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

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)

SENIOR HIGHLIGHTS: F Amina Muhammad | Oregon Women's Basketball

SENIOR HIGHLIGHTS: F Amina Muhammad | Oregon Women's Basketball (m4A9LJPOFBw)

Ohio State Buckeyes

Ohio State

Ohio State Buckeyes Women's Basketball team

SENIOR HIGHLIGHTS: G T'yana Todd | Ohio State Women's Basketball

SENIOR HIGHLIGHTS: G T'yana Todd | Ohio State Women's Basketball (_MPSZj78LOQ)

UCLA Women's Basketball

UCLA

@Char_legerwalks Lena was cash from long range this season, and she hit an iconic triple in our last home game! 💸🤑💸

#GoBruins https://t.co/aRThCKcNR2

Tweet 2057130694070165827

Minnesota Women's Basketball

Minnesota

Happy Birthday to our very own Hall of Famer, Lynnette Sjoquist!🥳

Sjoquist has been a mainstay on the Gopher Radio Network for 25 years!

#SkiUMah | #Gophers〽️ https://t.co/8eJ8QGB3Tl

Tweet 2057112454677635235

Minnesota Women's Basketball(378174762)

USC Women's Basketball

Pania tapping in with the Trojan Family ✌️ https://t.co/iHu9H6BPhU

Tweet 2056904626096796126

Our first newcomer has arrived 🤩

Welcome home, P ✌️ https://t.co/qcjr5DoFF8

Tweet 2056902244180906183

1️⃣ of 1️⃣.

Kiki Rice earned the Rose Gilbert Community Impact Award at UCLA’s Student-Athlete Awards Banquet last night. Congrats Ki!

#GoBruins https://t.co/REj3SHFLnK

Tweet 2056896611381661853

𝗕𝗿𝘂𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 🐻

Thank you for representing us the UCLA way, on and off the court. Congrats Lo!

#GoBruins https://t.co/hYTgK0c1gd

Tweet 2056897935611396191

Northwestern Women’s Basketball

Northwestern

She’s Back 🏠 

Thrilled to have former Wildcat @_maggielyon returning to the staff as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator! https://t.co/0Zd1G2wJxW

Tweet 2056880601563599113

Northwestern Women’s Basketball(41688179)

She’s Back 🏠 

Thrilled to have former Wildcat @_maggielyon retuning to the staff as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator! https://t.co/BVdYhaq31C

Tweet 2056880183034929163

Brainy Bruin 🧠📚

Amanda Muse was named to the UCLA All-Academic Team at last night’s Student-Athlete Awards Banquet!

#GoBruins https://t.co/z6ybs8Hw8v

Tweet 2056872678368411734

@museamanda33 It was hard to choose just one Charlisse assist, but this over-the-shoulder pass had us all out of our seats!

#GoBruins https://t.co/Ji0Bj1YsBo

Tweet 2056836180302586127

<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>

WNBA.png

B1G_News_Feed_Logo.svg

Indiana

Iowa

Maryland

Michigan

Michigan State

39 Big Ten Conference Alums on 2026 WNBA Opening Day Rosters

Lauren Betts.jpg

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

CSC_AAA_logo.png

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>

2026 WNBA Draft.jpg

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

UCLA WBB 3.png

UCLA Women's Basketball Captures 2026 NCAA Championship

UCLA WBB-1.png

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

Jaloni Cambridge.jpg

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

<div class="payload-richtext"><a href="https://bigten.org/wbb/">
 Big Ten Women's Basketball
 </a> | <a href="https://bigten.org/wbb/standings/">
 Big Ten Standings
 </a> | <a href="https://bigten.org/wbb/schedule/">
 Big Ten Schedule & Results
 </a> <a href="https://bigten.org/wbb/stats/">
 Big Ten Statistics
 </a> | <a href="https://stats.ncaa.org/rankings?sport_code=WBB&division=1">
 NCAA Statistics
 </a> <a href="https://stats.ncaa.org/selection_rankings/nitty_gritties/49189">
 NCAA NET Rankings
 </a> | <a href="https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/rankings">
 National Top 25 Polls (March 16-17)
 </a> <a href="https://img.boostsport.ai/boost-cms/Big%20Ten%20WBB%20Weekly%20Release%20040226-1.pdf">
 Big Ten Weekly Release - April 2
 </a> | <a href="https://bigten.org/wbb/article/59636/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">
 2026 Big Ten Women's Basketball Postseason Central
 </a><ul class="list-bullet"><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="1"
 >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
 class=""
 style=""
 value="2"
 >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
 class=""
 style=""
 value="3"
 >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
 class=""
 style=""
 value="4"
 >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
 class=""
 style=""
 value="5"
 >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
 class=""
 style=""
 value="6"
 >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
 class=""
 style=""
 value="7"
 >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
 class=""
 style=""
 value="8"
 >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
 class=""
 style=""
 value="9"
 >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
 class=""
 style=""
 value="10"
 >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
 class=""
 style=""
 value="11"
 >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
 class=""
 style=""
 value="12"
 >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
 class=""
 style=""
 value="13"
 >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
 class=""
 style=""
 value="14"
 >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
 class=""
 style=""
 value="15"
 >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
 class=""
 style=""
 value="16"
 >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
 class=""
 style=""
 value="17"
 >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
 class=""
 style=""
 value="18"
 >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
 class=""
 style=""
 value="19"
 >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
 class=""
 style=""
 value="20"
 >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
 class=""
 style=""
 value="21"
 >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
 class=""
 style=""
 value="22"
 >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
 class=""
 style=""
 value="23"
 >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
 class=""
 style=""
 value="24"
 >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
 class=""
 style=""
 value="25"
 >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
 class=""
 style=""
 value="26"
 >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>

WBB Postseason Central.png

2025-26 Big Ten Weekly Women's Basketball Central - April 2

Jazzy Davidson.png

USC's Jazzy Davidson Named WBCA NCAA Division I Freshman of the Year

UCLA WBB.png

No. 1-Seed UCLA Advances to Second Consecutive Final Four

2026 Big Ten Women's Basketball Postseason Central

NU Head Coach.png

Carla Berube Named Northwestern Head Women’s Basketball Coach

<div class="payload-richtext"><a href="https://bigten.org/wbb/">
 Big Ten Women's Basketball
 </a> | <a href="https://bigten.org/wbb/standings/">
 Big Ten Standings
 </a> | <a href="https://bigten.org/wbb/schedule/">
 Big Ten Schedule & Results
 </a> <a href="https://bigten.org/wbb/stats/">
 Big Ten Statistics
 </a> | <a href="https://stats.ncaa.org/rankings?sport_code=WBB&division=1">
 NCAA Statistics
 </a> <a href="https://stats.ncaa.org/selection_rankings/nitty_gritties/49189">
 NCAA NET Rankings
 </a> | <a href="https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/rankings">
 National Top 25 Polls (March 16-17)
 </a> <a href="https://img.boostsport.ai/boost-cms/Big%20Ten%20WBB%20Weekly%20Release%20032526.pdf">
 Big Ten Weekly Release - March 25
 </a> | <a href="https://bigten.org/wbb/article/59636/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">
 2026 Big Ten Women's Basketball Postseason Central
 </a> Big Ten. Big News.<ul class="list-bullet"><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="1"
 >Four Big Ten Conference programs are still in the midst of postseason play as the second week tips off Thursday with Wisconsin hosting Harvard in the quarterfinals of the WBIT at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+. </li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="2"
 >Wisconsin is on its first appearance in the WBIT, which is in its third year. The 32-team postseason single-elimination tournament has been dominated the Big Ten since its inception. Illinois won the inaugural event in 2024 for its first-ever postseason crown with a 71-57 victory over Villanova and Minnesota defeated Belmont, 75-63, to take home the title in 2025.</li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="3"
 >For the sixth consecutive year, the Big Ten Conference has sent at least two teams to the NCAA Sweet 16 as Michigan, Minnesota and UCLA are set to take 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
 class=""
 style=""
 value="4"
 >The Big Ten set a new conference record with 11 teams reaching the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The previous record (10) was set last season. </li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="5"
 >For the fifth time in the last six years, the Big Ten has collected double-digit wins in the NCAA Tournament and has set a conference record with 15 victories through the first two rounds (11 in 2004; 10 in 2005; 13 in 2023 and 2025). </li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="6"
 >Michigan is back in the Sweet 16 for the third time in program history under the guidance of head coach Kim Barnes Arico. The Wolverines, the No. 2 seed in the Fort Worth 3 Region, hosted the first two rounds at Crisler Center and topped Holy Cross and NC State. Michigan is seeking its first Elite Eight appearance since 2022. </li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="7"
 >Minnesota is headed to the Sweet 16 for the first time in 21 years and fourth time in program history. As the No. 4 seed in the Sacramento 2 Region, the Gophers earned the right to play at home in first two rounds and battled past Green Bay and Ole Miss at Williams Arena. Minnesota has only made one trip to the Elite Eight back in 2004. </li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="8"
 >UCLA is on its fourth consecutive trip to the Sweet 16 and seventh overall under head coach Cori Close. The Bruins, who earned a No. 1 seed, played host to the first two rounds at Pauley Pavilion as part of the Sacramento 2 Region and defeated Cal Baptist and Oklahoma State. A victory would push UCLA through to the Elite Eight in back-to-back seasons. </li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="9"
 >USC rookie Jazzy Davidson won the 2026 Tamika Catchings National Freshman Player of the Year Award on Wednesday, the U.S. Basketball Writers Association announced. She is the second Trojan in program history to earn the honor, joining teammate JuJu Watkins (2024). Davidson 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 joins 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. Davidson was also chosen as The Athletic’s National Freshman of the Year on March 6.</li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="10"
 >UCLA’s Lauren Betts was named as a finalist for the 2026 Jersey Mike’s Naismith Women’s Player of the Year and 2026 Naismith Women’s Defensive Player of the Year Awards, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced Wednesday. Betts repeated as an Associated Press First Team All-American, the first Bruin to earn the honor in consecutive seasons, and is averaging 16.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game. </li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="11"
 >Bruin head coach Cori Close was selected as a finalist for the 2026 Werner Ladder Naismith Coach of the Year Award on Wednesday. The 2026 Big Ten Coach of the Year has guided UCLA to the Big Ten regular-season and tournament titles and a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Close, who received the award in 2025, led the Bruins to a perfect 18-0 record in conference play as the fourth team in Big Ten history to go unbeaten in league action. </li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="12"
 >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
 class=""
 style=""
 value="13"
 >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
 class=""
 style=""
 value="14"
 >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
 class=""
 style=""
 value="15"
 >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
 class=""
 style=""
 value="16"
 >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.</li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="17"
 >The Big Ten has now had at least four of its schools selected for NCAA Tournament action every year since 1986. Current Big Ten programs have advanced to the NCAA Women’s Final Four 23 times (most recently by UCLA in 2025) and have won four national championships (USC – 1983, 1984; Purdue – 1999; Maryland – 2006).</li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="18"
 >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
 class=""
 style=""
 value="19"
 >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
 class=""
 style=""
 value="20"
 >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
 class=""
 style=""
 value="21"
 >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
 class=""
 style=""
 value="22"
 >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
 class=""
 style=""
 value="23"
 >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
 class=""
 style=""
 value="24"
 >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>

2025-26 Big Ten Weekly Women's Basketball Central - March 25

Jazzy Davidson-2.jpg

USC's Jazzy Davidson Named USBWA Tamika Catchings National Freshman Player of the Year

2025_26_AAD_Basketball.png

Illinois

2025-26 Big Ten Women's Basketball Student-Athletes Earn CSC Academic Recognition

PSU WBB Head Coach.png

Alumna Tanisha Wright Named Lady Lion Basketball Coach

<div class="payload-richtext"><a href="https://bigten.org/wbb/">
 Big Ten Women's Basketball
 </a> | <a href="https://bigten.org/wbb/standings/">
 Big Ten Standings
 </a> | <a href="https://bigten.org/wbb/schedule/">
 Big Ten Schedule & Results
 </a> <a href="https://bigten.org/wbb/stats/">
 Big Ten Statistics
 </a> | <a href="https://stats.ncaa.org/rankings?sport_code=WBB&division=1">
 NCAA Statistics
 </a> <a href="https://stats.ncaa.org/selection_rankings/nitty_gritties/49189">
 NCAA NET Rankings
 </a> | <a href="https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/rankings">
 National Top 25 Polls (March 16-17)
 </a> <a href="https://img.boostsport.ai/boost-cms/Big_Ten_WBB_Weekly_Release_031826.pdf">
 Big Ten Weekly Release - March 18
 </a> | <a href="https://bigten.org/wbb/article/59636/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">
 2026 Big Ten Women's Basketball Postseason Central
 </a> Big Ten. Big News.<ul class="list-bullet"><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="1"
 >For the 25th consecutive season (not counting the 2019-20 campaign that ended prematurely due to the COVID-19 pandemic), the Big Ten is sending at least eight of its women's basketball programs to postseason play. Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio State, Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washington will compete in the NCAA Tournament. Wisconsin will represent the conference in the Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament (WBIT).</li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="2"
 >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
 class=""
 style=""
 value="3"
 >This marks the fifth time a Big Ten program has garnered a No. 1 seed for the NCAA Tournament in the last four years. UCLA was the overall No. 1 seed a season ago and reached the program’s first-ever NCAA Final Four. </li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="4"
 >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.</li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="5"
 >The Big Ten has now had at least four of its schools selected for NCAA Tournament action every year since 1986. Current Big Ten programs have advanced to the NCAA Women’s Final Four 23 times (most recently by UCLA in 2025) and have won four national championships (USC – 1983, 1984; Purdue – 1999; Maryland – 2006).</li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="6"
 >Maryland leads all current Big Ten schools in NCAA Tournament appearances, with the Terrapins competing for the 33rd time this year. They are followed by Iowa (32nd appearance this year), while Ohio State earned its 30th NCAA bid this year, good for third-most among conference members.</li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="7"
 >Minnesota is headed back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018 and will be hosting its first games since 2005.</li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="8"
 >Wisconsin is making its first appearance in the WBIT, which is in its third year. The 32-team postseason single-elimination tournament has been dominated the Big Ten since its inception. Illinois won the inaugural event in 2024 for its first-ever postseason crown with a 71-57 victory over Villanova and Minnesota defeated Belmont, 75-63, to take home the title in 2025.</li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="9"
 >The Associated Press (AP) and the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) unveiled their All-America Teams. UCLA’s Lauren Betts received first-team honors and Ohio State’s Jaloni Cambridge made the second team. Michigan’s Olivia Olson and UCLA’s Kiki Rice earned spots on the third team. Indiana’s Shay Ciezki, USC’s Jazzy Davidson and Iowa’s Ava Heiden were honorable mentions for the USBWA, while Davidson, Heiden, UCLA’s Gianna Kneepkens and Maryland’s Oluchi Okananwa were honorable mentions by the AP. </li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="10"
 >Ohio State guard Jaloni Cambridge was tabbed as one of five finalists for the Dawn Staley Award (March 12). The award is given to a player that exemplifies the skills that Staley possessed throughout her career, ball handling, scoring, her ability to distribute the basketball and her will to win.</li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="11"
 >USC rookie Jazzy Davidson was named National Freshman of the Year by The Athletic on March 6, just the second Trojan to earn the award (JuJu Watkins, 2024). She wrapped the regular season leading USC outright in every major statistical category including points (17.9), rebounds (5.9), assists (4.3), steals (2.0) and blocks per game (2.1), making her the only Division I player to accomplish that feat this year.</li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="12"
 >The Big Ten Conference has multiple finalists for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame positional awards. UCLA’s Gianna Kneepkens is a finalist for the Ann Meyers Drysdale Shooting Guard of the Year Award, while teammate Lauren Betts is in the running for the Lisa Leslie Center of the Year Award. Michigan’s Olivia Olson and UCLA’s Gabriela Jaquez are both finalists for the Cheryl Miller Small Forward of the Year Award. </li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="13"
 >The Athletic (March 5) and ESPN (March 11) announced their All-America Teams, which featured the same trio of athletes from the Big Ten. UCLA’s Lauren Betts was a first team selection, while Michigan’s Olivia Olson and Ohio State’s Jaloni Cambridge were second team honorees for both outlets.</li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="14"
 >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
 class=""
 style=""
 value="15"
 >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
 class=""
 style=""
 value="16"
 >This week’s Associated Press (AP) poll featured seven teams from the Big Ten. UCLA held steady at No. 2 and was joined by No. 7 Iowa, No. 9 Michigan, No. 12 Ohio State, No. 17 Maryland, No. 18 Minnesota and No. 20 Michigan State. Oregon and Illinois received votes. </li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="17"
 >The same seven programs made an appearance in the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA)/USA Today Top 25 poll – No. 2 UCLA, No. 7 Iowa, No. 8 Michigan, No. 11 Ohio State, No. 16 Maryland, No. 18 Michigan State and No. 19 Minnesota. Illinois garnered votes. </li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="18"
 >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
 class=""
 style=""
 value="19"
 >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
 class=""
 style=""
 value="20"
 >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
 class=""
 style=""
 value="21"
 >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
 class=""
 style=""
 value="22"
 >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>

2025-26 Big Ten Weekly Women's Basketball Central - March 18

<div class="payload-richtext">ROSEMONT, Ill. - The Big Ten Conference recognized a total of 1,127 students on winter sports rosters who have been named to the <a href="https://img.boostsport.ai/boost-cms/Winter2026AcademicAllBigTenFINAL.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">
 Academic All-Big Ten Team
 </a> Wednesday. The list of honorees includes 83 men’s and 119 women’s basketball students, 98 men’s ice hockey students, 59 men’s and 146 women’s gymnastics students, 154 men’s and 251 women’s swim and dive students, and 217 wrestling students. To be eligible for Academic All-Big Ten selection, students must be on a varsity team (as verified by being on the official squad list as of March 1 for fall sports), have been enrolled full time at the institution for a minimum of 12 months and carry a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 or higher. Among the winter Academic All-Big Ten honorees, 30 had unblemished GPAs: Men’s Basketball  Jacob Koch, Iowa, Sophomore, Business Direct Administration, Iowa City, Iowa Women’s Basketball  Emma Shumate, Michigan State, Senior, Sustainable Parks, Recreation & Tourism, Dresden Ohio  Sammy White, Northwestern, Graduate Student, Sports Communication Cert, Timonium, Md.  Men’s Gymnastics  Jax Washburn, Illinois, Sophomore, Community Health, Portland, Ore.  Kellen Ryan, Penn State, Graduate Student, Engineering, Janesville, Wis.  Women’s Gymnastics  Chloe Cho, Illinois, Sophomore, Interdisciplinary Health Sciences, Santa Clarita, Calif.   Aurelie Tran, Iowa, Sophomore, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Repentigny, Quebec, Canada  Kaia Vanney, Iowa, Senior, Interdepartmental Studies, Redondo Beach, Calif.  Eva Volpe, Iowa, Junior, Public Health, Pearland, Texas  Sarah Moraw, Minnesota, Graduate Student, Human Rsrc/Indus Rel M H R I R, Holland, Mich.   Megan Steensland, Minnesota, Graduate Student, Sport Management M Ed, Chaska, Minn.  Mika Webster-Longin, UCLA, Sophomore, History, Richmond, Calif. Men’s Swim and Dive  Taye Ghadiali, Michigan, Graduate Student, Social Work, Warren, Mich.  Joe Polyak, Minnesota, Junior, Biochemistry B S, Iowa City, Iowa Women’s Swim and Dive  Mary Kate Cavanaugh, Indiana, Sophomore, Finance, Longmont, Colo.  Brady kendall, Michigan, Graduate Student, Pharmacy PharmD, Canton, Mich.  Letitia Sim, Michigan, Senior, Applied Exercise Science, Spanish Fort, Ala.  Jade Roghair, Minnesota, Senior, Neuroscience B S, Iowa City, Iowa  Rachel Bockrath, Ohio State, Sophomore, Biology, Wilmington, Del.   Delia Lloyd, Ohio State, Sophomore, Biology, Toronto, Canada  Caroline Frazier, Purdue, Sophomore, Environmental & Ecological Engineering, Spring, Texas  Elena Dry, UCLA, Junior, Molecular, Cell and Development Biology, Raleigh, N.C. Wrestling  Dylan Connell, Illinois, Graduate, MS: Management, Marengo, Ill.  Charlie Fifield, Illinois, Graduate, MS: Management, Rolling Meadows, Ill.  Taye Ghadiali, Michigan, Graduate Student, Social Work, Warren, Mich.  Andy Hampton, Michigan State, RS-Senior, Media Analytics, Rochester, Mich.  Drew Roberts, Minnesota, RS-Senior, Non Degree, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho  Lucas Cochran, Penn State, Graduate Student, Real Estate Law & Valuation, Perry, Utah  Patrick Adams, Rutgers, Graduate Student, Labor Studies and Employment Relations, Old Bridge, N.J.  Cale Anderson, Wisconsin, Graduate Student, M.S. Kinesiology, Viroqua, Wis.  </div>

Winter Academic All-Big Ten 2026

Men’s Hockey

Men’s Basketball

Men’s Swimming & Diving

Women’s Swimming & Diving

Men’s Gymnastics

Women’s Gymnastics

Wrestling

Big Ten Recognizes Winter Academic All-Big Ten Honorees 

<div class="payload-richtext">ROSEMONT, Ill. – Wisconsin will represent the Big Ten Conference after being selected to participate in the 32-team Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament (WBIT), which is in its third year. The Badgers are making their first appearance in the event and earned a No. 3 seed.Wisconsin is unable to host due to facility conflicts and will travel to face Oregon State on Thursday. The selection marks the Badgers’ first postseason appearance since the 2023-24 campaign when they competed in the WNIT.The Big Ten Conference has dominated the WBIT, having claimed every championship title. Illinois won the inaugural event in 2024 for its first-ever postseason crown with a 71-57 victory over Villanova. Minnesota defeated Belmont, 75-63, to take home the title in 2025.WBIT games will be played March 19 (first round), March 22 (second round) and March 26 (quarterfinals), with the highest-seeded teams hosting games. The WBIT semifinals and championship game will be played March 30 and April 1 at Charles Koch Arena in Wichita, Kan. ESPN will broadcast all WBIT games, with the preliminary rounds held on ESPN+. The semifinals will air on ESPNU and the championship game will air on ESPN2 at 7 p.m. ET.Game times will be announced at a later date.</div>

WBIT.png

Wisconsin Chosen for 2026 WBIT Field

<div class="payload-richtext">ROSEMONT, Ill. – For the second year in a row, a record-tying 12 Big Ten Conference schools received berths into the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship, the NCAA announced Sunday night.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).This marks the fifth time a Big Ten program has garnered a No. 1 seed for the NCAA Tournament in the last four years. UCLA was the overall No. 1 seed a season ago and reached the program’s first-ever NCAA Final Four.  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 First Four will be played Wednesday-Thursday (March 18-19) at four of the top 16 host sites, with the first-and second-round games being played on the campuses of the top 16 seeds from March 20-23. Tournament play then shifts to two eight-team regional sites in Fort Worth, Texas and Sacramento, Calif., from March 27-30. The four regional winners will advance to the NCAA Final Four, which will take place April 3 at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Ariz., before the NCAA Championship Game on Sunday, April 5.The 2026 NCAA Tournament will be televised live on the ESPN family of networks and can also be seen on the ESPN app.For second time in as many years, UCLA is the Big Ten’s automatic qualifier into the NCAA Tournament after the Bruins won their second straight Big Ten Tournament title. UCLA is a No. 1 seed and earned a spot in the Sacramento 2 Region. The Bruins will take on No. 16 seed Cal Baptist inside Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday. UCLA, which made it to the NCAA Final Four for the first time in program history last year, is making its 21st entry into the NCAA Tournament and owns a 29-20 record in the postseason event.Iowa will play host to the first and second rounds for the fourth time in the last five years. The Hawkeyes, who gained entry into their 32nd NCAA Tournament, secured the No. 2 seed in the Sacramento 4 Region. Iowa will host No. 15 seed Fairleigh Dickinson in the first round Saturday.For the second time in program history, Michigan will host the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament. The Wolverines garnered the No. 2 seed in the Fort Worth 3 Region as they embark on their 14th appearance. Michigan is slated to play No. 15 seed Holy Cross on Friday and has a 12-13 mark in the tournament.Ohio State is making its 30th NCAA Tournament appearance after claiming the No. 3 seed in the Fort Worth 1 Region. The Buckeyes are set to host at the Schottenstein Center and challenge No. 14 seed Howard in the first round. With a win, Ohio State would take on No. 6 Notre Dame or No. 11 Fairfield. The Buckeyes have a 33-29 postseason record.Minnesota is headed back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018 and will be hosting its first games since 2005. The Golden Gophers are making their 11th venture in the NCAA Tournament and has a 12-10 record. Minnesota earned the No. 4 seed in the Sacramento 2 Region and will prepare to welcome No. 13 seed Green Bay on Friday.Maryland earned the No. 5 seed in the Fort Worth 1 Region and is heading into its 33rd overall and 16th straight NCAA Tournament appearance. The Terrapins will travel to Chapel Hill, N.C., and take on No. 12 seed Murray State on Friday.  Michigan State will make its way to Norman, Okla., as the No. 5 seed in the Sacramento 4 Region to meet No. 12 seed Colorado State. The Spartans are looking to improve on their 20-20 record as they embark on their 21st overall appearance.Washington is making back-to-back showings in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since it made three straight trips from 2015-2017. The sixth-seeded Huskies, in their 21st appearance, are set to clash with No. 11 seed South Dakota State in Fort Worth, Texas. Washington is hoping to improve its 21-20 record and is part of the Sacramento 4 Region.Illinois, the No. 7 seed in the Fort Worth 1 Region, begins its journey against No. 10 seed Colorado in Nashville, Tenn. The Fighting Illini are back in the NCAA Tournament for the 11th time and hold a 9-10 record in the event.Oregon is in the NCAA Tournament for the 19th time in program history. The eighth-seeded Ducks will open action in Austin, Texas, in the Fort Worth 3 Region against No. 9 seed Virginia Tech. Oregon is 18-18 in tournament play.USC claimed the No. 9 seed in the Sacramento 4 Region and will face No. 8 seed Clemson in Columbia, S.C. The Trojans are headed to their 20th NCAA Tournament and advanced to the Elite Eight the past two seasons with a 35-17 mark in tournament action.Nebraska is heading to its 18th NCAA Tournament after notching the No. 11 seed in the Sacramento 2 Region as part of the First Four. The Huskers will see fellow No. 11 seed Richmond in Durham, N.C., on Wednesday as they look to build on their 9-17 tournament mark. Game times will be announced in the coming days.</div>

NCAA Tournament Selections.png

Big Ten Conference Ties Record with 12 Programs Headed to the 2026 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament

Big Ten Women’s Basketball News

Headlines

39 Big Ten Conference Alums on 2026 WNBA Opening Day Rosters

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

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

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

UCLA Women's Basketball Captures 2026 NCAA Championship

UCLA Outlasts Texas, Advances to National Title Game

Ohio State's Jaloni Cambridge Honored with Dawn Staley Award

Big Ten Weekly Women's Basketball Central - April 2

USC's Jazzy Davidson Named WBCA NCAA Division I Freshman of the Year

No. 1-Seed UCLA Advances to Second Consecutive Final Four

2026 Big Ten Women's Basketball Postseason Central

Carla Berube Named Northwestern Head Women’s Basketball Coach

Big Ten Weekly Women's Basketball Central - March 25

USC's Jazzy Davidson Named USBWA Tamika Catchings National Freshman Player of the Year

Big Ten Women's Basketball Student-Athletes Earn CSC Academic Recognition

Alumna Tanisha Wright Named Lady Lion Basketball Coach

Big Ten Weekly Women's Basketball Central - March 18

Big Ten Recognizes Winter Academic All-Big Ten Honorees

Wisconsin Chosen for 2026 WBIT Field

Big Ten Conference Ties Record with 12 Programs Headed to the 2026 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament

Edit