2026-27 Big Ten preview

The Big Ten has been one of the strongest conferences in the nation, arguably the strongest, and is on the heels of having nine teams in the NCAA Tournament. That was only one behind the SEC who had 10.

While UCLA is basking in their glory of winning the program’s first national championship in the NCAA era, the No. 1 storyline is the return of JuJu Watkins and her presence potentially carrying USC to where the Bruins were last year.

Overall, the Big Ten is going to be a dogfight each night with tournament quality teams going head-to-head on the regular.

Illinois

Over nine seasons, the Illinois Fighting Illini were an afterthought in the Big Ten. They did not have a winning record from the 2013-14 season until 2022 when head coach Shauna Green took over the program. Green combined transfers and existing Illini talent to create a side that won 63 games in three seasons. 

When a majority of that upperclassmen group left after the 2024-25 season, it looked like Illinois might take a step back. But instead, Green ushered in a new group of underclassmen to lead Illinois for the next class, and this season could be the year that Illinois breaks into the group of sides competing at the top of the conference.

Green kept every starter from last season which included First Team All-Big Ten forward Berry Wallace. As a sophomore, Wallace started every game for the Illini and led the team with 1.5 three-point shots made per game, second in rebounds with 6.2 and scored a team high 18.4 points per game. Then add freshman guard Destiny Jackson’s 5.4 assists per game and Canadian freshman center Cearah Parchment’s 13.6 points and 8.4 rebounds per game and Green has her own program big three.

In the offseason, Green identified the team’s weakness and brought in a pair of freshman players in the paint.

“It’s a big emphasis this year of being able to protect the rim more in terms of our ball screen coverage,” head coach Shauna Greene told reporters. “We just gave up too many too many layups. So, that there’s a lot of reasons behind that, but just really working on our bigs, doing a really good job of protecting the rim.”

To do that, Green brought in 6’4 Serbian freshman Lana Brenjo. She also gets 6’3 forward Manuella Alves after she redshirt the 25-26 season as a freshman and another year of 6’7 center Lety Vasconcelos, who made a limited impact last season but now has a full healthy year with Illinois after she missed the entirety of the 24-25 season.

Like the jump of the Wolverines from their first year together to the second, should Illinois correct a weaker post presence there is a strong case to make a Sweet Sixteen run for the first time since 1998. 

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Notes to know:

2025-26 season summary: 22-12 (9-9 Big Ten; ninth in conference), lost to Vanderbilt in Second Round of NCAA Tournament.

Incoming Transfers:

• Divine Bourrage (LSU, 5’11, G, So. – 2.1 ppg)
• Ona Riopedre (Raritan Valley C.C., 6’0, G, Jr. – 12.8 ppg, 6.4 rpg

Outgoing Transfers:

• Erica Finney (Loyola Marymount, 6’0, G, R.Fr. – DNP)
• Hayven Smith (Western Kentucky, 6’6, C, Jr. – 0.1 ppg)
• Naomi Benson (Cincinnati, 6’2, F, So. – 0.7 ppg)

Graduates

• Gisela Vazquez Segura (0.4 ppg)

Key returners

• Berry Wallace (18.4 ppg, 6.2 rpg)
• Cearah Parchment (13.6 ppg, 8.4 rpg)
• Destiny Jackson (9.9 ppg, 5.2 apg)
• Gretchen Dolan (12.9 ppg)

Incoming freshmen

• Lana Brenjo (6’4, F)
• Morgan Baptist (6’0, F)

Indiana

In the 2022-23 season, the Indiana Hoosiers won the Big Ten regular season championship. It was the program’s conference season title since the 1982-83 season. That championship in 2023 was the culmination of a program on the rise with stars like Grace Berger, MacKenzie Holmes and Chloe Moore-McNeil. 

That season was the top of the mountain and on the other side were three seasons of diminishing returns for head coach Teri Moren. First, it was the consistent injuries for Lenée Beaumont. Then it was guard Yarden Garzon who left Bloomington for the Maryland Terrapins after the 2024-25 season. 

This March, Indiana ended their Big Ten campaign in 13th place out of 18 teams and guard Shay Ciezki was on her way to the WNBA. It looked like Indiana’s trajectory might continue heading down to sea level. 

Now, after a long offseason, Indiana looks ready for success over the next long term. Moren added three top-100 freshmen recruits and 6’4 Australian center Zoe Jackson. A program that struggled in recent seasons is prepared to bounce back with the eighth ranked recruiting class in the nation. 

“I’m so proud of the way they have shown up ready for summer workouts and ready for preseason workouts. Although they have freshmen, they are super competitive. They have really been easy to coach,” Moren said at Big Ten Media Day. “Their willingness to listen and be coached the way we coach, that is hard.”

With Beaumont healthy and nearly a starting lineup of highly touted recruits, Indiana’s long term success could start earlier than expected.

Notes to know:

2025-26 season summary: 18-14 (6-12 Big Ten; 13th in conference), lost to South Carolina in Second Round of NCAA Tournament

Incoming transfers

• Alisa Williams (Iowa State, 6’2, F, Gr. – 4.8 ppg)
• Kenzie Hare (Iowa State, 5’9, G, Gr. – 6.0 ppg)
• Jessica Petrie (Nebraska, 6’2, F, Sr. – 11.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg)
• Malia Samuels (USC, 5’6, G, Sr. – 3.4 ppg)

Outgoing transfers

• Faith Wiseman (Western Michigan, 6’4, F, Jr. – 0.4 ppg)
• Chloe Spreen (Illinois State, 5’10, G, Jr. – 0.7 ppg)
• Jade Ondineme (Miami (OH), 6’3, F, Sr. – 1.4 ppg)
• Phoenix Stotijn (Auburn, 5’9, G, Jr. 2.1 ppg)
• Edessa Noyan (Nebraska, 6’3, F, Sr. – 5.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg)
• Nevaeh Caffey (Missouri, 5’10, G, So. – 8.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.5 apg)

Graduates

• Shay Ciezki (22.8 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 3.1 apg)
• Jerni Kiaku (3.3 ppg)

Key returners

• Lenée Beaumont (R-Sr. – 13.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg)
• Zania Socka-Nguemen (Jr. – 11.8 ppg, 8.7 rpg)
• Maya Makalusky (So. – 9.7 ppg)

Incoming freshmen

• Addy Nyemchek (6’2, F)
• GiGi Battle (6’0, G)
• Ashlinn James (5’8, G)
• Zoe Jackson (6’4, F)
• Camille Pangonis (5’11, G)

Iowa

The Hawkeyes have remained one of the best teams in the Big Ten under Jan Jensen. However, Iowa was not immune to the current state of college basketball, losing several players to the transfer portal. To top it off, the Hawkeyes also lost a couple of impact players to graduation, including second-leading scorer Hannah Stuelke.

But on the bright side, leading scorer Ava Heiden is back and on the verge of taking another big leap. She broke out onto the scene as a sophomore, moving into a full-time starting role, earning multiple conference player of the week awards and being selected to the All-Big Ten First Team.

Several other key players are back including starting point guard Chazadi ‘Chit-Chat’ Wright, Taylor Stremlow and Journey Houston, to go along with key transfers in Amari Whiting and Dani Carnegie. One of Jensen’s biggest challenges is going to be seeing how to utilize the newcomers, but she’s up to the challenge.

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

There is enough continuity and talent, to go along with Jensen’s leadership, for Iowa to remain in the upper echelon of the conference. This team could conceivably win a few rounds in the NCAA Tournament.

Notes to know:

2025-26 season summary: 27-7 (15-3 in Big Ten, second in conference), lost in round of 32 to Virginia.

Incoming transfers:

• Dani Carnegie (Georgia, 5’9, Jr., PG – 17.8 ppg, 3.2 apg
• Jocelyn Faison (Georgia, 6’1, So., G – 1.3 ppg, 1.4 rpg)
• Bria Medina (DIII Knox, 5’6, Sr., G – 23.6 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 4.0 apg)
• Amari Whiting (Oklahoma State, 5’10, Sr., G – 9.6 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 2.9 apg)

Outgoing transfers:

• Addie Deal (Wisconsin, 6’, So., G/F – 5.1 ppg, 1.6 apg)
• Kennise Johnson (Delaware, 5’4, RS Jr., PG – 0.3 ppg)
• Callie Levin (Northern Iowa, 5’9, Jr., PG – 1.2 ppg, 0.5 apg)
• Teagan Mallegni (Wisconsin, 6’1, Jr., G/F – 1.5 ppg, 1.3 rpg)
• Emely Rodriguez (Syracuse, 6’, Jr., G/F – 7.2 ppg, 2.0 rpg)

Graduates:

• Kylie Feuerbach (5.1 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 2.8 apg)
• Jada Gyamfi (0.8 ppg, 1.0 rpg)
• Taylor McCabe (8.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.3 apg)
• Hannah Stuelke (13.4 ppg, 9.0 rpg)

Key returners:

• Ava Heiden (Jr. – 18.0 ppg, 7.2 rpg)
• Taylor Stremlow (Jr. – 7.9 ppg, 4.3 apg)
• Chazadi Wright (Jr. – 12.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 4.5 apg)
• Journey Houston (So. – 5.4 ppg, 5.1 rpg)

Incoming freshmen:

• Ella Stromdahl (6’, F)
• McKenna Woliczko (6’2, F)

Maryland

It’s year 25 for head coach Brenda Frese at the helm of the University of Maryland women’s basketball program. What made Frese a national champion and respected coach in college basketball has not changed for the 2026-27 season. The formula of landing top recruits, alongside a savviness in the transfer portal, puts Maryland near the top of the Big Ten, which should be a surprise to nobody.

Frese and the Terrapins were busy in the offseason when they signed three top-100 ranked freshman recruits. Most notably, No. 8 and No. 11 ranked guards Jordyn Jackson and Trinity Jones. The two 6’1 guards fit Frese’s gameplay as bigger guards who bring size and offensive ability to the court. 

Maryland will not slow down on the court and frankly cannot afford to with the schedule Frese has in place for the Terrapins to start the season. That is because Maryland takes on head coach Dawn Staley and the South Carolina Gamecocks on the opening night of the season, in Paris, France. To prepare, Frese looked to the ACC for two exhibition matchups on Oct. 19 and 24 against the Virginia Tech Hokies and North Carolina Tar Heels. 

“We don’t have time to make sure that everyone’s comfortable and confident. We’ve got to be able to find out who’s ready to play,” Frese told reporters at Big Ten Media Day. “With a game like that and those two exhibition games were intentional. They’re important, you know, P4 opponents to really prepare us for that first game, we can get those jitters and and nerves worked out and do it at a really high level so we understand when we get out there, what that’s going to look like for us.”

Oluchi Okananwa returned to Maryland for her second season with Frese, which was key with Kaylene Smikle leaving College Park for Tennessee. In addition, Bri McDaniel, a dynamic guard whose energy and intensity on the court represents Frese’s style of basketball is back after a torn ACL kept her out for the entirety of the 2025-26 season. 

Last year’s Terrapins were talented but struggled against NCAA Tournament teams throughout the Big Ten with their only losses coming against teams who played in March Madness. Frese’s non-conference schedule not only includes South Carolina, but also the UConn Huskies. There is no rest for the Terps, even with a new, younger lineup. If Maryland clicks before conference season starts in December, they will compete for a top four finish in the Big Ten.

Notes to know:

2025-26 season summary: 24-9 (11-7 Big Ten; sixth in conference), lost to North Carolina in Second Round of NCAA Tournament.

Incoming transfers

• Chloe Sotell (Missouri, 6’1, G, Jr. – 8.0 ppg)
• Nunu Agara, (Stanford, 6’2, F, Sr. – 15.3 ppg, 8.7 rpg)

Outgoing transfers

• Nicole Fritea (Eastern Kentucky, 6’2, F, So. – 1.0 ppg)
• Breanna Williams (Arizona, 6’2, F, So. – 4.7 ppg)
• Kyndal Walker (Georgia Tech, 5’9, G, So. – 6.8 ppg)
• Isimenme Ozzy-Momodu (Oklahoma, 6’3, F, Sr. – 8.0 ppg, 6.3 rpg)
• Kaylene Smikle (Tennessee, 6’0, G, Gr. – 13.1 ppg)

Graduates

• Saylor Poffenbarger (9.5 ppg, 7.2 rpg)
• Yarden Garzon (12.5 ppg)

Key returners

• Oluchi Okananwa (17.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg)
• Addi Mack (11.0 ppg)
• Bri McDaniel (10.6 ppg) (24-25)

Incoming freshmen

• Jordyn Jackson (6’1, G)
• Trinity Jones (6’1, G)
• Mimi Thiero (6’4, F)
• Eva-Grace Yebila (6’4, F)

Michigan State

The 2025-26 season in East Lansing, Michigan was the year of Kennedy Blair. As a freshman, Blair averaged 8.9 minutes across her 20 appearances for the Spartans. That made Blair’s sophomore season even more impressive. She started all 32 games for head coach Robyn Fralick, alongside now WNBA forward Grace VanSlooten.

In those 32 games, Blair frustrated opponents. She is the kind of player that fans of her team love and opposing fans can’t take. Using her speed, endless motor and intensity, Blair got under the skin of opponents with 2.4 steals per game and showed how much she wanted the ball more than opponents with a team high 7.1 rebounds per game at only 5’9. 

Michigan State ended the season with a 23-9 record, the best of Fralick’s three years, but many looked at the season at what could have been. Guard Theryn Hallock played eight games at the start of the season but a foot injury took her out of the remainder of the year. She eventually earned a redshirt season. 

Now, Hallock is back and she creates a strong defensive backcourt for Michigan State. 

“So many of their steals come from being so good at anticipation,” Fralick said at Big Ten Media Day. “A lot of steals turn into layups because they have really good speed. I am excited. They have been there a combined nine years together, but have not played much together. We are excited for that opportunity, for them to be playing together at the same time.”

Unfortunately for Fralick and the Spartans, there is a large roster overhaul to overcome to make that backcourt more effective. Michigan State lost eight players through either transfer or graduation. Only three returning starters are on the team this season, and outside of Blair they combined for 15 games total.

The loss of VanSlooten, the on and off court leader for the Spartans looms large, but Fralick did land an in-state center in Lilly Williams. The 6’5 post presence was No. 17 in ESPN’s top-100 recruits of the class and third ranked big.

Notes to know:

2025-26 season summary: 23-9 (11-7 Big Ten; seventh in conference), lost to Oklahoma in Second Round of NCAA Tournament.

Incoming Transfers:

• Alie Bisballe (Wisconsin, 6-4, F, Soph. (1 ppg)
• Anna Wypych (Butler 6-0, G, Fr. (6.5 ppg)
• Tabitha Betson (Colorado, 6-2, F, Soph. (4.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg)

Outgoing Transfers:

• Jordan Ode (Georgia Tech, 6’0, G, So. 6-0, G, Fr. – DNP)
• Juliann Woodard (High Point, 6’0, F, Jr. – 3.7 ppg)
• Inés Sotelo (Stanford, 6’3, C, Jr. – 6.8 ppg)
• Rashunda Jones (Arizona State, 5’8, G, Sr. – 11.7 ppg, 3.2 apg)

Graduates

• Grace VanSlooten (15.1 ppg, 6.8 rpg)
• Jalyn Brown (11.1 ppg)
• Emma Shumate (6.4 ppg)
• Marah Dykstra (3.2 ppg)

Key returners

• Kennedy Blair (14.5 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 5.2 apg)
• Isaline Alexander (7.6 ppg)
• Theryn Hallock (13.3 ppg) (24-25)

Incoming freshmen

• Lilly Williams (6’6, C) 
• Monique Bobongie (5’10, G)
• Emma Broliron (5’6, G)
• Kathy-Emma Otto (6’3, F)

Michigan

For the Wolverines, the 2025-26 season ended with a trip to the Elite Eight. A team full of underclassmen stars were the second best team in the Big Ten, nearly came back to defeat the UCLA Bruins in the regular season and pushed the women’s program to new heights. Enter the Texas Longhorns.

Michigan struggled mightily and showed their age in the Elite Eight. Texas handed Michigan a humbling 77-41 defeat before sending the Wolverines back to Ann Arbor. Head coach Kim Barnes-Arico does not subscribe to the rearview mirror practice. 

“We’re reminded by it every day. Coach reminds us every day about it and we’ve watched it so many times,” said guard Olivia Olson at Big Ten Media Day. “On film, with our individual player development coaches or as a team. We’ve watched it a million times and just seen so many things that we need to get better at to in order to get past that next year.”

The Wolverines had a lot of time to watch over the highlights over the offseason and enter the upcoming season once again a side that will compete at the top of the conference. Although the young trio of junior starters Olson, Syla Swords and Mila Holloway already have adversity to face before their season starts against the UConn Huskies on Nov. 5. That is because of uncertainty around the availability of Holloway. 

On Sept 3, the Wolverines announced that a lower-leg injury to Holloway has her out indefinitely. While the program confirmed it was not a torn ACL, Holloway’s return is unknown, which takes away Michigan’s starting point guard. Holloway averaged 4.8 assists per game last season, seventh highest in the Big Ten. Michigan’s other standout point guard Brooke Quarles-Daniels initially ran out of eligibility but returned due to a legal case that granted extra eligibility to 2022 class recruits where Quarles-Daniels signed with South Carolina.

That missing workload may fall to first-year college point guard Dallas Loughridge. The former Australian professional entered the program in June and excelled in distributing and scoring. Now Loughridge has Olson and Swords alongside her. The duo came in and made an immediate impact as freshmen when they nearly upset South Carolina on the first day of the season. Now there are no surprises. Teams have to adjust to the two All-Big Ten stars. That will give Loughridge two targets and the space to create on her own. 

UCLA was unstoppable last season. While the Holloway injury might slow down the Wolverines at the start, by the time the Big Ten schedule comes around, Michigan could be the next unstoppable team. When they travel to California in January to take on JuJu Watkins and the USC Trojans, it could be the game that decides the conference regular season champions.

Notes to know:

2025-26 season summary: 28-7 (15-3 Big Ten; second in conference), lost to Texas in the Elite Eight of NCAA Tournament.

Incoming transfers

• Courtney Ogden (Stanford, 6’1, F, Sr. – 12.9 ppg, 4.3 rpg)
• Dallas Loughridge (Australia, 5’6, G, Sr. – 25.8 ppg, 5.3 apg (professional)

Outgoing transfers

• McKenzie Mathurin (Missouri, 5’10, G, Fr. – 3.5 ppg)

Graduates

• Brooke Quarles-Daniels (5.9 ppg)
• Alyssa Crockett (2.3 ppg)
• Ally VanTimmeren (1.7 ppg)

Key returners

• Olivia Olson (18.9 ppg, 6.1 rpg)
• Syla Swords (14.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg)

Incoming freshmen

• Foye Ayo (6’5, F)
• Devin Cosgriff (5’10, G)

Minnesota:

The Gophers return one of the more experienced rosters in the Big Ten, and Dawn Plitzuweit is among the conference’s top coaches. Two of the team’s leading scorers from last season, Grace Grocholski and Mara Braun, are back to lead a team that reached the Sweet 16 in the program’s first NCAA Tournament appearance in eight years.

Minnesota wold have had all three of last year’s top scorers back, but the Gophers suffered a major blow as it was revealed via Talia Goodman of On3 that Tori McKinney had sustained a season-ending knee injury. McKinney was the team’s leading scorer last season and the junior wing was primed for a big year.

The team also lost Amaya Battle and Sophie Hart, two starters from last season, to graduation. But to help fortify the frontcourt, the Gophers added one of the best inter-conference transfers in Gracie Merkle from Penn State.

Minnesota has turned into a conference powerhouse since Plitzuweit took the reins in 2023, and while McKinney’s absence will hurt, there’s no reason to think their ascension won’t continue this season. The blueprint has been laid out, and the work is starting to show.

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

This team is talented, well-coached and has postseason experience under their belt. Regardless of where they ultimately finish in the conference standings, another NCAA Tournament appearance should be in the cards.

Notes to know:

2025-26 season summary: 24-9 (13-5 in Big Ten, fourth in conference), lost in Sweet 16 to UCLA.

Incoming transfers:

• Leah Harmon (UCF, 5’6, Jr., PG – 15.7 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 2.4 apg)
• Gracie Merkle (Penn State, 6’6, RS Sr., C – 19.2 ppg, 8.2 rpg)
• Tayla Thomas (Northwestern, 6’3, Jr., F – 9.7 ppg, 7.2 rpg)

Outgoing transfers:

• Tracey Bershers (Kennesaw State, 6’2, Gr., F – 2.0 ppg)
• Mallory Heyer (Oregon, 6’1, Gr., F – did not play in 2025-26)
• Niamya Holloway (Creighton, 6’, Sr., F – 1.6 ppg, 1.8 rpg)

Graduates:

• Amaya Battle (11.1 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 3.6 apg)
• Brylee Glenn (6.5 ppg, 2.7 rpg)
• Finau Tonga (4.5 ppg, 3.2 rpg)
• Sophie Hart (11 ppg, 6.3 rpg)

Key returners:

• Grace Grocholski (Sr. – 12.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg)
• Mara Braun (5th Yr. – 11.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.5 apg)
• Makena Christian (So. – 3.6 ppg)

Incoming freshmen:

• Adit Kuol (6’3, F)
• Natalie Kussow (5’11, G)
• Tori Oehrlein (5’10, G)
• Kylee Paben (6’, F)

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Nebraska

The Huskers come into the season also with one of the more intact and experienced rosters in the conference. They also feature one of the best players in the Big Ten in junior Britt Prince. The program has been a regular in the NCAA Tournament under Amy Williams, who will be entering 11th year at the helm.

In addition to the top returners from last season, the Huskers will welcome back Natalie Potts, who missed the entirety of last year due to an ACL injury. She suffered the injury during the 2024-25 season in which she was limited to only five games. Prior to that, she was the Big Ten Freshman of the Year and was selected to the conference’s all-freshman team.

Nebraska should be among the upper half of the conference in the standings. The returning talent is enough to offset the team not dipping into the transfer portal as much as some of the other teams in the conference. And that group has already set the standard for where they want to be this season.

“Winning a couple game in the NCAA Tournament over the last few years, I think being in four of the last five years, makes me really appreciate all the players that we’ve had that poured into making that happen,” Williams said via the Big Ten. “Now this team is looking at that, and they’re just not satisfied … From the seven returning players that we have in the program, they came into my office this past spring with kind of a post of the standards that they wanted to have for the program.”

Advancing past the round of 64 of the NCAA Tournament, something the Huskers have only done once under Williams, is a realistic goal.

Notes to know:

2025-26 season summary: 19-13 (7-11 in Big Ten, 12th in conference), lost in round of 64 to Baylor

Incoming transfers:

• Arek Angui (Auburn, 6’8, RS So., C – 1.5 ppg, 2.6 rpg)
• Edessa Noyan (Indiana, 6’3, Sr., F – 5.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg)

Outgoing transfers:

• Petra Bozan (Penn State, 6’3, Jr., F/C – 6.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg)
• Claire Johnson (Murray State, 5’9, Jr., G – 3.5 ppg)
• Alanna Neale (Seattle, 5’10, So., G – 1.3 ppg)
• Jessica Petrie (Indiana, 6’2, Sr., F – 11.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg)
• Hailey Weaver (6’, Gr., G/F – 2.4 ppg, 1.8 rpg)

Graduates:

• Callin Hake (7.2 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 3.6 apg)
• Eliza Maupin (7.3 ppg, 4.2 rpg)

Key returners:

• Britt Prince (Jr. – 17.9 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 4.4 apg)
• Amiah Hargrove (Jr. – 12.7 ppg, 5.5 rpg)
• Logan Nissley (Sr. – 8.9 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 2.3 apg)
• Kennadi Williams (Jr. – 2.4 ppg, 2.5 rpg)
• Natalie Potts (Sr. – Did not play in 2025-26 due to injury)

Incoming freshmen:

• Ava Miles (6’, G)
• Maddi Stewart (5’9, G)
• Ashlyn Koupal (6’3, F)

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Northwestern

The number one reason for optimism in Wildcat-land, is not because of the player transfer portal, but the coaching carousel. This is year one under Carla Berube, who turned Princeton into one of the best programs in the country and an NCAA Tournament regular. She is tasked with revitalizing a program that has two NCAA Tournament appearances in the last 20 years, and has not had a winning season since 2021-22.

Already, Berube is starting to see a different kind of energy around the program as she prepares to take the reins.

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

The Wildcats did lose three of their top-five leading scorers, including Grace Sullivan, to a mix of exhausting eligibility and the transfer portal. But Casey Harter, the team’s second-leading scorer last season, is back. Xamiya Walton also gives Berube some continuity.

But this roster is largely a new one with multiple players have transferred out and multiple players transferring in. It’ll take an adjustment period for Berube to get settled and get her system instituted. But even the Wildcats don’t have a successful season record-wise, so to speak, there is reason to be excited about the future of the program with Berube at the helm.

Notes to know:

2025-26 season summary: 8-21 (2-16 in Big Ten, 17th in conference), did not qualify for Big Ten Tournament

Incoming transfers:

• Lexi Blue (Kentucky, 6’2, Jr., G/F – 2.1 ppg, 1.0 rpg)
• Lily Carmody (Boston College, 5’11, Jr., PG – 12.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.1 apg)
• Jasmyn Cooper (Syracuse, 6’1, So., G/F – 3.3 ppg, 2.1 rpg)
• Camdyn Nelson (Syracuse, 5’8, So., PG – 1.4 ppg, 1.4 rpg)

Outgoing transfers:

• Angelina Hodgens (Sacred Heart, 5’10, So., G – 1.7 ppg)
• Tayla Thomas (Minnesota, 6’3, Jr., F – 9.7 ppg, 7.2 rpg)

Graduates:

• Caroline Lau (8.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 8.4 apg)
• Sammy White (No stats)
• Lauren Trumpy (No stats)
• Tate Lash (4.4 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 2.1 apg)
• Grace Sullivan (21.4 ppg, 6.1 rpg)
• DaiJa Turner (1.3 ppg, 1.8 rpg)

Key returners:

• Casey Harter (Sr. – 10.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 2.2 apg)
• Xamiya Walton (Jr. – 7.1 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 1.8 apg)
• Kat Righeimer (Jr. – 2.9 ppg, 1.4 rpg)
• Claire Keswick (Jr. – 1.8 ppg)

Incoming freshmen:

• Xyanna Walton (6’, G)
• Brooke Golden (6’3, F)
• Romana Jelenc (6’3, F)

Ohio State

The NCAA preseason is full of prognostication. Excitement for the return to the hardwood means early rankings and predictions on where teams will land once the two weeks of conference tournaments begin in March.

Notably absent or low within those preseason guesses are the Ohio State Buckeyes. On The IX Sports’ top 25 rankings, nine Big Ten teams made the list, not including Ohio State. Over on ESPN, the Buckeyes came in at No. 17, the sixth highest conference side program. But why? 

Ohio State ended last season with a second round home defeat for the third season in a row. Before that, the Buckeyes ended fourth in the conference and were one of only two Big Ten teams who lost to the eventual national champion UCLA by 10 points or less. Outside of a lopsided defeat to the Iowa Hawkeyes, in Iowa City, the Buckeyes nearly defeated the Michigan Wolverines in overtime, split games with head coach Brenda Frese’s Maryland Terrapins and humbled the JuJu Watkins-less USC Trojans. 

Last season was the first year that point guard Jaloni Cambridge had full control of the Ohio State roster. The starting lineup also featured three first year starters and senior guard Chance Gray, who struggled in her junior season. 

That team exceeded expectations and return this season with nearly the same roster. Gray is in the WNBA after a career season as a senior, but she is the lone player off the roster from the starting lineup to leave. Guard Kennedy Cambridge, who led the conference in steals and center Elsa Lemmilä, who led the conference in blocks, return with sophomore Kylee Kitts and the third season of Jaloni Cambridge’s leadership. 

A question around the Buckeyes is that Gray departure. The Cincinnati, Ohio native was the only other player on the roster to average at least 10 points per game, while Jaloni Cambridge averaged 23.2 points. Other members of the Scarlet and Gray have to turn their defensive effort into offense if Ohio State hopes to compete near the top of the Big Ten.

Barring injury, the Scarlet and Gray look poised for far better than a 10th place finish in the Big Ten. Should Ohio State’s trajectory continue, with its best players now upperclassmen, head coach Kevin McGuff’s team will be in the conversation for a conference title.

Notes to know:

2025-26 season summary: 27-8 (13-5 Big Ten; fourth in conference), lost to Notre Dame in Second Round of NCAA Tournament

Incoming transfers

None

Outgoing transfers

• Dasha Biriuk (Grand Canyon, 6’1, G, So. – 3.3 ppg)
• T’Yana Todd (Grand Canyon, 6’0, G, Gr. – 3.7 ppg)

Graduates

• Chance Gray (14.7 ppg)

Key returners

• Jaloni Cambridge (Jr. 23.2 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 4.4 apg) 
• Kennedy Cambridge (Gr. 9.0 ppg, 3.7 spg)
• Elsa Lemmilä (Jr. 9.1 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 2.3 bpg)

Incoming freshmen

• Adriana Díaz (6’1, F)
• Atlee Vanesko (6’0, G)
• Sydney Mobley (6’2, F)

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Oregon

Kelly Graves is one of the longest-tenured coaches in the Big Ten, dating back to the Pac-12 days, and during that time he’s kept the Ducks relevant despite the shifting landscape and roster turnover. This season, he has one of his better rosters in recent years.

But the Ducks suffered a major blow before the season has even begun, with the unfortunate news that senior Sofia Bell would miss the entirety of the year due to a lower body injury. Bell was expected to play a major role on this team as one of the leaders and starting guards from last year.

On the bright side, two of the Ducks’ leading scorers are back in Katie Fiso and Ehis Etute. And Ari Long who stepped into a bigger role last year, is also primed to continue her upward trajectory.

For Graves, much of the Ducks’ potential success hinges on the continued development of Etute.

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

Oregon also received a big boost from the transfer portal as well with forward Mallory Heyer. Heyer joined the team last season following her abrupt departure from Minnesota, with the intention of making her debut this year. Expect another strong year for the Ducks culminating in a postseason appearance.

Notes to know:

2025-26 season summary: 23-13 (8-10 in Big Ten, 11th in conference), lost to Texas in round of 32

Incoming transfers:

• Hilary Fuller (Belmont, 6’2, Jr., F – 14.0 ppg, 4.6 rpg)
• Mallory Heyer (Minnesota, 6’1, Sr., F – did not play in 2025-26)

Outgoing transfers:

• Sara Barhoum (Portland State, 5’10, So., G – 0.9ppg)
• Elisa Mevius (Green Bay, 5’11, Gr., G – 12.5 ppg, 3.0 apg)
• Sarah Rambus (Syracuse, 6’3, Sr., F/C – 6.3 ppg, 2.4 rpg)
• Sammie Wagner (San Diego, 6’1, RS Sr., G – 0.1 ppg)
• Janiyah Williams (Houston, 5’9, So., PG – 2.8 ppg)

Graduates:

• Astera Tuhina (4.2 ppg, 1.5 apg)
• Mia Jacobs (12.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg)
• Amina Muhammad (3.6 ppg, 2.2 rpg)

Key returners:

• Katie Fiso (Jr. – 15.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 6.2 apg)
• Ehis Etute (Jr. – 12.5 ppg, 9.0 rpg)
• Ari Long (Sr. – 6.6 ppg, 3.8 rpg)
• Avary Cain (Jr. – 3.8 ppg)

Incoming freshmen:

• La’u Pele Falatea (5’9, G)
• Emilia Krstevski (6’4, C)
• Brooklynn Haywood (5’9, G)
• Kennedy Holman (5’10, G)

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Penn State

Since the Big Ten expanded to 18 teams at the start of the 2024-25 season, only two teams have yet to make the 15-team conference tournament field. One of those is Penn State. In seven seasons in State College, head coach Carolyn Kieger led the Nittany Lions to one winning season, and the last two seasons saw the program slip further away from competitiveness. 

In the offseason, Penn State relieved Kieger of her duties and went with familiarity to fill the role. The Nittany Lions hired Tanisha Wright, a Penn State alum who won three Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors and was a 2004-05 AP All-American. Wright played 14 seasons in the WNBA and spent three years as head coach with the Atlanta Dream and was an assistant coach with the Chicago Sky.

As soon as she arrived on campus, she had to build a team. Penn State has one player return from last season in guard Vitoría Santana. Her 66 total points accounted for 3.1 percent of the team’s offense. 

To fill the roster gap, Wright hit the portal hard and brought in seven transfers, with four coming in from other Power Four conferences. Add three freshmen and Wright has an 11 players who haven’t played together until this summer.

Throw Penn State into an 18-game Big Ten schedule and it is more of a final exam than a test for the Nittany Lions. Wright hopes that the team mentality she brings can get the program’s rebuild going in the right direction, even if it does not mean short term success.

“My history there and the success of Penn State has always been about the team, and its never been about one person,” head coach Tanisha Wright told reporters at Big Ten Media Day. “It’s always been about the whole and so instilling that and building a roster and program that loves that and knows that and can really exude that.”

Notes to know:

2025-26 season summary: 11-18 (4-14 Big Ten; 16th in conference), did not qualify for Big Ten Tournament.

Incoming transfers

• Devyn Quigley (NC State, 5’11, G, Jr. – 4.3 ppg)
• Cristen Carter (Georgetown, 6’4, F, Sr. – 4.6 ppg, 4.1 rpg)
• Petra Božan (Nebraska, 6’3, F, Jr. 6-3 – 6.6 ppg)
• Enjulina Gonzalez (Georgia, 5-9, G, Gr. – 3.2 ppg)
• Ava Black (Vanderbilt, 5’11, G, So. – 2.8 ppg)
• Skylar Durley (Nevada, 5’8, G, So. – 11.8 ppg, 6.8 rpg)
• Savannah White (Xavier, 6’2, F, Gr. – 7.0 ppg, 7.3 rpg)

Outgoing transfers

• Rachael Okokoh (Ole Miss, 6’4, F, So.- 1.1 ppg)
• Shaelyn Steele (Tennessee, 5’6, G, Jr.- 1.8 ppg)
• Maggie Mendelson (Pepperdine, 6’5, F, Gr. – 2.0 ppg)
• Shayla Smith (Temple, 5’9, G, So.  5-9, G, Fr. – 2.6 ppg)
• Nyla McFadden (UCF, 6’0, G, So. – 4.5 ppg)
• Viktoria Ranisavljevic (UAB, 5’7, G, So. – 4.6 ppg)
• Tea Cleante (Kansas State, 5’9, G, So. – 8.7 ppg, 2.9 apg)
• Moriah Murray (Florida, 5’8, G, Sr. – 9.4 ppg)
• Gracie Merkle (Minnesota, 6’6, C, Sr. – 19.2 ppg, 8.2 rpg)
• Kiyomi McMiller (Florida, 5’8, G, Jr. – 21.6 ppg, 5 rpg, 4.5 apg, 1.8 spg)

Graduates

• Amiya Evans (1.9 ppg)

Key returners

• Vitoría Santana (2.4 ppg)

Incoming freshmen

• Kamrah Banks (5’9, G)
• Ashlee Brown (5’10, G)
• Irene García (6’1, F)

Purdue

Purdue sat in the bottom four of the Big Ten in each of the last three seasons after former Boilermaker star and head coach Katie Gearlds led her alma mater to a 36-26 record in her first two seasons. The West Lafayette team has not had a winning season since those first two years, and the upcoming 2026-27 season follows the blueprint of previous years. 

It was another roster turnover for Purdue. The Boilermakers lost eight players from last season, and seven of those players left in the transfer portal. That meant Gearlds had to be aggressive in the portal, and what resulted is a list of mid-major recruits highlighted standout guard Hannah Wickstrom.

Wickstrom was a semifinalist for the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Award. The First Team All-Big West guard led the conference with 23.4 points per game and can come in and take control of the Purdue offense, although stronger competition in the Big Ten will challenge the junior guard. 

Turning over a roster is difficult enough in a conference like the Big Ten, but Purdue already lost two new players due to ACL injuries — freshman guard Zoja Štirn and Second Team All-American Conference guard Aysia Proctor.

“They are elite as leaders,” said head coach Katie Gearlds at Big Ten Media Day. “The young women that they are, it will carry over to our team. With that said, we will have some young women step up and have an opportunity to earn some minutes.” 

Gearlds returns three players from last season who combined for 8.6 total points per game. The fourth returner, guard Taylor Henderson, missed last season due to injury but excelled at mid-major UNC Wilmington prior to joining the Big Ten. It will be an uphill climb for Purdue to compete in the conference this season. The Boilermakers made the Big Ten tournament last season after a late run What, if anything, will the team be able to carry with it for this season?

Notes to know:

2025-26 season summary: 13-17 (5-13 Big Ten; 15th in conference), lost to Oregon in First Round of Big Ten Tournament.

Incoming Transfers:

• Aysia Proctor (North Texas, 5’8, G, Sr. – 14.1 ppg)
• Jelena Bulajic (USF, 5’10, G, So. – 4.7 ppg)
• Hannah Wickstrom (UC Riverside, 5’10, G, Jr. – 23.4 ppg, 7.3 rpg)
• Averi Aaron (Louisiana Tech, 6’1, F, Jr. – 6.4 ppg)
• Kyndall Hunter (Houston, 5’7, G, R.Sr. – 9.2 ppg)
• Anjela Minja (Gulf Coast State, 6’5, C, Jr. 7.8 ppg, 7.7 rpg)

Outgoing Transfers:

• Taylor Feldman (High Point, 5’8, G, Gr. – 6.3 ppg)
• Kendall Puryear (USF, 6’3, F, Jr. – 6.6 ppg)
• Hila Karsh (Xavier, 5’8, G, So. – 6.9 ppg)
• Lana McCarthy (Fairfield, 6’4, F, Jr. – 7.8 ppg)
• Nya Smith (Georgia, 5’9, G, Jr. – 8.0 ppg)
• Kiki Smith (Texas Tech, 5’7, G, Sr. – 10.7 ppg)
• Tara Daye (Rutgers, 5’10, G, Sr. – 12.4 ppg, 6.5 rpg)

Graduates

• Madison Layden-Zay (10.2 ppg)

Key returners

• Taylor Henderson (12.0 ppg, 6.1 rpg) (24-25 with UNC Wilmington)

Incoming freshmen

• Keona Douwstra (5’9, G) 
• Maya Zilbershlag (5’11, G)
• Katka Šedivá (6’1, F)
• Zoja Štirn (5’10, G)

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Rutgers

Like Penn State, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights moved on from their head coach in the offseason. After Coquese Washington led Rutgers to a 42-84 record in four seasons, the program swapped out the tenured Big Ten head coach with first year college head coach Gary Redus II. 

However, Redus is not coming to college from the pros like Wright at Penn State. He has a strong resume in NCAA Division I coaching circles. After stops as an assistant at Vanderbilt and SMU, Redus worked under LSU Tigers head coach Kim Mulkey since 2022.

The national champion assistant coach brought strong recruiting with him to Rutgers right away. On top of landing No. 56 ranked 2026 recruit Chikae Desdunes, Redus convinced two of Rutgers top three scorers to stay in Imani Lester and Zachara Perkins. In addition, former Howard forward Zennia Thomas joined the Scarlet Knights fresh off her phenomenal senior season where her 15.2 points and 7.9 rebounds per game earned her BOXTOROW HBCU Division I Women’s National Player of the Year honors.

Add in a pair of twins in Mia and Mya Pauldo out of Tennessee, and Argentinian youth professional Natassa Kollf, and the experience in recruiting talent could help quicken the Rutgers rebuild.

“I think 100% he’s been what he said he was from day one – energetic,” said guard Mia Pauldo at Big Ten Media Day. “He keeps everything blunt. He makes sure we’re humble for sure, he’s been what he said he would be from the jump.”

Rutgers has a lighter schedule with no Power Four opponents in the nonconference slate, but has matchups against the Princeton Tigers and South Dakota State Jackrabbits at the end of November. Those are good early season tests for the first year head coach. While it is too early to tell where Rutgers will go this Big Ten season, it does not start easy on the Scarlet Knights when Ohio State heads to New Jersey for Rutgers’ first conference game of the season on Dec. 5.

Notes to know:

2025-26 season summary: 9-20 (1-17 Big Ten; 18th in conference), did not qualify for Big Ten Tournament

Incoming transfers

• Tara Daye (Purdue, 5’10, G, Gr. – 12.4 ppg, 6.5 rpg)
• Jaylah Lampley (Mississippi State, 6’1, G, So. – 8.3 ppg)
• Mia Pauldo (Tennessee, 5’6, G, So. – 10.4 ppg)
• Mya Pauldo (Tennessee, 5’6, G, So. – 1.8 ppg)
• Zennia Thomas (Howard, 6-2, F, Gr. – 15.2 ppg, 7.9 rpg)
• Hope Masonius (Bucknell, 5’9, G, Jr. – 2.3 ppg)
• Natassja Kolff (Argentina, 6’2, F, Jr. 7.7 ppg, 7.8 rpg – professional)

Outgoing transfers

• Makylah Moore (UMES, 6’0, G, So – 0.9 ppg)
• Yacine N’Diaye (Mount St. Mary’s, 6’4, F, Sr. – 1.1 ppg)
• Antonia Bates (Georgia Tech, 6’3, G/F, Gr. – 2.0 ppg)
• Janae Walker (Virginia, 6’3, F, Sr. – 2.6 ppg)
• Nene Ndiaye (Oklahoma State, 6’1, F, Sr. – 14.8 ppg, 5.3 rpg)

Graduates

• Faith Blackstone (9.8 ppg)
• Kaylah Ivey (8.1 ppg)

Key returners

• Imani Lester (10.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg)
• Zachara Perkins (11.4 ppg)

Incoming freshmen

• Chikae Desdunes (5’9, G)

UCLA

The defending champions have a vastly different look this season. The senior group that powered last year’s title run have since moved on to the WNBA. But Cori Close ensured her team will still be competitive this year by dipping into the transfer portal and adding several talented players.

But one of the top challenges for Close is keeping the team grounded and level-headed without dwelling on the past.

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

And this offseason has not been without adversity. Sophomore Lena Bilic, who was a key contributor at times as a freshman, suffered a season-ending ACL injury. Close had spoken highly of her in preseason media sessions, and the Bruins are going to have adjust to her absence.

That’s where the transfer group comes in. Elina Aarnisalo has returned to the Bruins after a season away at North Carolina, and she should make up one half of the starting backcourt alongside fellow newcomer Donovyn Hunter. Bonnie Deas is also going to bolster the backcourt coming off a strong freshman debut at Arkansas. To round out the transfer haul, potential WNBA draft pick Addy Brown and KK Bransford will both play big roles.

When paired with the two main returners in Sienna Betts and Timea Gardiner, the Bruins have a roster capable of being competitive in one of the toughest conferences in the country. A solid tournament run certainly isn’t out of the question for Close and this UCLA squad.

Notes to know:

2025-26 season summary: 37-1 (18-0 in Big Ten, first in conference), won NCAA championship

Incoming transfers:

• Bonnie Deas (Arkansas, 5’9, So., G – 10.2 ppg, 9.0 rpg)
• KK Bransford (Notre Dame, 5’11, Sr., G – 7.4 ppg, 4.0 rpg)
• Addy Brown (Iowa State, 6’2, Sr., F – 11.9 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 5.3 apg)
• Donovyn Hunter (TCU, 6’, Sr., G – 10.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.1 apg)
• Elina Aarnisalo (North Carolina, 5’10, Jr., PG – 10.2 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.9 apg)

Outgoing transfers:

None

Graduates:

• Lauren Betts (17.1 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 3.2 apg)
• Angela Dugalic (9.0 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 2.2 apg)
• Gabriela Jaquez (13.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 2.1 apg)
• Gianna Kneepkens (12.8 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 2.9 apg)
• Kiki Rice (14.9 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 4.3 apg)
• Charlisse Leger-Walker (8.4 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 5.6 apg)

Key returners:

• Sienna Betts (So. – 6.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg)
• Timea Gardner (Did not play in 2025-26)
• Amanda Muse (RS Jr. – 1.3 ppg, 1.6 rpg)

Incoming freshmen:

• Lina Jerkovic (5’9, G)
• Somto Okafor (5’9, G)

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USC

The Trojans come into the season as one of the favorites to win the conference largely because of their talented roster, one of the best in the nation. The team boasts three of the last four No. 1 recruits in JuJu Watkins, Jazzy Davidson and Saniyah Hall. Watkins is making her return to the court following a knee injury, and is the top favorite for the Big Ten Player of the Year Award.

And for head coach Lindsay Gottlieb, she foresees a smooth reintegration for Watkins on the court alongside her teammates.

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

Gottlieb is also aware of the heightened expectations, and how the team has responded them so far.

”We have aspirations to be playing in April,” Gottlieb continued.

USC did lose some of their depth pieces to graduation (Kara Dunn, Londynn Jones) and the portal (Malia Samuels, Dayana Mendes). But they added key pieces in Pania Davis, who gives the team a legitimate option at center, and All-Big West Second Team guard Ryann Bennett. They also have young returners in Kennedy Smith and Laura Williams, both of whom will be impact players.

When it comes to the Trojans’ freshmen, both Sitaya Fagin and Sara Okeke give the roster a much-needed influx of size. Fagin had joined the team last year but will make her debut in 2026-27. This is one of the most talented and balanced rosters Gottlieb has had in her tenure. At the very least, a Final Four is the floor for this team.

Notes to know:

2025-26 season summary: 18-14 (9-9 in Big Ten, ninth in conference), lost to South Carolina in round of 32

Incoming transfers:

• Pania Davis (Florida State, 6’6, Sr., C – 7.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg)
• Ryann Bennett (UC Davis, 5’8, Jr., G – 15.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 4.0 apg)

Outgoing transfers:

• Vivian Iwuchukwu (Florida, 6’3, Jr., F – 2.6 ppg, 2.2 rpg)
• Dayana Mendes (Miami, 6’2, Jr., F – 3.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg)
• Yakiya Milton (Clemson, 6’4, Sr., F – 2.3 ppg, 2.9 rpg)
• Gerda Raulusaityte (Arizona, 6’3, So., F – 2.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg)
• Malia Samuels (Indiana, 5’6, Sr., G – 3.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 2.4 apg)

Graduates:

• Londynn Jones (10.5 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 1.6 apg)
• Kara Dunn (15.2 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.0 apg)

Key returners:

• JuJu Watkins (did not play in 2025-26 due to injury)
• Jazzy Davidson (So. – 17.9 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 4.1 apg)
• Kennedy Smith (Jr. – 11.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3.6 apg)
• Laura Williams (So. – 2.9 ppg, 4.8 rpg)

Incoming freshmen:

• Sitaya Fagin (6’4, F)
• Saniyah Hall (6’1, G/F)
• Alesia Talkouskaya (6’0, G/F)
• Sara Okeke (6’4, F/C)

Washington

The Huskies took a big hit with several key players from last season exhausting their eligibility. And of the ten players who averaged double digits in minutes played, only four of them are back. But for Tina Langley, those four returners are a solid group to have. They consist of leading scorers Sayvia Sellers and Avery Howell, All-Big Ten Freshman Team selection Brynn McGaughy and Devin Coppinger.

Having that group of returners is a big reason why Langley believes this iteration of the roster can take a big leap.

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

Washington is also bolstered by some key transfer portal additions in Brooke Carlson, Tilda Trygger and Macey Huard. Langley has revitalized a program that had four straight losing seasons prior to her arrival. In five seasons, she’s had four winning records, and back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances.

This past season, the Huskies finished with an above .500 conference record for the first time in nine years. And it was in one of the toughest conferences in the Big Ten. Despite the key losses, this is a roster that Langley can still get production out of and make competitive against some elite opponents.

Notes to know:

2025-26 season summary: 22-11 (10-8 in Big Ten, eighth in conference), lost to TCU in round of 32.

Incoming transfers:

• Brooke Carlson (Colorado State, 5’8, Jr., G – 11.7 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 3.1 apg)
• Kaelyn Carroll (Kentucky, 6’3, So., F – 3.4 ppg, 2.2 rpg)
• Macey Huard (Oklahoma State, 6’2, Jr., G – 6.9 ppg, 3.2 rpg)
• Tilda Trygger (NC State, 6’6, Jr., F – 10.6 ppg, 7.0 rpg)

Outgoing transfers:

• Olivia Anderson (UC Santa Barbara, 6’6, Sr., F – 1.7 ppg, 1.1 rpg)
• Chloe Briggs (Cal Baptist, 5’11, Sr., G – 2.0 ppg, 1.8 rpg)
• Sienna Harvey (Iowa State, 5’10, So., G – 3.8 ppg, 1.7 rpg)

Graduates:

• Elle Ladine (9.9 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.1 apg)
• Hannah Stines (6.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.4 apg)
• Yulia Grabovskaia (4.3 ppg, 4.6 rpg)
• Teagan Brown (1.6 ppg)
• Shayla Gillmer (0.7 ppg)

Key returners:

• Sayvia Sellers (Sr. – 18.0 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 3.9 apg)
• Avery Howell (Jr. – 14.2 ppg, 8.3 rpg)
• Brynn McGaughy (So. – 9.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg)
• Devin Coppinger (Jr. – 3.8 ppg, 2.2 rpg)

Incoming freshmen:

• Amayah Garcia (5’11, G)

Wisconsin

The Badgers are coming off a run to the WBIT Semifinals and are heading into year two with Robin Pingeton at the helm as head coach. Thankfully for her, Kyrah Daniels, the team’s second-leading scorer from last season, is back in the lineup.

But while there are few key returners for the Badgers, including senior Laci Steele and sophomore Dorja Zaja, the team will be looking to their transfer portal additions to make an immediate impact. Pingeton added a couple of proven players in Caia Elisaldez from Chattanooga and Kadidia Toure from Long Island. Both had strong success last season at the mid-major level.

But the other two transfers, Addie Deal and Teagan Mallegni from Iowa, are a little less proven. Both played sparingly with the Hawkeyes, with Deal seeing a little more playing time. However, neither was able to make a real impact on the court. Wisconsin is banking on a change of scenery and a new system to unlock their potential.

For Pingeton, she sees this group being more of a sum of their parts. A team whose work ethic helps them overcome whatever roster deficiencies they may have.

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

This is a program that has not made the NCAA Tournament since the 2009-10 season, long before Pingeton arrived. Judging by the overall strength of the Big Ten, it appears as if the Badgers are going to be on the outside looking in once again.

Notes to know:

2025-26 season summary: 16-18 (5-13 in Big Ten, 15th in conference), lost to Colombia in WBIT

Incoming transfers:

• Addie Deal (Iowa, 6’, So., G – 5.1 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 1.6 apg)
• Caia Elisaldez (Chattanooga, 5’5, Sr., G – 17.0 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 5.1 apg)
• Teagan Mallegni (Iowa, 5’10, Jr., G – 1.5 ppg, 1.3 rpg
• Kadidia Toure (Long Island, 6’2, 5th Yr., F – 19.2 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 2.9 apg)

Outgoing transfers:

• Alie Bisballe (Michigan State, 6’4, Jr., F – 1.0 ppg)
• Leena Patibandla (DII Walsh University, 6’0, Sr., G – 0.5 ppg)
• Jovana Spasovski (6’, Jr., G – 2.0 ppg, 1.0 rpg)
• Breauna Ware (Wake Forest, 5’8, RS Sr., G – 5.4 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 1.1 apg)

Graduates:

• Destiny Howell (14.0 ppg, 2.9 rpg)
• Lily Krahn (4.8 ppg)
• Ronnie Porter (6.0 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 4.9 apg)
• Gift Uchenna (9.1 ppg, 6.9 rpg)

Key returners:

• Kyrah Daniels (Sr. – 12.4 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 2.6 apg)
• Laci Steele (Sr. – 6.0 ppg, 3.4 rpg)
• Dorja Zaja (So. – 5.3 ppg, 2.6 rpg)
• Shay Bollin (Gr. – 3.6 ppg, 2.1 rpg)

Incoming freshmen:

• Giselle Janowski (5’9, G)
• Adaline Sheplee (6’3, G)
• Alicia Courthiau (5’10, G)