Big Ten Conference

Washington Huskies

Washington

Women’s Basketball

Big Ten

Washington Huskies Women's Basketball team

2025-26 Season in Review: Washington Women's Basketball | COUNTDOWN TO THE NCAA WOMEN'S TOURNAMENT

2025-26 Season in Review: Washington Women's Basketball | COUNTDOWN TO THE NCAA WOMEN'S TOURNAMENT (NWUgPC3fRbI)

East

Michigan State Spartans

Michigan State

Michigan State Spartans Women's Basketball team

2025-26 Season in Review:Michigan State Women's Basketball |COUNTDOWN TO THE NCAA WOMEN'S TOURNAMENT

2025-26 Season in Review:Michigan State Women's Basketball |COUNTDOWN TO THE NCAA WOMEN'S TOURNAMENT (M50T_QpvwMo)

West

Illinois Fighting Illini

Illinois

Illinois Fighting Illini Women's Basketball team

2025-26 Season in Review: Illinois Women's Basketball | COUNTDOWN TO THE NCAA WOMEN'S TOURNAMENT

2025-26 Season in Review: Illinois Women's Basketball | COUNTDOWN TO THE NCAA WOMEN'S TOURNAMENT (CER4mzPRQT4)

Pac-12 Conference

Oregon Ducks

Oregon

Oregon Ducks Women's Basketball team

2025-26 Season in Review: Oregon Women's Basketball | COUNTDOWN TO THE NCAA WOMEN'S TOURNAMENT

2025-26 Season in Review: Oregon Women's Basketball | COUNTDOWN TO THE NCAA WOMEN'S TOURNAMENT (LBCwO6nUWI0)

Maryland Terrapins

Maryland

Maryland Terrapins Women's Basketball team

2025-26 Season in Review: Maryland Women's Basketball | COUNTDOWN TO THE NCAA WOMEN'S TOURNAMENT

2025-26 Season in Review: Maryland Women's Basketball | COUNTDOWN TO THE NCAA WOMEN'S TOURNAMENT (SG3gOQkGgoY)

Minnesota Golden Gophers

Minnesota

Minnesota Golden Gophers Women's Basketball team

Minnesota First Time in the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament Since 2018 | B1G Today

Minnesota First Time in the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament Since 2018 | B1G Today (5qUo5SZ60rE)

Ohio State Buckeyes

Ohio State

Ohio State Buckeyes Women's Basketball team

Kennedy Cambridge Shoe Collection | Ohio State Women's Basketball

Kennedy Cambridge Shoe Collection | Ohio State Women's Basketball (7xM-YNTWIOM)

Kneepkens In-Bound Play vs Washington | UCLA Women's Basketball

UCLA Bruins

UCLA

UCLA Bruins Women's Basketball team

Kneepkens In-Bound Play vs Washington | UCLA Women's Basketball (45RKoecn9Ng)

Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Rutgers

Rutgers Scarlet Knights Women's Basketball team

Gary Redus Announced as the New Head Coach for Rutgers Women's Basketball | B1G Today

Gary Redus Announced as the New Head Coach for Rutgers Women's Basketball | B1G Today (QtQ91OTkoo0)

Iowa Hawkeyes

Iowa

Iowa Hawkeyes Women's Basketball team

Cori Close on UCLA's dominant 51-point win over Top-10 Iowa | Big Ten Women's Basketball

Cori Close on UCLA's dominant 51-point win over Top-10 Iowa | Big Ten Women's Basketball (CMgovKqmeVk)

Nebraska WBB

Nebraska

team wins in March &gt;&gt;&gt; https://t.co/Ck1T5493ul

Tweet 2034447021742915685

Nebraska WBB(64736595)

WINNERS STAY BABY 👏 https://t.co/q6g53XRDRd

Tweet 2034437568679313899

Big Ten Women's Basketball

That's 2️⃣0️⃣ for Britt Prince 🤩

📺 ESPN2 

#B1GWBB x @HuskerWBB https://t.co/rYTIWWbCt8

Tweet 2034430738418872393

YOU BETCHA LO 🤯

📺 tune-in to ESPN 2 https://t.co/iofBWU2Y5u

Tweet 2034424562931138982

a force down low 💪 https://t.co/DqOOvkPHAs

Tweet 2034425441033801897

Call drains another  ☔️ 

📺 tune-in ESPN 2 https://t.co/Lq44buB0BP

Tweet 2034416069822075357

nothing comes easy. 

close battle at the half https://t.co/lzMT1Od83R

Tweet 2034419110365352412

The Huskers are on a three-point heater 🔥

📺 ESPN2

#B1GWBB x @HuskerWBB https://t.co/6uyCzpq9jD

Tweet 2034416664440119406

Minnesota Women's Basketball

Adding the final touches✨

Tickets: https://t.co/V5KrNi7hfm
Postseason Central: https://t.co/yBJsaI8y1L

#SkiUMah | #Gophers〽️ https://t.co/g4l7rMwmwm

Tweet 2034419583978024969

Minnesota Women's Basketball(378174762)

Washington Women's Basketball

The Dawgs have arrived! https://t.co/EwwXRZksjZ

Tweet 2034401425157931072

<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
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 >For the 25th consecutive season (not counting the 2019-20 campaign that ended prematurely due to the COVID-19 pandemic), the Big Ten 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
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 >For the second time in conference history, 12 programs earned their way into the NCAA Tournament, led by No. 2 overall seed UCLA. The 12 berths were the top mark among all Division I conferences, followed by the SEC (10), ACC (9) and Big 12 (8).</li><li
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 >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
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 >The 12 selections tied the conference record for most teams chosen in one season, which was set during the 2025 NCAA Tournament. It is the 21st time in the past 25 years and 28th time in Big Ten history that at least six current conference members have been selected to compete in the NCAA Tournament.</li><li
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 >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
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 >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
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 >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
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 >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
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 >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
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 >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
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 >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
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 >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
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 >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
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 >Top-seeded UCLA won its second straight Big Ten Conference Tournament title with a 96-45 victory over second-seeded Iowa. For the first time in program history, the Bruins won back-to-back conference tournament crowns after earning their first Big Ten Tournament Championship a season ago. The 51-point margin of victory broke the record for the largest in a Big Ten Tournament Final as the previous record was Iowa’s 33-point victory over Ohio State in 2023. The Bruins shot 63.5 percent (40-for-63), the highest field goal percentage by a team in any Big Ten Tournament game. UCLA also set the record for assists in any Big Ten Tournament game with 34 helpers and tied the record for most steals in the Big Ten Tournament Championship Game with 15. </li><li
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 >UCLA’s Kiki Rice was named the Jim and Kitty Delany Most Outstanding Player of the 2026 Allstate Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament after averaging 16.6 points and 5.3 assists over three games. Rice was joined on the Big Ten All-Tournament Team by teammate Lauren Betts, Ohio State’s Chance Gray and Iowa’s Ava Heiden and Hannah Stuelke. </li><li
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 >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
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 >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
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 >UCLA captured the 2025-26 Big Ten Women’s Basketball Championship outright for the first time in program history. The Bruins finished the regular season undefeated on their home court for the first time since their 2016-17 campaign and wrapped up their conference slate with a perfect 18-0 record. UCLA was just the fourth team in Big Ten history to go undefeated in conference play – Ohio State (1985), Purdue (1999) and Maryland (2015). </li><li
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 >HISTORY. MADE. The Big Ten is the first conference to ever have nine teams ranked in three different Associated Press (AP) polls in a single season – Dec. 8, Dec. 15 and Jan. 5. The Big Ten has had nine programs ranked in the AP poll four times, first achieved on Dec. 2, 2024, and is the only conference to have nine ranked teams since 1996. </li><li
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 >The Big Ten had a 170-33 (.837) combined record in non-conference play this season, which ranked second behind the SEC (197-24, .891) and ahead of the Big 12 (156-39, .800) and ACC (144-72, .667). </li><li
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 >Big Ten Conference Deputy Commissioner and Michigan women’s basketball great Diane Dietz was honored Jan. 11 with the lifting of her No. 21 jersey into the rafters at the Crisler Center. Dietz, who competed in Maize and Blue from 1979-82, was the program’s first 2,000-point scorer, a record that stood for more than 30 years. She still ranks fourth all-time in scoring with 2,076 points, a feat she achieved before the addition of the three-point line to the women’s game. Dietz is also second all-time in 30-point games (11) and in field goals made (940) and is only one of two players with at least 900 makes. She graduated as the Wolverines’ all-time leader in steals (229), a mark that currently ranks fourth in program history. Dietz was also a standout in the classroom and is one of only two Michigan student-athletes to have been inducted into the Academic All-America Hall of Fame (2009). The three-time Academic All-American was the first female recipient of the Big Ten Medal of Honor in 1982, which is considered the most prestigious honor a Big Ten student-athlete can receive. Dietz was inducted into the Michigan Athletics Hall of Fame in 1996 and is a member of the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame after her induction in 2019.</li><li
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 >The 2025-26 season was the final ride for storied Northwestern head coach Joe McKeown, who announced on March 24, 2025, that he intended to retire at the conclusion of the season. McKeown is the longest-tenured and winningest head women’s basketball coach in Northwestern history. This was his 18th season in Evanston and his 40th season overall as a head coach. </li></ul></div>

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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

Southern California

Wisconsin

Purdue

Penn State

Northwestern

Michigan

Indiana

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 

2026 Big Ten Women's Basketball Postseason Central

<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>

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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>

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

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Rutgers Tabs Gary Redus II To Lead Women’s Basketball Program

<div class="payload-richtext">INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Top-seeded UCLA won its second straight Big Ten Conference Tournament title with a 96-45 victory over second-seeded Iowa on Sunday afternoon inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. 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. UCLA also eclipsed 30 wins for the second consecutive season (31-1).The 51-point margin of victory broke the record for the largest in a Big Ten Tournament Final. 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. With Sunday’s win, the Bruins clinched the Big Ten’s automatic berth into the 2026 NCAA Tournament. The full 68-team field for this year’s tournament will be announced Sunday, March 15 at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.It was an all-around effort for UCLA as six players finished in double figures. Graduate student Gianna Kneepkens paced the Bruins with 19 points, followed by senior Kiki Rice with 15 points and a team-high eight assists. Rookie Sienna Betts chipped in 14 points while shooting a near perfect 7-for-8 from the floor and added seven rebounds.Ava Heiden led the Hawkeyes with 15 points and four rebounds. Teammate Addie Deal tallied 11 points and three assists in the game.For the second year in a row, the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds met in the championship game. UCLA is the first top-seeded team to win the Big Ten Tournament since 2021.Rice was chosen by the media as the tournament’s Jim and Kitty Delany Most Outstanding Player. Rice and Heiden were joined by UCLA’s Lauren Betts, Iowa’s Hannah Stuelke and Ohio State’s Chance Gray on the Big Ten’s All-Tournament Team.</div>

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UCLA Wins 2026 Allstate Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament Crown

2025-26 Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament 

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2025-26 The Athletic Selects USC’s Jazzy Davidson As National Freshman of the Year

<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://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/rankings">
 National Top 25 Polls (March 2-3)
 </a><a href="https://img.boostsport.ai/boost-cms/Big_Ten_WBB_Weekly_Release_030426.pdf">
 Big Ten Weekly Release - March 4
 </a>Big Ten. Big News.<ul class="list-bullet"><li
 class=""
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 >The Big Ten Conference announced the full bracket for the 2026 Allstate Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament, which will take place March 4-8 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. </li><li
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 >Single-session tickets are still on sale and available for $23.50 to $54.45, depending on the session (prices are inclusive of all Ticketmaster and facility fees). All seating is reserved for the 2026 Allstate Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament. Fans are encouraged to visit the official Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament website (bigten.org/WBBT) and follow Big Ten Women’s Basketball on X (@B1GWBBall) for more information on the 2026 Allstate Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament.</li><li
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 >All 14 games of this year’s Big Ten Tournament will be broadcast live to a national audience, starting with the opening round being streamed on Peacock. The Big Ten Network (and the FOX Sports app) will broadcast the second round through semifinal games from Thursday to Saturday. The championship game on Sunday, March 8 will tip off at 2:15 p.m. ET on CBS and will be the third time the network has carried the title game.</li><li
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 >UCLA captured the 2025-26 Big Ten Women’s Basketball Championship outright for the first time in program history after defeating Wisconsin, 80-60. The Bruins finished the regular season undefeated on their home court for the first time since their 2016-17 campaign.</li><li
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 >UCLA finished its conference slate with a perfect 18-0 record to lock in the No. 1 seed for the Big Ten Tournament. The Bruins are just the fourth team in Big Ten history to go undefeated in conference play – Ohio State (1985), Purdue (1999) and Maryland (2015). </li><li
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 >The NCAA had its final top 16 reveal on Sunday, which included seven Big Ten teams. UCLA was tabbed as the overall No. 2 seed, while No. 6 Iowa and No. 8 Michigan rounded out the top 10. Maryland came in at No. 13, followed by No. 14 Michigan State, No. 15 Minnesota and No. 16 Ohio State. The Hawkeyes and Wolverines are projected to be 2-seeds, while the Terrapins, Spartans, Golden Gophers and Buckeyes are projected 4-seeds. </li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="7"
 >The Big Ten Conference announced its 2025-26 women’s basketball all-conference teams and individual award recipients Tuesday live on the Big Ten Network’s “B1G Today” show. UCLA senior center Lauren Betts pulled double duty after being selected as the Big Ten Player of the Year and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year by both the conference coaches and a select panel of Big Ten media members. USC guard Jazzy Davidson was voted Big Ten Freshman of the Year, while UCLA graduate forward Angela Dugalić garnered Big Ten Sixth Player of the Year laurels. UCLA’s Cori Close was tabbed as the Big Ten Coach of the Year.</li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="8"
 >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. 8 Michigan, No. 9 Iowa, No. 11 Ohio State, No. 14 Maryland, No. 18 Michigan State and No. 19 Minnesota. Washington and Illinois received votes. </li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="9"
 >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 Michigan, No. 9 Iowa, No. 11 Ohio State, No. 13 Maryland, No. 17 Michigan State and No. 20 Minnesota. Washington garnered votes. </li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="10"
 >The Big Ten currently leads all Division I conferences in assists (16.6 apg), field goal percentage (.454), three-point field goal percentage (.344) and free throw percentage (.740), while ranking second in scoring (75.4 ppg). </li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="11"
 >Through games on March 2, the Big Ten boasts nine teams in the top 25 and 12 in the top 50 of the NCAA’s NET Rankings, the top marks among all conferences. UCLA paces the Big Ten contingent at No. 2, followed by No. 6 Michigan, No. 8 Minnesota, No. 9 Iowa, No. 14 Maryland, No. 15 Michigan State, No. 17 Ohio State, No. 22 USC, No. 25 Nebraska, No. 26 Oregon, No. 28 Washington and No. 32 Illinois. </li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="12"
 >Through Tuesday’s contests, Big Ten teams have combined to win 74 Quad 1 games, the most among Division I conferences, with 12 teams posting at least two Quad 1 wins. UCLA leads the country with 14 Quad 1 victories and the Big Ten is the only conference that has seven teams with at least five Quad 1 wins. </li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="13"
 >Every day is a battle as the Big Ten has 14 teams in the top 25 for NET strength of schedule – UCLA (1st), USC (2nd), Michigan (5th), Iowa (6th), Penn State (8th), Ohio State (11th), Wisconsin (12th), Northwestern (13th), Michigan State (15th), Rutgers (16th), Nebraska (17th), Washington (19th), Purdue (21st) and Minnesota (25th).</li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="14"
 >Illinois leads the country shooting 81.6 percent from the free throw line. UCLA ranks second in assist/turnover ratio (1.72), assists per game (22.1), field goal percentage (.510) and rebound margin (15.8). </li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="15"
 >Offensive production continues to be the calling card of the Big Ten Conference. The league has eight teams ranked in the top 25 in field goal percentage – UCLA (2nd – .510), Iowa (6th – .498), Michigan State (11th – .482), Nebraska (12th – .478), Michigan (14th – .477), Indiana (15th – .474), Ohio State (23rd – .462) and Penn State (24th – .461).</li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="16"
 >Sharing the rock comes naturally for the Big Ten with seven teams featured in the top 25 rankings for assists per game, including five in the top 15 – UCLA (2nd – 22.1), Iowa (3rd – 21.2), Michigan State (10th – 18.4), Nebraska (12th – 18.3), Ohio State (13th – 18.1), Michigan (17th – 17.6) and Northwestern (19th – 17.5). </li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="17"
 >The Big Ten has consistently ranked among the top three conferences in women’s basketball attendance for the past three decades and that trend has continued into the 2025-26 season. Currently, 15 Big Ten schools rank among the top 40 in the nation in average attendance, including 10 in the top 25, with both figures leading all Division I conferences. Iowa is second nationally in attendance (14,998 fans per game), followed by Indiana (9th – 7,866), Maryland (10th – 7,213), Ohio State (12th – 5,930), Illinois (14th – 5,766), Nebraska (15th – 5,701), UCLA (18th – 5,320), Purdue (20th – 5,125), Oregon (22nd – 5,066) and USC (23rd – 4,750).</li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="18"
 >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="19"
 >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="20"
 >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="21"
 >The 2025-26 season will be the final ride for storied Northwestern head coach Joe McKeown, who announced on March 24 that he intends to retire at the conclusion of season. McKeown is the longest-tenured and winningest head women’s basketball coach in Northwestern history. This is his 18th season in Evanston and his 40th season overall as a head coach. </li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="22"
 >Each Big Ten institution played an 18-game conference schedule for the seventh time in eight seasons. During the conference season, each program played one school both home and away, while facing 16 teams once. Of the single-play opponents, institutions faced eight at home and eight on the road.</li></ul></div>

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2026 Allstate Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament Tips Off Wednesday

<div class="payload-richtext">ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference announced its 2025-26 women’s basketball all-conference teams and individual award recipients Tuesday live on the Big Ten Network’s “B1G Today” show.UCLA senior center Lauren Betts pulled double duty after being selected as the Big Ten Player of the Year and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year by both the conference coaches and a select panel of Big Ten media members. USC guard Jazzy Davidson was voted Big Ten Freshman of the Year, while UCLA graduate forward Angela Dugalić garnered Big Ten Sixth Player of the Year laurels. UCLA’s Cori Close was tabbed as the Big Ten Coach of the Year.Betts, who is included on various watch lists for national player of the year awards, repeated as the conference’s defensive player of the year after earning her first postseason accolade last year. The senior helped the Bruins capture their first-ever Big Ten regular-season title with a perfect 18-0 record. Betts earned her first Big Ten Player of the Year nod after averaging a team-leading 16.7 points while shooting 56.8 percent from the field and 8.6 rebounds per game. She is also second in the league with 11 double-double performances this season. Davidson is the first Trojan to be named Big Ten Freshman of the Year. She was voted Big Ten Freshman of the Week seven times and was the USBWA National Tamika Catchings Freshman of the Week on four occasions. Davidson is the only Division I player this season leading their team in points per game (17.9), rebounds per game (5.9), assists per game (4.3), blocks per game (2.0) and steals per game (2.0).For the second year in a row, the Big Ten Sixth Player of the Year is a Bruin. Dugalić appeared in 28 games for UCLA this season, averaging 9.1 points and 5.2 rebounds. The Des Plaines, Ill., native is shooting 52.1 percent from the floor and 81.1 percent from the charity stripe.After sweeping the national coach of the year awards a season ago, Close received her first accolade from the Big Ten Conference this year. Under her guidance, UCLA became the fourth program in Big Ten history to be undefeated in conference play, joining Ohio State (1985), Purdue (1999) and Maryland (2015). She has led the Bruins to a 28-1 overall record and the No. 1 seed in the 2026 Allstate Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament. Close has steered her team to 10 wins over ranked opponents and a No. 2 ranking in the national polls. The Bruins also own 14 Quad 1 wins in the NCAA NET Rankings, the top mark in the country, while standing second in assists/turnover ratio (1.72), assists per game (22.1), field goal percentage (.510) and rebounding margin (15.8). Close is also on the watch list for Werner Ladder Naismith Women’s College Coach of the Year.Betts, Davidson, Illinois sophomore forward Berry Wallace, Iowa sophomore center Ava Heiden, Michigan sophomore guard Olivia Olson, Ohio State sophomore guard Jaloni Cambridge, UCLA senior guard Kiki Rice and Washington junior guard Sayvia Sellers were unanimous first-team All-Big Ten selections by the coaches, while Betts, Davidson, Cambridge and Rice were unanimous honorees by the media.The Big Ten also recognized 18 Sportsmanship Award recipients in the sport of women’s basketball on Tuesday, one from each conference institution. The students chosen are individuals who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. These students must be in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting.The complete list of all-conference honorees and individual award winners is below.2025-26 Big Ten Women’s Basketball Honors As selected by Big Ten coachesPLAYER OF THE YEAR Lauren Betts, UCLADEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR Lauren Betts, UCLAFRESHMAN OF THE YEAR Jazzy Davidson, USCSIXTH PLAYER OF THE YEAR Angela Dugalić, UCLACOACH OF THE YEAR Cori Close, UCLAFIRST TEAM BERRY WALLACE, ILLINOIS AVA HEIDEN, IOWA Oluchi Okananwa, Maryland OLIVIA OLSON, MICHIGAN Syla Swords, Michigan JALONI CAMBRIDGE, OHIO STATE LAUREN BETTS, UCLA KIKI RICE, UCLA JAZZY DAVIDSON, USC SAYVIA SELLERS, WASHINGTONSECOND TEAM SHAY CIEZKI, INDIANA Hannah Stuelke, Iowa Kennedy Blair, Michigan State GRACE VANSLOOTEN, MICHIGAN STATE Grace Grocholski, Minnesota Tori McKinney, Minnesota BRITT PRINCE, NEBRASKA Katie Fiso, Oregon Gabriela Jaquez, UCLA Kara Dunn, USCTHIRD TEAM Chit-Chat Wright, Iowa Yarden Garzon, Maryland Amaya Battle, Minnesota Grace Sullivan, Northwestern Kiyomi McMiller, Penn StateHONORABLE MENTION* Cearah Parchment, Illinois Mila Holloway, Michigan Mara Braun, Minnesota Chance Gray, Ohio State Gianna Kneepkens, UCLA Avery Howell, WashingtonALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM* Kylie Feuerbach, Iowa Oluchi Okananwa, Maryland Brooke Quarles Daniels, Michigan Amaya Battle, Minnesota Tori McKinney, Minnesota Kennedy Cambridge, Ohio State LAUREN BETTS, UCLA Kiki Rice, UCLA Jazzy Davidson, USC Kennedy Smith, USCALL-FRESHMAN TEAM DESTINY JACKSON, ILLINOIS CEARAH PARCHMENT, ILLINOIS Maya Makalusky, Indiana Addie Deal, Iowa Addi Mack, Maryland Sienna Betts, UCLA JAZZY DAVIDSON, USC BRYNN MCGAUGHY, WASHINGTON2025-26 Big Ten Women’s Basketball Honors As selected by Big Ten mediaPLAYER OF THE YEAR Lauren Betts, UCLADEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR Lauren Betts, UCLAFRESHMAN OF THE YEAR Jazzy Davidson, USCSIXTH PLAYER OF THE YEAR Angela Dugalić, UCLACOACH OF THE YEAR Cori Close, UCLAFIRST TEAM Shay Ciezki, Indiana Ava Heiden, Iowa Oluchi Okananwa, Maryland Olivia Olson, Michigan Syla Swords, Michigan Britt Prince, Nebraska JALONI CAMBRIDGE, OHIO STATE LAUREN BETTS, UCLA KIKI RICE, UCLA JAZZY DAVIDSON, USCSECOND TEAM Berry Wallace, Illinois Hannah Stuelke, Iowa Kennedy Blair, Michigan State Grace VanSlooten, Michigan State Grace Grocholski, Minnesota Grace Sullivan, Northwestern Kiyomi McMiller, Penn State Gabriela Jaquez, UCLA Gianna Kneepkens, UCLA Sayvia Sellers, WashingtonTHIRD TEAM Amaya Battle, Minnesota Tori McKinney, Minnesota Katie Fiso, Oregon Gracie Merkle, Penn State Kara Dunn, USCHONORABLE MENTION Cearah Parchment, Illinois Chit-Chat Wright, Iowa Yarden Garzon, Maryland Chance Gray, Ohio State Avery Howell, WashingtonALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM Kylie Feuerbach, Iowa Oluchi Okananwa, Maryland Brooke Quarles Daniels, Michigan Rashunda Jones, Michigan State Kennedy Cambridge, Ohio State Elsa Lemmilä, Ohio State Lauren Betts, UCLA Jazzy Davidson, USCALL-FRESHMAN TEAM Destiny Jackson, Illinois Cearah Parchment, Illinois Maya Makalusky, Indiana Addi Mack, Maryland Kylee Kitts, Ohio State Sienna Betts, UCLA JAZZY DAVIDSON, USC Brynn McGaughy, WashingtonUNANIMOUS SELECTIONS IN ALL CAPS * Additional players due to tie in voting2025-26 Big Ten Women’s Basketball Sportsmanship Honorees Gisela Segura, Gr., Illinois Lenée Beaumont, R-So., Indiana Taylor McCabe, Sr., Iowa Saylor Poffenbarger, R-Sr., Maryland Alyssa Crockett, Sr., Michigan Emma Shumate, Sr., Michigan State Sophie Hart, Gr., Minnesota Callin Hake, Sr., Nebraska Lauren Trumpy, Sr., Northwestern Chance Gray, Sr., Ohio State Sofia Bell, Jr., Oregon Vitória Santana, Sr., Penn State Madison Layden-Zay, 5th-Yr., Purdue Kaylah Ivey, Gr., Rutgers Charlisse Leger-Walker, Gr., UCLA Brooklyn Shamblin, So., USC Elle Ladine, Sr., Washington Shay Bollin, Gr., Wisconsin</div>

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2025-26 Big Ten Women’s Basketball Postseason Honors Announced

<div class="payload-richtext">Player of the Week Olivia Olson, Michigan So. – Guard – New Hope, Minn. – Benilde St. Margaret’s • Led Michigan to wins over No. 13 Ohio State and No. 14 Maryland • Scored a career-high 31 points, including the game-winning layup with less than three seconds remaining in overtime against the Buckeyes • Was 12-for-24 from the floor while recording nine rebounds, four assists and a steal in 40 minutes of action at Ohio State • Had 28 points on 11-for-18 shooting with eight rebounds, four assists and three steals versus the Terps • Claims her second Big Ten Player of the Week recognition • Last Michigan Player of the Week: Olivia Olson (Feb. 16, 2026) Big Ten Women’s Basketball Weekly Honor Roll Ava Heiden, IOWA: Shot 72.4 percent from the field to average 22.0 points in a pair of Hawkeye victories   Jaloni Cambridge, OSU: Totaled 27.5 points, 6.0 assists and 4.5 rebounds during the Buckeyes’ 1-1 week Sayvia Sellers, WASH: Put up 29 points, five rebounds and five assists in a win over Oregon Freshman of the Week Maya Makalusky, Indiana Forward – Fishers, Ind. – Hamilton Southeastern   • Added 19 points, including four three-pointers, in a win at Rutgers to go along with four rebounds • Contributed 15 points and five rebounds in the Hoosiers’ triumph over Penn State • Went 9-for-10 at the charity stripe over two games • Collects her second Big Ten Freshman of the Week laurel • Last Indiana Freshman of the Week: Maya Makalusky (Dec. 15, 2026)2025-26 Big Ten Women’s Basketball Players of the Week Nov. 10 P: Shay Ciezki, Sr., IND F: Hila Karsh, PUR F: Jazzy Davidson, USCNov. 17 P: Sayvia Sellers, Jr., WASH F: Addi Mack, MDNov. 24 P: Ava Heiden, So., IOWA F: Destiny Jackson, ILLDec. 1 P: Gabriela Jaquez, Sr., UCLA F: Jazzy Davidson, USCDec. 8 P: Lauren Betts, Sr., UCLA F: Cearah Parchment, ILLDec. 15 P: Shay Ciezki, Sr., IND F: Maya Makalusky, INDDec. 22 P: Yarden Garzon, Sr., MD F: Jazzy Davidson, USCJan. 5 P: Lauren Betts, Sr., UCLA F: Cearah Parchment, ILLJan. 12 P: Jaloni Cambridge, So., OSU F: Kylee Kitts, OSUJan. 19 P: Hannah Stuelke, Sr., IOWA F: Addie Deal, IOWAJan. 26 P: Ava Heiden, So., IOWA F: Cearah Parchment, ILL F: Addie Deal, IOWAFeb. 2 P: Ehis Etute, So., ORE P: Kara Dunn, Sr., USC F: Jazzy Davidson, USCFeb. 9 P: Shay Ciezki, Sr., IND P: Kiki Rice, Sr., UCLA F: Jazzy Davidson, USCFeb. 16 P: Olivia Olson, So., MICH F: Jazzy Davidson, USCFeb. 23 P: Ava Heiden, So., IOWA F: Cearah Parchment, ILL F: Jazzy Davidson, USCMarch 2 P: Olivia Olson, So., MICH F: Maya Makalusky, IND</div>

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2025-26 Michigan and Indiana Score Big Ten Weekly Women’s Basketball Honors

<div class="payload-richtext">ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference announced the full bracket on Sunday for the 2026 Allstate Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament, which will take place March 4-8 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.Single-session tickets are on sale and available for $23.50 to $54.45, depending on the session. Prices are inclusive of all Ticketmaster and facility fees. All seating is reserved for the 2026 Allstate Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament. Fans are encouraged to visit the official Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament website (<a href="https://bigten.org/wbb/tournament/">
 bigten.org/WBBT
 </a>) and follow Big Ten Women’s Basketball on X (<a href="http://www.twitter.com/B1GWBBall">
 @B1GWBBall
 </a>) for more information on the 2026 Allstate Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament.All 14 games of this year’s tournament will be broadcast live to a national audience, starting with the opening round being streamed on Peacock. The Big Ten Network (and the FOX Sports app) will broadcast the second round through semifinal games from Thursday to Saturday. The championship game on Sunday, March 8, will tip off at 2:15 p.m. ET on CBS, the third time the network has carried the title game.Defending Big Ten Tournament Champion UCLA (28-1, 18-0 Big Ten) is the No. 1 seed this year after clinching its first-ever Big Ten regular-season crown. The Bruins have been ranked in the top four of the Associated Press (AP) and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA)/USA Today polls all season and are currently ranked second. UCLA also earned the No. 2 national seed in the NCAA Committee’s final top 16 reveal on Sunday.The Bruins will open Big Ten Tournament play on Friday with a quarterfinal at 12 p.m. ET against the winner of the second-round game between No. 8 seed Washington and No. 9 seed USC.Iowa (24-5, 15-3 Big Ten) claimed the No. 2 seed in this year’s bracket and is ranked ninth in both major national polls. The Hawkeyes, who garnered a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Committee’s reveal, own six Big Ten Tournament titles. Iowa’s postseason journey begins at 6:30 p.m. ET Friday with a quarterfinal game on the Big Ten Network. The winner of the first-round matchup between No. 10 seed Illinois and No. 15 seed Wisconsin will meet seventh-seeded Michigan State in the second round to battle for a chance to face the Hawkeyes in the quarterfinals.Michigan (24-5, 15-3 Big Ten) earned the No. 3 seed for the tournament and is ranked eighth in both national polls. The Wolverines, who were tabbed as a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Committee’s reveal, are on a quest for their first Big Ten Tournament trophy. Michigan will open its postseason slate on Friday night against No. 6 seed Maryland, No. 11 seed Oregon or No. 14 seed Purdue.Rounding out the top four seeds is Minnesota (22-7, 13-5 Big Ten) with the last of the tournament’s double-byes into the quarterfinal round. The Golden Gophers have been ranked in the national polls each of the past two weeks and are seeking their first tournament crown. Minnesota’s postseason bid starts Friday afternoon against No. 5 seed Ohio State, No. 12 seed Nebraska or No. 13 seed Indiana in the quarterfinals.The complete 2026 Allstate Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament schedule is as follows:Wednesday, March 4 – First RoundGame 1 | #12 Nebraska vs. #13 Indiana | 3:30 p.m. ET | PeacockGame 2 | #10 Illinois vs. #15 Wisconsin | 25 minutes following Game 1 | PeacockGame 3 | #11 Oregon vs. #14 Purdue | 25 minutes following Game 2 | PeacockThursday, March 5 – Second RoundGame 4 | #8 Washington vs. #9 USC | 12 p.m. ET | BTNGame 5 | #5 Ohio State vs. G1 Winner | 25 minutes following Game 4 | BTNGame 6 | #7 Michigan State vs. G2 Winner | 6:30 p.m. ET | BTNGame 7 | #6 Maryland vs. G3 Winner | 25 minutes following Game 6 | BTNFriday, March 6 – QuarterfinalsGame 8 | #1 UCLA vs. G4 Winner | 12 p.m. ET | BTNGame 9 | #4 Minnesota vs. G5 Winner | 25 minutes following Game 8 | BTNGame 10 | #2 Iowa vs. G6 Winner | 6:30 p.m. ET | BTNGame 11 | #3 Michigan vs. G7 Winner | 25 minutes following Game 10 | BTNSaturday, March 7 – SemifinalsGame 12 | G8 Winner vs. G9 Winner | 2 p.m. ET | BTNGame 13 | G10 Winner vs. G11 Winner | 4:30 p.m. ET | BTNSunday, March 8 – ChampionshipGame 14 | G12 Winner vs. G13 Winner | 2:15 p.m. ET | CBSNOTES: All times are Eastern (local to site), approximate and subject to change…BTN games are also available on the FOX Sports app…CBS games are available on Paramount+, CBSSports.com and CBS Sports HQ…for more information, please visit the tournament central at <a href="https://bigten.org/wbb/tournament/">
 bigten.org/WBBT
 </a>.</div>

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2026 Allstate Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament Bracket Announced

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2025-26 Michigan State's Robyn Fralick Selected as Assistant Coach for U18 Women’s National Team

<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://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/rankings">
 National Top 25 Polls (Feb. 23-24)
 </a><a href="https://img.boostsport.ai/boost-cms/Big_Ten_WBB_Weekly_Release_022426.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">
 Big Ten Weekly Release - Feb. 24
 </a>Big Ten. Big News.<ul class="list-bullet"><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="1"
 >The final week of the 2025-26 Big Ten Conference regular season tips off Wednesday with five games, including No. 8 Michigan taking on No. 13/12 Ohio State at 8 p.m. ET on Peacock. No. 9 Iowa will host RV/NR Illinois at 9 p.m. ET on the Big Ten Network for Thursday’s lone game. A 2:30 p.m. ET showdown on FOX is set for Saturday between No. 14/13 Maryland and No. 8 Michigan. Sunday features a doubleheader on BTN with No. 13/12 Ohio State at No. 15 Michigan State (12 p.m. ET) and No. 22 Minnesota at RV/NR Illinois (2 p.m. ET). No. 2 UCLA heads across town to face RV/NR USC at 6 p.m. ET on FS1. Remaining games will be streamed live on B1G+ (visit bigtenplus.com for more information).</li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="2"
 >UCLA captured the 2025-26 Big Ten Women’s Basketball Championship outright for the first time in program history after defeating Wisconsin, 80-60, on Sunday. The Bruins finished the regular season undefeated on their home court for the first time since their 2016-17 campaign. </li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="3"
 >Teams continue to clinch spots in the 2026 Allstate Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament, set for March 4-8 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. So far, 12 teams have earned a berth into the tournament (listed in alphabetical order) – Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio State, Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washington.</li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="4"
 >The NCAA had its first top 16 reveal on Feb. 15, which included six Big Ten teams. UCLA was tabbed as the No. 2 seed, while No. 6 Michigan and No. 9 Ohio State rounded out the top 10. Iowa was selected as the No. 11 seed, followed by No. 13 Maryland and No. 14 Michigan State. The final top 16 reveal will take place on Sunday, March 1. </li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="5"
 >Iowa’s Ava Heiden swept the weekly awards after being named the AP National Player of the Week, Jersey Mike’s Naismith Women’s College Player of the Week, one of five USBWA Ann Meyers Drysdale National Players of the Week and the Big Ten Player of the Week. The sophomore led the Hawkeyes to a 3-0 week with wins over Nebraska, Purdue and No. 6 Michigan. She had 27 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and three blocks against the Huskers. Heiden netted 21 points while shooting 83.3 percent from the field with 13 rebounds, three steals and three assists versus the Boilermakers. She posted her third straight double-double (24 points, 10 rebounds) to go along with two blocks and two steals to upset the Wolverines. </li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="6"
 >USC’s Jazzy Davidson was tabbed as the Tamika Catchings National Freshman of the Week by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) on Tuesday. Davidson, the Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Week, turned in 24 points, six assists, five rebounds, four steals and three blocks versus Wisconsin. She had a career-high 32 points against Ohio State with six three-pointers and 11 made field goals, both career marks. Davidson is the only Division I player leading her team in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks. </li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="7"
 >Illinois’ Cearah Parchment was selected as the Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Week on Monday, her fourth laurel of the season. She registered 20 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, four steals and one block with zero turnovers versus Rutgers. She followed up that performance with 19 points, 10 rebounds, three steals and three assists at Northwestern. </li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="8"
 >The Big Ten currently leads all Division I conferences in assists (16.7 apg), field goal percentage (.454), three-point field goal percentage (.343) and free throw percentage (.738), while ranking second in scoring (75.5 ppg). </li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="9"
 >Through games on Feb. 23, the Big Ten boasts nine teams in the top 25 and 12 in the top 50 of the NCAA’s NET Rankings, the top marks among all conferences. UCLA paces the Big Ten contingent at No. 2, followed by No. 6 Michigan, No. 8 Minnesota, No. 9 Iowa, No. 13 Michigan State, No. 14 Maryland, No. 17 Ohio State, No. 21 USC, No. 24 Oregon, No. 28 Nebraska, No. 29 Washington and No. 33 Illinois. </li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="10"
 >Through Monday’s contests, Big Ten teams have combined to win 65 Quad 1 games, the most among Division I conferences, with 12 teams posting at least two Quad 1 wins. UCLA leads the country with 14 Quad 1 victories and the Big Ten is the only conference that has six teams with at least five Quad 1 wins. </li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="11"
 >Every day is a battle as the Big Ten has 15 teams in the top 25 for NET strength of schedule – UCLA (1st), USC (2nd), Iowa (3rd), Penn State (6th), Michigan (7th), Nebraska (11th), Wisconsin (12th), Northwestern (13th), Indiana (16th), Ohio State (17th), Purdue (18th), Michigan State (20th), Rutgers (21st), Washington (23rd) and Minnesota (25th).</li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="12"
 >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. 8 Michigan, No. 9 Iowa, No. 13 Ohio State, No. 14 Maryland, No. 15 Michigan State and No. 22 Minnesota. USC, Washington and Illinois received votes. </li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="13"
 >The same seven programs made an appearance in the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA)/USA Today Top 25 poll – No. 2 UCLA, No. 8 Michigan, No. 9 Iowa, No. 12 Ohio State, No. 13 Maryland, No. 15 Michigan State and No. 22 Minnesota. Washington garnered votes. </li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="14"
 >Illinois currently stands second in the nation shooting 81.5 percent from the free throw line. UCLA ranks second in assist/turnover ratio (1.74), assists per game (22.2), field goal percentage (.514) and rebound margin (15.5). Iowa is third in assists per game (20.9) while Minnesota has a 1.59 assist/turnover ratio to come in fourth. </li><li
 class=""
 style=""
 value="15"
 >Six of the nation’s best long-range shooters reside in the Big Ten. Indiana’s Shay Ciezki (5th – .461) leads the pack, followed by Iowa’s Chit-Chat Wright (6th – .460), UCLA’s Gianna Kneepkens (7th – .459), Minnesota’s Grace Grocholski (14th – .438), Nebraska’s Logan Nissley (15th – .433) and Washington’s Avery Howell (24th – .424). </li><li
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 >Offensive production continues to be the calling card of the Big Ten Conference. The league has eight teams ranked in the top 25 in field goal percentage – UCLA (2nd – .514), Iowa (6th – .494), Michigan State (10th – .485), Nebraska (13th – .478), Michigan (14th – .473), Indiana (16th – .472), Ohio State (20th – .464) and Penn State (22nd – .462).</li><li
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 >Sharing the rock comes naturally for the Big Ten with eight teams featured in the top 25 rankings for assists per game, including five in the top 15 – UCLA (2nd – 22.2), Iowa (3rd – 20.9), Michigan State (9th – 18.4), Nebraska (11th – 18.1), Ohio State (15th – 17.8), Northwestern (21st – 17.6), Oregon (22nd – 17.4) and Michigan (23rd – 17.4).</li><li
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 >HISTORY. MADE. The Big Ten is the first conference to ever have nine teams ranked in three different Associated Press (AP) polls in a single season – Dec. 8, Dec. 15 and Jan. 5. The Big Ten has had nine programs ranked in the AP poll four times, first achieved on Dec. 2, 2024, and is the only conference to have nine ranked teams since 1996. </li><li
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 >The Big Ten had a 170-33 (.837) combined record in non-conference play this season, which ranked second behind the SEC (197-24, .891) and ahead of the Big 12 (156-39, .800) and ACC (144-72, .667). </li><li
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 >Big Ten Conference Deputy Commissioner and Michigan women’s basketball great Diane Dietz was honored Jan. 11 with the lifting of her No. 21 jersey into the rafters at the Crisler Center. Dietz, who competed in Maize and Blue from 1979-82, was the program’s first 2,000-point scorer, a record that stood for more than 30 years. She still ranks fourth all-time in scoring with 2,076 points, a feat she achieved before the addition of the three-point line to the women’s game. Dietz is also second all-time in 30-point games (11) and in field goals made (940) and is only one of two players with at least 900 makes. She graduated as the Wolverines’ all-time leader in steals (229), a mark that currently ranks fourth in program history. Dietz was also a standout in the classroom and is one of only two Michigan student-athletes to have been inducted into the Academic All-America Hall of Fame (2009). The three-time Academic All-American was the first female recipient of the Big Ten Medal of Honor in 1982, which is considered the most prestigious honor a Big Ten student-athlete can receive. Dietz was inducted into the Michigan Athletics Hall of Fame in 1996 and is a member of the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame after her induction in 2019.</li><li
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 >The 2025-26 season will be the final ride for storied Northwestern head coach Joe McKeown, who announced on March 24 that he intends to retire at the conclusion of season. McKeown is the longest-tenured and winningest head women’s basketball coach in Northwestern history. This is his 18th season in Evanston and his 40th season overall as a head coach. </li><li
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 >Each Big Ten institution will play an 18-game conference schedule for the seventh time in eight seasons. During the conference season, each program will play one school both home and away, while facing 16 teams once. Of the single-play opponents, institutions will face eight at home and eight on the road.</li><li
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 >The 2026 Allstate Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament is set for March 4-8 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, marking the 27th time the tournament will be played in Circle City. Fifteen teams will qualify for the tournament, with three first-round games slated for Wednesday, March 4 on Peacock. The second-round, quarterfinal and semifinal contests on Thursday, Friday and Saturday will be carried on the Big Ten Network. CBS will broadcast the championship game for the third year in a row on Sunday.</li></ul></div>

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2025-26 Big Ten Weekly Women's Basketball Central - Feb. 24-March 2

<div class="payload-richtext">Player of the Week Ava Heiden, Iowa So. – Center – Sherwood, Ore. – Sherwood • Led Iowa to a 3-0 week with wins over Nebraska, Purdue and No. 6 Michigan • Had 27 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and three blocks against the Huskers • Netted 21 points while shooting 83.3 percent from the field with 13 rebounds, three steals and three assists versus the Boilermakers • Posted her third straight double-double (24 points, 10 rebounds) to go along with two blocks and two steals to upset the Wolverines • Claims her third Big Ten Player of the Week recognition • Last Iowa Player of the Week: Ava Heiden (Jan. 26, 2026) Big Ten Women’s Basketball Weekly Honor Roll Kennedy Blair, MSU: Notched 17.5 points, 8.0 assists, 7.5 rebounds and 5.0 steals in a pair of victories for the Spartans Kiyomi McMiller, PSU: Recorded her fifth consecutive 30-point performance with 37 against Rutgers, the most of any Lady Lion in program history and first in NCAA women’s basketball history since Iowa’s Caitlin Clark (6) during the 2023-24 season Lauren Betts, UCLA: Helped the Bruins capture their first-ever outright conference regular-season title after averaging 21.0 points and 11.0 rebounds over two wins Co-Freshman of the Week Cearah Parchment, Illinois Forward – Whitby, Ontario, Canada – Fort Erie International Academy • Registered 20 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, four steals and one block with zero turnovers versus Rutgers • Chipped in 19 points, 10 rebounds, three steals and three assists at Northwestern • Earns her fourth Big Ten Freshman of the Week laurel • Last Illinois Freshman of the Week: Cearah Parchment (Jan. 26, 2026) Co-Freshman of the Week Jazzy Davidson, USC Guard – Clackamas, Ore. – Clackamas • Turned in 24 points, six assists, five rebounds, four steals and three blocks versus Wisconsin • Had a career-high 32 points against Ohio State with six three-pointers and 11 made field goals, both career marks • Only Division I player leading her team in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks • Collects her seventh Big Ten Freshman of the Week laurel • Last USC Freshman of the Week: Jazzy Davidson (Feb. 16, 2026) 2025-26 Big Ten Women’s Basketball Players of the Week Nov. 10 P: Shay Ciezki, Sr., IND F: Hila Karsh, PUR F: Jazzy Davidson, USCNov. 17 P: Sayvia Sellers, Jr., WASH F: Addi Mack, MDNov. 24 P: Ava Heiden, So., IOWA F: Destiny Jackson, ILLDec. 1 P: Gabriela Jaquez, Sr., UCLA F: Jazzy Davidson, USCDec. 8 P: Lauren Betts, Sr., UCLA F: Cearah Parchment, ILLDec. 15 P: Shay Ciezki, Sr., IND F: Maya Makalusky, INDDec. 22 P: Yarden Garzon, Sr., MD F: Jazzy Davidson, USCJan. 5 P: Lauren Betts, Sr., UCLA F: Cearah Parchment, ILLJan. 12 P: Jaloni Cambridge, So., OSU F: Kylee Kitts, OSUJan. 19 P: Hannah Stuelke, Sr., IOWA F: Addie Deal, IOWAJan. 26 P: Ava Heiden, So., IOWA F: Cearah Parchment, ILL F: Addie Deal, IOWAFeb. 2 P: Ehis Etute, So., ORE P: Kara Dunn, Sr., USC F: Jazzy Davidson, USCFeb. 9 P: Shay Ciezki, Sr., IND P: Kiki Rice, Sr., UCLA F: Jazzy Davidson, USCFeb. 16 P: Olivia Olson, So., MICH F: Jazzy Davidson, USCFeb. 23 P: Ava Heiden, So., IOWA F: Cearah Parchment, ILL F: Jazzy Davidson, USC</div>

Big Ten Women’s Basketball News

Headlines

Big Ten Weekly Women's Basketball Central - March 18

Big Ten Recognizes Winter Academic All-Big Ten Honorees

2026 Big Ten Women's Basketball Postseason Central

Wisconsin Chosen for 2026 WBIT Field

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

Rutgers Tabs Gary Redus II To Lead Women’s Basketball Program

UCLA Wins 2026 Allstate Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament Crown

The Athletic Selects USC’s Jazzy Davidson as National Freshman of the Year

2026 Allstate Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament Tips Off Wednesday

2025-26 Big Ten Women’s Basketball Postseason Honors Announced

Michigan and Indiana Score Big Ten Weekly Women’s Basketball Honors

2026 Allstate Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament Bracket Announced

Michigan State's Robyn Fralick Selected as Assistant Coach for U18 Women’s National Team

Big Ten Weekly Women's Basketball Central - Feb. 24-March 2

Iowa, Illinois and USC Net Big Ten Weekly Women’s Basketball Honors

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