Illinois Sets Its 2026‑27 Women's Basketball Slate
The Big Ten Conference has released the full slate of opponents for the upcoming 2026‑27 women's basketball season, outlining a demanding road and home schedule for the Fighting Illini.
Illinois will meet Northwestern on back‑to‑back nights, while also welcoming Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, Penn State, Purdue, Washington and Oregon to the State Farm Center. The team will hit the road to face Indiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Ohio State, Rutgers, Wisconsin, UCLA and USC, testing its depth against a mix of traditional powers and emerging programs.
The regular season will culminate with the 34th Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament in Las Vegas, Nevada, where the Illini hope to add another title to their growing résumé.
Under head coach Shauna Green, Illinois has built a formidable home presence, posting a 51‑15 record over the past four seasons and stringing together four straight seasons of double‑digit home victories. The program has also upset five AP Top‑20 opponents and captured its first postseason championship in 2024, marking a turning point for the franchise.
Green’s tenure includes an 85‑47 overall record and a 39‑33 mark in Big Ten play, the best four‑year stretch in school history. The Illini also reached the NCAA Tournament in back‑to‑back years and secured a program‑best 85 wins in just four seasons. Recruiting momentum is evident, with the 2025‑26 class landing at No. 7 nationally, suggesting the upward trajectory will continue.