definitely specific things that that championship process taught us. But I also want this team to feel very free to write their own story in a way that's unique to them.”

Leading the way are Sienna Betts and Timea Gardiner. Betts enters her second year as the highest returning scorer for the Bruins, and Gardiner medically redshirted last season. While it’s a fresh look for the Bruins, it'll be Close and her five returners reenforcing their "standard of excellence.” 

“I do think we were able to reload, and I also think the growth of our returners has been immense,” Close said. “The way that Sienna Betts has moved into this new role, the way that Timea Gardiner has moved into this role, I mean, you name it, all of our returners have gone to another level. It’s not just the transfers and the freshmen that have allowed us to reload. It's also the committed growth of the returners that have put me in a position to say the standard is a standard.” 

The Bruins that went on a March Madness run and won a national championship are spearheading the program’s next chapter. Betts watched her sister Lauren, along with five other seniors, get drafted into the WNBA, and the UCLA family continues to grow. 

“Coach Cori’s process really does work,” Betts said. “It means a lot that people come back [each year]. That says a lot about our program and our coaching staff. These people want to come back and give support back into this program.” 

Gardiner, along with Betts, has been through the championship process, and now wants to show the world what the next generation of UCLA stars can do.  

“That was the biggest thing, learning to bond very quickly, and I think we've done that so far,” Gardiner said. “We have such a great team, such amazing personalities that really mesh super well, and Coach Cori does a phenomenal job recruiting. It's really just been super easy, to be honest with you. We're all just so committed to the process.” 

While the faces will be different, the commitment hasn't wavered in Los Angeles. 

She’s Back. 

All eyes will be on the Galen Center when Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year JuJu Watkins makes her long-anticipated return to the floor for USC after an ACL tear kept her out for the 2025-26 season. Averaging an obscene 25.6 points per game in her career, the superstar guard remains the engine driving USC’s national title ambitions.  

Hungry to regain the Trojans’ championship form, head coach Lindsay Gottlieb has built one of the most stacked rosters in the nation. Watkins will join Big Ten Freshman of the Year Jazzy Davidson (17.9 points per game) on the court for the first time, while ESPN's No. 1 recruit Saniyah Hall and top-ranked recruiting class come to L.A. The Trojans have all the weapons they need to reclaim its 2025 Big Ten Championship... and then some. 

“I’d argue this could be as impactful of a freshman class that this conference has ever seen,” Gottlieb said. “They have proven that they’re going to be really impactful players at a high level.” 

When asked about Watkins, Gottlieb spoke of her like a living legacy — a humble icon leaving an imprint not just on the court or her team, but on the women’s basketball world. “[JuJu is] humble. Hardworking. Graceful. Kind... When you navigate life through her lens, it’s unbelievable the magnitude that she has. People just recognize her all over the place, and she could not be more kind with everyone she meets. She understands the role that she plays in her community.” 

“It’s definitely really cool to know that people recognize me, but are also watching women’s basketball,” Watkins said. “That’s the importance and why I do what I do. To continue to bring eyes to our game. It’s really an honor.” 

Davidson — who led the Trojans in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks per game as a freshman — says their chemistry began building long before taking the floor together. 

"Obviously she's a winner, she's a great player, and she's an even better person,” Davidson said. “Being able to build the friendship that we were able to build [last season], it's a huge blessing going into next season."

Watkins knows there will be some “kinks” to work out at the start of this fall, but she studied during her time out last year and believes she’s “definitely a smarter player” that will make “better decisions.”  

“She’s really become our leader,” Gottlieb continued. “She always was from the moment she stepped on the floor... but she’s really grown into becoming a stalwart on our campus and what she means to USC and the players around her.” 

Coach wasn’t shy about the team’s goals: “We have aspirations to be playing in April.” 

By the sound of the Trojans’ rising and returning stars, they very well could be. 

Huskies’ Return Firepower and Trust 

Washington, coming off its best regular season record since 2016-17, returns its two top scorers in All-Big Ten First Team selection Sayvia Sellers and sharpshooter Avery Howell. The duo combined for 32.2 points per game last year, which represented over 45% of the Huskies’ offensive production. Add in returner Brynn McGaughy (9.3 points per game) and 6-6 NC State transfer Tilda Trygger (10.6 points per game), and Tina Langley’s squad has the pieces and experience it needs to contend on every stage this season. 

The Huskies enter 2026-27 eyeing their third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, and they believe preparation and multi-year chemistry will be key to completing the trifecta. 

“Continued growth is really important,” Langley said. “We’ve had consistency in our players and in our system, and when you get an opportunity to be on the floor and learn a system and learn each other, you know each other’s strengths and weaknesses. It’s easier to play the game, and you kind of know where someone’s going to be.” 

Sellers echoed the impact of those connections. “We really value relationships. When hard things come up, we have the trust and have put in a lot of work this summer, even with our new transfers and freshman. When it does get tough, we’ve built a trust to do hard things together.” 

It’s a long season, and the Big Ten slate is a grind. But Howell is confident that the Huskies have done the work necessary to perform on the big stage. 

“It just falls back on all the hard work that we've done and that we’ve put in after hours,” Howell said. “Nobody sees it. It’s just the quiet work that we’ve put in all summer... Being returners, we can see the growth there from last year.” 

To turn that growth to wins, Sellers and Howell will need to pave the way — something Langley already sees them doing. “These are two young women that will do anything to win the game,” she said.  

They'll have their first shot when the season opens next month. 

Badgers Keep Building 

Entering year two under head coach Robin Pingeton, Wisconsin looks to build upon its 2026 WBIT semifinal run with a reloaded roster. While the Badgers lost guard Destiny Howell, Pingeton brought in key talent in Iowa transfer Addie Deal, Belgium EuroCup team member Alicia Courthiau, and SoCon Player of the Year Caia Rose. Those additions, combined with the leadership of graduate student Shay Bollin and senior Kyrah Daniels (second on the team averaging 12.4 points per game in 2025-26), could help the Badgers pull off a handful of surprises this year. 

At Big Ten Basketball Media Days Presented by TIAA, Pingeton praised her squad’s work ethic. “We’ve got a team that does a lot more than what’s required,” she said. “From top to bottom, it’s a group of young ladies that wants to get in the gym. They want to watch more film. They want to get shots up before practice, after practice, before classes. It’s a really unified group in regards to being focused on our mission, what we’re trying to get done, and understanding the work it’s going to take.” 

Leading the way is Deal, whose postseason experience with the Hawkeyes will be "critical” to the Badgers this season, according to Pingeton. “[Deal is] just an incredible human being,” Pingeton said. “Great heart posture. Loves the game. Loves to compete... It’s intense. She competes, but she’s got the ability to lighten the mood... She’s excited to help us build something at the University of Wisconsin.” 

The Badgers retain some of its leadership core, led by Bolin and Daniels. Last year taught them how important every single moment is if they want to make a postseason run. 

“Getting to play deep into March is such a blessing, and so [we] really [want] to take the experience,” Daniels said. “Resilience is another word that comes to mind, just how we really came together as a unit, and we want to continue to build on that.”

That maturity, shared purpose, and added hunger gives Wisconsin a strong foundation as it looks to elevate from postseason contender to conference elite. 

“I think it's so cool that we had that postseason experience,” Bolin said. “Just to carry that with us now and understand that every single game matters and every possession matters. Going into this season, we just really want to focus on growth in every area, not only on the court, but just in who we are as people and how we show up every day. And I think if we can grow collectively in every area, then we'll have even more success this season.” 

Tipoff Coming Up 

From coast to coast, this conference is stacked with championship pedigree, hungry newcomers, and storylines that will carry all the way through March. Veteran squads are leaning on experience, first-year head coaches are rewriting playbooks, and rising stars are ready to announce themselves on the national stage.  

And the excitement doesn't stop there — the conference heads to the desert when Las Vegas hosts the 2027 Allstate Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament, giving fans on the western side of Big Ten country a chance to see the best in college basketball battle for the hardware. Buckle up: this could be one of the most competitive women’s basketball seasons we’ve seen.