October 15, 2025 

2025-26 Big Ten preview

By Thomas Costello

One year after the expansion to 18 teams, is the conference UCLA's to lose?

By Thomas Costello and David Mendez-Yapkowitz

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The 18-team Big Ten experiment is far back in the rearview mirror. Now, in year two of the expanded conference, an injury to USC Trojan star guard Juju Watkins sent ripples through the Big Ten. Without the superstar for the 25-26 season, UCLA center Lauren Betts picked up a unanimous preseason Player of the Year award. Will the UCLA Bruins follow with an easier road to the Big Ten title or will other teams featuring key transfers and freshmen surprise the reigning Big Ten Tournament champions?

This year’s Big Ten preview talks about those Bruins, roster upheavals and which intraconference transfer could lead to a powerhouse staying near the top of the conference?

Here’s a preview of all 18 teams, listed alphabetically. Unless otherwise hyperlinked, player statistics are from Sports-Reference. Looking for a specific team? Click the links below to skip to your favorites.

Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Maryland | Michigan | Michigan State | Minnesota | Nebraska | Northwestern | Ohio State | Oregon | Penn State | Purdue | Rutgers | UCLA | USC | Washington | Wisconsin

Illinois

The Illinois Fighting Illini found their spark at the end of the 23-24 season and took their WBIT championship into the 24-25 season. Head coach Shauna Green’s side, full of strong seniors, matched Green’s first season record and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 25 years. 

This upcoming season though, Green’s five regular starters are all gone — finished with NCAA eligibility. Of the returning roster, there are seven total NCAA starts. 

“We’re a very young team as you guys know, just trying to to take things really literally step by step, possession by possession and instill our culture, our principles, fundamentals of what we want and what has been [what] really drives this program to success,” Green told reporters at Illini media day.

Of those returners, sophomore forward Berry Wallace is the name to watch. Green moved the Ohioan into the starting lineup for the last six games of the season and she averaged 10.5 points per game, higher than her nine points per game season average. Alongside 6-foot-7 center Lety Vasconcelos, who missed all of last season with an ACL injury after transferring from Baylor, give the Illini an advantage inside the paint. 

With all the space left by the five graduating Illini, Green brought in four top-100 2025 recruits, aiming to make a new group of established Illinois stars to follow in the footsteps of Kendall Bostic, Genesis Bryant and Makira Cook. 

Notes to know (players’ 2024-25 stats are in parentheses):

2024-25 season summary: 22-10 (11-7 Big Ten; tenth in conference), lost to Texas in Second Round of NCAA Tournament

Incoming transfers

Outgoing transfers

  • Cori Allen (Memphis, 5’10, G, Jr. – 1.0 ppg) 
  • Shay Bollin (Wisconsin, 6’3, F, Gr. – 2.1 ppg (23-24))

Graduates

Incoming freshmen

  • Destiny Jackson (5’6, G)
  • Erica Finney (6’, G)
  • Manuella Alves (6’3, F)
  • Naomi Benson (6’2, F)
  • Cearah Parchment (6’3, F)

Key returners

Indiana

Shay Ciezki, wearing a white and crimson No. 10 jersey, taking a shot with a crowd watching her as No. 34 Reagan Bass, in a black and gold jersey, puts a hand up to try and block the shot.
Indiana’s Shay Ciezki (10) shoots past Purdue’s Reagan Bass (34) during the Indiana versus Purdue women’s basketball game at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Similar to Illinois, the Indiana Hoosiers are another side in the Big Ten losing a list of key names who have helped raise the program up on the women’s side. 

Graduation is one thing, like guards Sydney Parrish and Chloe Moore-McNeil, but the most difficult on-court loss came via the transfer portal through guard leading scorer Yarden Garzon’s intraconference move to the Maryland Terrapins.

Second year Hoosier guard Shay Ciezki leads a group of four returning players on a revamped roster that may not jump off a stat sheet, but is in a better spot than a year ago, according to head coach Teri Moren. 

A year ago, our locker room was not in a very good shape. Was not in good shape. I do think it’s in better shape today and I think a lot of that has to do with Leneé Beaumont her making sure that we’re going to make sure that this is a healthy um environment,” Moren said at Indiana media day. It’s a healthy locker room. We’re all in alignment with our goals. We’re all in alignment what we value, what the standards are.

Beaumont missed her sophomore season due to a knee injury but returns to be one of the veteran leaders of this Indiana team, besides Ciezki. The duo helped the coaching staff handpick the six transfers who signed this offseason. 

Freshman guard Maya Makalusky won Indiana Ms. Basketball and has the ability to fill the deep shooting hole left by the transfer of Garzon. 

Notes to know

2024-25 season summary: 20-13 (10-8 Big Ten; eighth in conference), lost to South Carolina in Second Round of NCAA Tournament

Incoming transfers

Outgoing transfers

Graduates

  • Karoline Striplin (10.1 ppg)
  • Chloe Moore-McNeil (9.9 ppg)
  • Sydney Parrish (11.6 ppg)

Incoming freshmen

  • Nevaeh Caffey (5’10, G)
  • Maya Makalusky (6’3’, F)

Key returners

  • Shay Ciezki (Sr. – 11.8 ppg, 2.3 rpg)
  • Lenée Beaumont (R-So. – 3.0 ppg (23-24)

Iowa

The Iowa Hawkeyes entered their first year post-Caitlin Clark and Lisa Bluder, but Jan Jensen proved that she was ready to take over the reins. The Hawkeyes were one of the better teams in the Big Ten, and Jensen brought in a strong recruiting class along with a few solid transfers to bolster the roster.

In the days leading up to Big Ten Media Day, the Hawkeyes struck again with a commitment from McKenna Woliczko, the program’s highest-ranked recruit since Caitlin Clark. While Woliczko won’t join the team until 2026-27, her commitment showed that Iowa is still a destination school for top recruits. At Big Ten Media Day, Jensen spoke about how she’s looking forward to coaching a suddenly young Hawkeyes roster.

“That I think is a reminder that it takes time with young teams. . .you can’t skip steps,” Jensen said. “Our freshman, they have some great talent, but they’re still freshmen. That’s one thing I just want everyone to keep in mind. . .we’ve had great improvement since June with my group, but it’s probably going to take us a good portion of this non-con of just to kind of settle in. . .if we can get that depth by the time that Big Ten season hits, I think we can really have a great season.”

Notes to know

2024-25 season summary: 23-11 (10-8 Big Ten, ninth in conference), lost in round of 32 to Okahoma

Incoming transfers

Outgoing transfers

  • Aaliyah Guyton (Illinois, 5’7, G, So. – 4.7 ppg)

Graduates

Incoming freshmen

  • Addie Deal (6’0, W)
  • Layla Hays (6’5, C)
  • Journey Houston (5’11, W)

Key returners

Maryland

Under head coach Brenda Frese, the Maryland Terrapins lost Shyanne Sellers to the professional ranks but Frese’s program is not known for staying down long.

The storyline in College Park is the addition of Indiana’s Yarden Garzon and Duke’s Oluchi Okananwa.

“Those were two areas, the three-point shooting and someone who understood the league, like Yarden [Garzon] being here for three years, and a dynamic backcourt and athletic and being able to pick up full court with a ton of energy on both sides of the ball,” Frese said at Big Ten media day. “Two phenomenal additions to go with the experience that we already have off of the Sweet 16 roster.”

In that group of experienced returners is Bri McDaniel, who injured her ACL in January. Called “very intense” by teammate Kaylene Smikle, McDaniels will return this season and brings energy that aggravates opponents. 

Then add McDonald’s All-American guard and No. 34 overall 2025 recruit Rainey Welson to the program and Frese has a team that can challenge near the top of the Big Ten. Which comes as no surprise for the National Championship winning coach. 

Notes to know

2024-25 season summary: 25-8 (13-5 Big Ten; third in conference), lost to South Carolina in Sweet 16 of NCAA Tournament

Incoming transfers

  • Yarden Garzon (Indiana, 6’3, G, Sr. – 14.4 ppg)
  • Oluchi Okananwa (Duke, 5’10, G, Jr. – 10.1 ppg)

Outgoing transfers

Graduates

Incoming freshmen

  • Rainey Welson (5’10, G)
  • Lea Bartelme (5’8, G)
  • Addi Mack (5’9, G)
  • Marya Boiko (6’4, F)
  • Nicole Fritea (6’2, F)

Key returners

  • Kaylene Smikle (Sr. – 17.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg)
  • Bri McDaniel (Sr. – 10.6 ppg)
  • Saylor Poffenbarger (R-Sr. – 9.1 ppg, 7.2 rpg)

Michigan

Syla Swords, wearing white jersey, and Olivia Olson, also wearing white jersey with blue and yellow lines and block M on the shorts, celebrate after making a shot.
Michigan guard Olivia Olson (1) and guard Syla Swords, right, celebrate Olson scoring a basket and drawing a foul during the first round of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament between Michigan and Iowa State at Purcell Pavilion on Friday, March 21, 2025, in South Bend. MICHAEL CLUBB/SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Last season, the Michigan Wolverines surprised NCAA basketball with their phenomenal trio of freshman starters. The days of surprising teams with Syla Swords, Olivia Olson and Mila Holloway are over. 

Now, without senior leader Jordan Hobbs, the team is firmly in the hands of the trio and enter the 25-26 season one year stronger. 

“For her [Holloway] this next season, her maturity in the preseason, her growth in the offseason has been really special,” head coach Kim Barnes-Arico said on Big Ten media day. “She played with Team Canada, as did Syla [Swords] who also played with her national team, bring on the stage with the international experience just continues to help offseason growth.”

A concern entering this season was size in the paint with the transfer of center Yulia Grabovskaia in the Big Ten to Washington. Barnes-Arico responded with the addition of Ashley Sofilkanich who won Patriot League Player of the Year. 

Sofilkanich led the conference in points (19.7) and blocks (2.2) per game. If that production continues for the former mid-major standout in a power conference like the Big Ten, there is no reason to believe the Wolverines can’t compete for a conference title this season. 

Notes to know

2024-25 season summary: 23-11 (11-7 Big Ten; fifth in conference), lost to Notre Dame in Second Round of NCAA Tournament

Incoming transfers

  • Kendall Dudley (UCLA, 6’3, F, So. – 1.9 ppg)
  • Ashley Sofilkanich (Bucknell, 6’3, F, Jr. – 19.7 ppg, 8.4 rpg)

Outgoing transfers

  • Yulia Grabovskaia (Washington, 6’5, C, Sr. – 5.3 ppg) 

Graduates

Incoming freshmen

  • Jessica Fields (6’1, F)
  • Ciara Byars (6’2, F)
  • McKenzie Mathurin (5’10, G)

Key returners

  • Syla Swords (So. — 16.0 ppg, 6.2 rpg)
  • Mila Holloway (So. – 9.8 ppg, 4.4 apg)
  • Olivia Olson (So. – 16.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg)

Michigan State

A more active side in the transfer portal is out of East Lansing, Michigan. The Spartans ended the 24-25 season in a top-five position in the Big Ten and then added a set of four transfers who did not leave their schools for more playing time. No, they left as high producers for their teams who now bring their game to head coach Robyn Fralick.

In the case of Sara Sambolić, the Slovenia international will play in the United States for the first time this season. Sambolić is a point guard who can find open teammates with theatrical passes and can score on all three levels.

Michigan State added players who fit into her high intensity system where players are expected to be an every possession team. It sounds nice, and something every coach might say, but the results speak for themselves.

In the Big Ten, the Spartans were fourth in defensive rating (84.6), third in blocks per game (5.1) and tied for first in steals per game (12.2).

“We want to be an every possession team and an every possession player and it sounds really cool, but it’s hard, and how do you get a group to care about every possession and the relentless mentality required to be really really good,” Fralick said at Big Ten media day. “It takes a lot of effort. It takes a lot of collective teamness.”

Forward Grace Vanslooten and guard Theryn Hallock embody that mentality and return to lead this new group of transfers. If Fralick’s success at Michigan State continues its upward trajectory of moving one step further in the NCAA Tournament each of her two seasons at the helm, the Spartans could make their first Sweet 16 since 2009. 

Notes to know

2024-25 season summary: 22–10 (11-7 Big Ten; fifth in conference), lost to NC State in Second Round of NCAA Tournament

Incoming transfers

  • Marah Dykstra (Montana State, 6’2, F, Sr. – 12.4 ppg)
  • Jalyn Brown (Arizona State, 6’0, G, Sr. – 18.0 ppg)
  • Sara Sambolić (Slovenia , 5’7, G, Jr.) 
  • Rashunda Jones (Purdue, 5’8, G, Jr. — 9.8 ppg, 3.7 apg)

Outgoing transfers

Graduates

Incoming freshmen

  • Jordan Ode (6’0, G)
  • Amy Terrian (5’8, G)
  • Anna Terrian (5’8, G)

Key returners

  • Grace Vanslooten (Sr. — 16.0 ppg, 6.2 rpg)
  • Theryn Hallock (Sr. — 13.3 ppg)

Minnesota

Jan 14, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers guard Mara Braun (10) celebrates during the second half against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Williams Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

The Minnesota Gophers may not have reached the NCAA Tournament last season, but they did win 20+ games and were the WBIT champion. It was an overall successful season in the second year of the Dawn Plitzuweit era.

One of the biggest reasons for optimism from the Gophers this upcoming season is the return of Mara Braun. A perennial All-Conference guard, Braun was limited to only five games last season due to injury. At Big Ten Media Day, Plitzuweit spoke about integrating Braun back into the lineup and how roles can change from last season.

“What this team now has a challenge to do is figure out how to play together, because we have a lot of players who have played in different ways, and maybe played a lot of minutes, now can play harder in shorter spurts,” Plitzuweit said. “I thought last year we had games where we had very good minutes, we just couldn’t sustain those minutes long enough. . .it’s not just players returning, but the players that have returned for us have gotten significantly better.”

Notes to know

2024-25 season summary: 25-11 (8-10 Big Ten, 13th in conference), won WBIT

Incoming transfers

  • Tracey Bershers (UAB, 6’2, F, Gr. – 6.5 ppg, 3.1 rpg)
  • Brylee Glenn (Kansas State, 5’11, G, Gr. – 6.3 ppg, 2.2 rpg)
  • Finau Tonga (San Jose State, 6’2, F/C, Gr. – 8.7 ppg, 5.2 rpg)

Outgoing transfers

Graduates

  • Alexsia Rose (1.8 ppg)
  • Maggie Czinano (1.1 ppg)
  • Annika Stewart (8.5 ppg, 2.1 rpg)

Incoming freshmen

  • Zoey Bershers (6’3, C)
  • Makena Christian (5’11, W)

Key returners

Nebraska

The Nebraska Huskers come into the 2025-26 season in an interesting place. While the Huskers lost their best player in Alexis Markowski, they are strengthened by a few impact transfers, and have quite a bit of key returners including Britt Prince, one of the Big Ten’s best guards as a freshman.

The Huskers are coming off back-to-back 20 win seasons, and they reached the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year. During Big Ten Media Day, head coach Amy Williams spoke about the potential return of Natalie Potts, who is still rehabbing from an ACL injury suffered last season. Potts was among the best players in the conference before she was sidelined.

“Natalie has not returned to practice just yet, but I could not be more proud of the way that she has approached her rehabilitation. She just is a hard worker in everything she does, and just continues to stay relentless,” Williams said. “And the way she’s grown just with her IQ and thrown herself into being better and ball-handling and shooting and all things that you can control and get better at through the process until she is fully cleared to be out there with us, she just is going to max out.”

Notes to know

2024-25 season summary: 21-12 (10-8 Big Ten, tenth in conference), lost in round of 64 to Louisville

Incoming transfers

  • Emily Fisher (Maryland, 6’0, W, Jr. – 1.7 ppg)
  • Claire Johnson (Samford, 5’9, G, So. – 12.2 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 2.0 apg)
  • Eliza Maupin (Kansas State, 6’3, C, Sr. – 3.9 ppg, 2.8 rpg)
  • Hailey Weaver (Northwestern, 5’11, W, Gr. – 7.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg)

Outgoing transfers: None

Graduates

  • Alexis Markowski (16.3 ppg, 8.0 rpg)
  • Alberte Rimdal (7.9 ppg)
  • Kendall Moriarty (3.4 ppg)
  • Kendall Coley (2.3 ppg)

Incoming freshmen

  • Alanna Neale (5’10, G)

Key returners

Northwestern

The storyline for Northwestern this season is the final year of coaching the Wildcats for program staple Joe McKeown. Since 2008, McKeown’s led Northwestern to its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 18 years and first regular season title in 30 years.

Using his blizzard defense, McKeown’s program has not been near the top of the conference each year but the coach took a team near the bottom of the standings and made them a pest to everyone else in the Big Ten.

The question surrounding the Wildcats this season is can they send McKeown out on a high note? Northwestern has been on a slide over the last four seasons without a winning conference record since that 2020 regular season title.

Despite the final record, Northwestern was not dealt lopsided loss after lopsided loss last season. The Wildcats competed in games and nearly defeated the Michigan Wolverines and Indiana Hoosiers with late fourth quarter leads.

“I think we bring that up a lot instead of sweeping under the carpet,” McKeown told reporters at Big Ten media day. “I think we made that important to us that you know we’re good enough to play against everybody now. We got to be you know finish the game.”

It will be tough this season with Northwestern’s top two scorers leaving through graduation and the transfer portal. Fortunately for McKeown, guard Caroline Lau, who led the Big Ten with 6.0 assists per game, and forward Grace Sullivan return to anchor the Wildcats in McKeown’s final ride after 44 years of coaching.

Notes to know

2024-25 season summary: 9-18 (2-16 Big Ten, 17th in conference), did not qualify for Big Ten Tournament

Incoming transfers

  • DaiJa Turner (TCU, 6’3, F, Gr. – 0.1 ppg)
  • Tate Walters (Furman, 5’9, G, Gr – 12.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 3.7 apg)
  • Sammy White (Northwestern Lacrosse, 5’5, G)

Outgoing transfers

Graduates

  • Kyla Jones (8.6 ppg)
  • Caileigh Walsh (12.4 ppg, 4.5 rpg)
  • Mercy Ademusayo (1.5 ppg)
  • Taylor Williams (11.7 ppg, 9.4 rpg)

Incoming freshmen

  • Angelina Hodgens (5’10, G)
  • Amparo Lopez (5’9 G)
  • Sandra Moreno (6’1 F)

Key returners

Ohio State

Basketball player Jaloni Cambridge wearing No. 22 in white and scarlet jersey pointing, holding a towel, as teammates and the crowd look on. Standing on the sideline.
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Jaloni Cambridge (22) celebrates in the second half at Value City Arena on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio. Samantha Madar USA TODAY Network via IMAGN IMAGES

Even a fortune teller would have issues predicting where Ohio State women’s basketball lands this season. Look at the conference voters and they are confident that the Buckeyes are still a top-five Big Ten team. Look at an outlet like ESPN and they didn’t include them in their top-25, but seven conference sides made its ranks.

The Buckeyes lost two irreplaceable players in Taylor Thierry to the WNBA and Cotie McMahon to the transfer portal. Thierry patrolled the court defensively and made athletic plays that not many could rival across the country while McMahon’s created a three-season highlight reel of running back-esque runs to the basket. 

Ohio State is not anywhere close to the team they have been for the last three seasons, but still feature a group of players capable of surprising teams in the Big Ten.

“I think we’ve added probably more skill than we’ve had in recent years,” head coach Kevin McGuff said to reporters at Big Ten media day. “So, a big part of our success is going to be our ability to be efficient with a three point line.”

McGuff did that through the transfer portal with former Boston College guard T’Yana Todd, who led the ACC in three-point shooting percentage last season. Then there is a pair of deep shooting freshmen in Bryn Martin and Dasha Biriuk to add to a roster that is not lacking from perimeter threats, regardless of the position.

Center Elsa Lemmilä and forward Ella Hobbs can even hit from deep, which will make McGuff’s Five Out offensive setup tricky for teams to commit defenders. When nearly anyone will take a three-point shot, it leaves space for Jaloni Cambridge, Chance Gray and Kennedy Cambridge to expose the open space in the paint. 

Notes to know

2024-25 season summary: 26–7 (13-5 Big Ten; third in conference), lost to Tennessee in Second Round of NCAA Tournament

Incoming transfers

  • T’Yana Todd (Boston College, 6’0, G, Sr. – 13.7 ppg)
  • Kylee Kitts (Florida, 6’4, G/F, R-Fr.)

Outgoing transfers

  • Cotie McMahon (Ole Miss, 6’, F, Sr. — 16.5 ppg, 4.7 rpg) 
  • Kaia Henderson (Boston College, 5’6, G, R-Sr. — 0.8 ppg (23-24)) 
  • Faith Carson (Grand Canyon, 6’4, C, R-So. —0.6 ppg (23-24))

Graduates

Incoming freshmen

  • Bryn Martin (6’1, G)
  • Dasha Biriuk (6’1, G)

Key returners

  • Jaloni Cambridge (So. — 15.4 ppg, 3.9 apg)
  • Chance Gray (Sr. — 12.0 ppg)
  • Elsa Lemmilä (So. —4.1 ppg, 1.9 bpg)

Oregon

Mar 23, 2025; Durham, NC, USA; Oregon Ducks head coach Kelly Graves gestures at an official during the second half against the Duke Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium. The Blue Devils won 59-53. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-Imagn Images

The Oregon Ducks were one of the surprise teams in the Big Ten last season. Anchored by Deja Kelly, the Ducks ended up being a formidable team that nearly doubled their win total (20) from the season prior (11). They reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time in three seasons, and Kelly Graves reminded people why he’s one of the nation’s better coaches.

While the Ducks lost a few key players, including Kelly, they are bolstered a few intriguing transfers, and some of the younger players from last year have an opportunity to step up. At Big Ten Media Day, Graves spoke about how the Ducks’ backcourt, especially incoming transfer Astera Tuhina, can be a real strength for the team despite the departures.

“I think she’s [Astera] great. She’s been a godsend for us in a lot of ways. Very solid at the point, makes good decisions,” Graves said. “We’re trying to play faster this year so I’m trying to speed her up a little bit, but I think that’s going to be one of our strengths this year. We’ve got AT at the point, we’ve got Elisa Mevius returning and then Katie Fiso. We have three really good players that can be those lead guards for us.”

Notes to know

2024-25 season summary: 20-12 (10-8 Big Ten; eleventh in conference), lost in Second Round of the NCAA Tournament to Duke

Incoming transfers

  • Avary Cain (UCLA, 6’1, G, So. – 1.5 ppg)
  • Mia Jacobs (Fresno State, 6’2, F, Sr. – 18.3 ppg)
  • Astera Tuhina (Washington State, 5’9, G, Sr. – 7.8 ppg)

Outgoing transfers: None

Graduates

  • Deja Kelly (12.2 ppg)
  • Peyton Scott (10.0 ppg)
  • Phillipina Kyei (8.0 ppg)
  • Alexis Whitfield (4.5 ppg)

Incoming freshman

  • Sara Barhoum (5’10, G)
  • Janiyah Williams (5’9, G)

Key returners

Penn State

Penn State ended the 24-25 season in last place in the Big Ten with only one conference victory to their name. Then the Nittany Lions’ top three scorers entered the transfer portal and it looked like head coach Carolyn Kieger’s side was going to slip further.

Well, two of those three players removed their names from the portal and Kieger received the commitment of Rutgers standout freshman Kiyomi McMiller and now there is some hope in State College. 

It is still an uphill climb for the Nittany Lions, but with a scorer like McMiller and a post presence like Gracie Merkle, Penn State has the players to make the 15-team Big Ten Tournament field and maybe more.

Merkle gave insight into the improved morale within the team, and stronger relationships between Kieger and her players after former players alleged improper treatment from Kieger prior to the 24-25 season.

“This year, she [Kieger] took me under her wing a lot. She’s worked with me daily,” Merkle told the IX Basketball. “She’s worked on my mid range shot with me, just developing my post game even more. And you know, it’s just great. She’s got to know me more off the court, more than she like she did last year.”

Whatever Kieger changed, keeping Merkle and fellow Moriah Murray on top of the McMiller commitment gives Penn State some unexpected momentum. How does that relay to the court? Will Kieger and McMiller have a better relationship than the sophomore had in year one with Rutgers head coach Coquese Washington? Either way, Penn State will be exciting to watch. 

Notes to know

2024-25 season summary: 10–19 (1-17 Big Ten; eighteenth in conference), did not qualify for the postseason

Incoming transfers

  • Kiyomi McMiller (Rutgers, 5’8, G, So. – 13.7 ppg)
  • Maggie Mendelson (Nebraska, 6’5, F, Sr. — 2.0 ppg (22-23) dual sport athlete with volleyball)
  • Amiya Evans (Georgia, 6’2, F, Sr. — 5.1 ppg, 6.2 rpg)

Outgoing transfers

  • Cam Rust (Seton Hall, 6’1, F, So. — 1.8 ppg) 
  • Talayah Walker (Georgia Tech, 5’10, G, So. — 5.6 ppg) 
  • Grace Hall (SMU, 6’2, F, R-Sr. — 5.7 ppg)
  • Gabby Elliott (Arizona State, 5’10, G, Sr. — 13.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg)
  • Alli Campbell (Fairfield, 6’0, G, Gr. — 8.1 ppg)
  • Jill Jekot (Saint Joseph’s, 5’11, G, So. — 0.9 ppg)

Graduates

Incoming freshmen

  • Rachael Okokoh (6’4, F)
  • Nyla McFadden (6’0, G/F)
  • Shayla Smith (5’9, G)
  • Viktoria Ranisavljevic (5’7, G)
  • Tea Cleante (5’9, G)

Key returners

  • Gracie Merkle (R-Jr. — 15.5 ppg, 8.6 rpg)
  • Moriah Murray (R-Jr. — 10.4 ppg)

Purdue

Head coach Katie Gearlds, holding a basketball under her right arm, looking at a group of eight players, with their backs facing the camera. Gearlds is talking to the players during a practice.
Purdue Boilermakers head coach Katie Gearlds leads a team huddle Thursday, June 19, 2025, during practice at Purdue University’s Cardinal Court in West Lafayette, Indiana. Alex Martin/Journal and Courier / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

In the 21-22 season, first year Boilermakers head coach Katie Gearlds took a 7-16 team and put them over .500 with a 17-15 season. The next season it was the program’s first trip to the NCAA tournament in five seasons. 

Now, in Gearlds’ fifth season in charge, Purdue is moving backwards after a 10-19 season in 24-25. To make matters more interesting, Purdue and Gearlds now have to turn things around with a roster that includes nine new additions. 

To help that new side adjust, former Purdue staple Madison Layden-Zay came out of collegiate retirement to play her final season of eligibility.

“I’s actually been really really nice to have Madison back,” Gearlds said at Big Ten media day. “Even stepping away for a year but being here for three years and really understanding what it is that that kind of makes me tick, and and what we’re looking for as a as a program and our identity moving forward.”

Gearlds brought in six transfers, but is already down a player with the injury to Taylor Henderson on the first day of practice. However, coach Gearlds still sees her team as ahead of where they should be in this position, thanks to returners like Layden-Zay, her sister McKenna Layden and sophomore forwards Kendall Puryear and Lana McCarthy. 

Notes to know

2024-25 season summary: 10-19 (3-15 Big Ten; fifteenth in conference), did not qualify for the postseason

Incoming transfers

  • Kiki Smith (Arkansas, 5’7, G, So. – 10.2 ppg)
  • Nya Smith (UNC Greensboro, 5’0, G, So. — 10.9 ppg)
  • Taylor Henderson (UNC Wilmington, 5’11, G, Jr. — 12.0 ppg, 6.1 ppg)
  • Saige Stahl (Indiana State, 6’1, F, R-Jr. —7.4 ppg, 7.2 rpg)
  • Taylor Feldman (Northern Arizona, 5’8, G, Sr. — 16.4 ppg, 3.9 apg)
  • Tara Daye (St. John’s, 5’10, G, R-Jr. — 6.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg)

Outgoing transfers

  • Amiyah Reynolds (UT Arlington, 6’0, G, R-So. — 1.9 ppg) 
  • Mila Reynolds (UT Arlington, 6’3, F, R-Jr. — 2.4 ppg (23-24)) 
  • Jordyn Poole (Dayton, 6’4, G, So. —2.8 ppg)
  • Jayla Smith (Missouri, 6’0, G, R-Sr. — 3.5 ppg)
  • Sophie Swanson (Virginia Tech, 5’10, G, Jr. — 8.9 ppg)
  • Rashunda Jones (Michigan State, 5’8, G, Jr. — 9.8 ppg, 3.7 apg)

Graduates

  • Mahri Petree (2.6 ppg)
  • Ella Collier (6.0 ppg)
  • Reagan Bass (7.9 ppg, 5.1 rpg)
  • Destini Lombard (9.9 ppg)

Incoming freshmen

  • Avery Gordon (6’7, F)
  • Hila Karsh (5’8, G)
  • Carley Barrett (5’7, G)

Key returners

  • Kendall Puryear (So. — 7.2 ppg, 3.7 rpg)
  • Madison Layden-Zay (Gr. — 9.8 ppg (23-24))

Rutgers

Most of the conversations about Rutgers during the 24-25 season focused not on game results but who was not on the court for head coach Coquese Washington. The well-documented relationship between Kiyomi McMiller and Washington led to a premature end to McMiller’s freshman season. Now, with McMiller gone, Washington’s focus is on the continued work of putting together the building blocks of the program.

Rutgers brought in six players from the transfer portal to try and backfill rebounding skill through the graduations of Destiny Adams and Chyna Cornwell. Washington went with height and has six players listed as at least 6-foot-3.

“We have a lot of people who can change light bulbs without a ladder,” Washington joked with reporters.

It is not only size but depth that Washington has this season compared to her previous campaigns. In her fourth season, Washington’s team is full of upperclassmen leadership, albeit from different programs.

Through the last three seasons, with off-court issues between Washington and both McMiller and now Maryland Terrapin Kaylene Smikle, Washington has not had a season with consistency in her lineup until this year. 

“That size, that depth, will allow us to play an aggressive style of basketball on both ends,” Washington said. “Utilizing our length and our athleticism and our depth to continue to play at the pace that we want to play at throughout the entire game.”

Notes to know

2024-25 season summary: 13–20 (3-15 Big Ten; fifteenth in conference), lost to Buffalo in Great 8 of WNIT

Incoming transfers

Outgoing transfers

  • Kiyomi McMiller (Penn State, 5’8, G, So. — 18.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 3.0 apg) 
  • Lisa Thompson (Missouri, 5’9, G, So. — 4.9 ppg) 
  • Mya Petticord (Auburn, 5’9, G, Sr. —6.7 ppg)

Graduates

  • Destiny Adams (17.9 ppg, 9.9 rpg)
  • JoJo Lacey (10.1 ppg, 5.3 rpg)
  • Chyna Cornwell (6.5 ppg, 7.6 rpg)
  • Awa Sidibe (7.5 ppg)

Incoming freshmen

  • Makylah Moore (6’0, G)
  • Precious Gem Wheeler (6’3, F)

Key returner: 

UCLA

Feb 20, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Genesis Bryant (1) tries to score between UCLA Bruins guard Kiki Rice (1) and center Lauren Betts (51) during the third quarter at Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images

The UCLA Bruins are coming a historic 2024-25, reaching the Final Four for the first time since they became part of the NCAA, as well as setting a program record with 34 wins. And even though the Bruins had quite a few players hit the transfer portal, they did not really lose anyone of consequence.

The core group is still intact, including NPOY contender Lauren Betts, and the Bruins added two potential impact players in graduate transfer Gianna Kneepkens and freshman Sienna Betts. To add to that, Charlisse Leger-Walker is finally healthy after rehabbing from an ACL injury. During Big Ten Media Day, Bruins head coach Cori Close spoke about the continued development of Lauren Betts and why she’s gotten even better in the offseason.

“She’s always been sort of a unicorn from a talent perspective, but what she’s bringing to us this year is sort of a steadiness of a work ethic, a of extra work and leadership that I think even has surprised her,” Close said. “Her consistency in that, I’ve really coached her hard. . .she will say that I’m her most annoying person. . .at the end of summer, I thought it said so much about her that thanked me for holding the standard. . .it’s so easy to see her talents, there’s so few people who can do what she can do, but where we will go is really about the other things.”

Notes to know

2024-25 season summary: 34-3 (16-2 Big Ten; second in conference), lost in Final Four to UConn

Incoming transfers

  • Gianna Kneepkens (Utah, 6’0, G, Gr., 19.3 ppg)

Outgoing transfers

  • Londynn Jones (USC, 5’4, G, Sr. – 8.5 ppg)
  • Elina Aarnisalo (North Carolina, 5’10, G, So. – 5.1 ppg)
  • Avary Cain (Oregon, 6’1, G, So. – 1.5 ppg)
  • Kendall Dudley (Michigan, 6’2, F, So. – 1.9 ppg, 2.3 rpg)
  • Zania Socka-Nguemen (Indiana, 6’3, F, So. – 1.5 ppg, 1.5 rpg)
  • Janiah Barker (Tennessee, 6’4, F, Sr. – 7.4 ppg, 6.0 rpg)

Graduates: None

Incoming freshmen

  • Sienna Betts (6’4, F)
  • Lena Bilic (6’3 W)
  • Christina Karamouzi (6’0, G)

Key Returners

USC

The USC Trojans are going to look quite different in 2025-26. JuJu Watkins is officially out for the season as she rehabs from an ACL injury suffered during the NCAA Tournament. Several key upperclassmen are gone as are a few of last season’s impact freshmen.

But the Trojans have key talent on the roster in standout sophomore Kennedy Smith, senior transfer Londynn Jones and highly-touted freshman Jazzy Davidson. During Big Ten Media Day, Trojans head coach Lindsay Gottlieb explained how Watkins has helped transform the program that even in her absence, the overall mindset remains the same.

“Our expectations remain the same. What we’re trying to do with USC basketball remains the same,” Gottlieb said. “Nobody’s going to replace her, there is no other JuJu Watkins. But she has helped to build something, and I think that doesn’t get said enough. . .but she has helped to build a program that we still expect to go out and win games and fight for championships even when she can’t be on the court with us.”

Notes to know

2024-25 season summary: 31-4 (17-1 Big Ten; first in conference), lost in Elite Eight to UConn

Incoming transfers

  • Londynn Jones (UCLA, 5’4, G, Sr. – 8.5 ppg)
  • Kara Dunn (Georgia Tech, 5’11, G, Sr. – 15.5 ppg)
  • Yakiya Milton (Auburn, 6’5 F, Jr. – 1.9 ppg, 2.3 rpg)
  • Dayana Mendes (Washington State, 6’2, F, So.)

Outgoing transfers

Graduates

  • Kiki Iriafen (18.0 ppg, 8.4 rpg)
  • Talia von Oelhoffen (5.9 ppg, 3.3 apg)
  • Clarice Akunwafo (1.2 ppg, 2.5 rpg)
  • Rayah Marshall (7.9 ppg, 8.4 rpg)

Incoming freshmen

  • Jazzy Davidson (6’2, G)

Key returners

Washington

Washington's Elle Ladine wearing black and purple No. 24 Washington Jersey dribbling against Kennedy Cambridge wearing white and scarlet Ohio State jersey.
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Kennedy Cambridge (3) defends Washington Huskies guard Elle Ladine (24) during the first half of the NCAA women’s basketball game at Value City Arena in Columbus on Feb. 2, 2025. Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Washington Huskies come in 2025-26 with reason for optimism. Last season the Huskies made the NCAA Tournament for the first time since Tina Langley took over as head coach, and they have a talented roster with a solid mix of young players and upperclassmen.

The Huskies did not lose anyone to the transfer portal, and they were able to grab an impact guard in Avery Howell from USC. They also brought in one of the better recruiting classes in the country highlighted by Brynn McGaughy, Langley’s first five-star recruit. During Big Ten Media Day, Langley spoke about building a destination program where players don’t want to transfer out.

“Our program is very committed to helping each individual become who they want to be, to really accomplish their dreams, Langley said. “When our student athletes choose to come to Washington, they know that they’re a part of that process for each other. I think that the student athletes that are currently there have really invested in one another, invested in the dreams that each of them has, and obviously collectively and the goals we have as a program.”

Notes to know

2024-25 season summary: 19-14 (9-9 Big Ten; twelfth in conference), lost in First Four to Columbia

Incoming transfers

  • Yulia Grabovskaia (Michigan, 6’5, C, Jr. – 5.4 ppg)
  • Avery Howell (USC, 6’0, G, So. – 7.5 ppg)

Outgoing transfers: None

Graduates:

  • Dalayah Daniels (12.8 ppg)
  • Tayra Eke (4.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg)
  • Brenna McDonald (1.8 ppg, 2.2 rpg)

Incoming freshmen    

  • Nina Cain (6’2, F)
  • Sienna Harvey (5’10, G)
  • Brynn McGaughy (6’3, F)

Key returners

Wisconsin

The Wisconsin Badgers come into 2025-26 with an overhauled roster and coaching staff. After four straight losing seasons, including last year’s finish near the bottom of the Big Ten standings, Marisa Moseley resigned from her position. In her place is Robin Pingeton who arrives from Missouri where she led the Tigers to four NCAA Tournament appearances and six WNIT appearances in 15 seasons.

The Tigers lost several players to graduation and the transfer portal, including leading scorers Serah Williams and Carter McCray, but also added a few potential impact players through the portal. During Big Ten Media Day, Pingeton spoke about the challenges that come with putting together essentially a brand new roster on the fly.

“With the portal season and knowing how many players we had to add to our roster, it was really busy. I think it’s really important that just like when you’re building a house, that foundational piece is so important,” Pingeton said. “We really invested a lot of time into that after we had built our roster, and the time that we spent together as a team of just really trying to build that connectivity and the alignment in regards to our staff, in the locker room and in our administration. . .building can be really fun, it’s like putting together a puzzle, it’s like all these different pieces, but it’s fun and every day is new and different.”

Notes to know

2024-25 season summary: 13-17 (4-14 Big Ten, 14th in conference), lost in first round of Big Ten Tournament

Incoming transfers

  • Shay Bollin (Illinois, 6’3, F, Sr. – 2.1 ppg)
  • Kyrah Daniels (Missouri State, 6’0, G, Jr. – 12.0 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 2.3 apg)
  • Destiny Howell (Howard, 6’0, G, Gr. – 14.9 ppg, 4.3 rpg)
  • Laci Steele (NC State, 5’11, G, Jr. – 1.7 ppg)
  • Gift Uchenna (Southern Illinois, 6’3, C, Sr. – 14.5 ppg, 12.8 rpg)
  • Breauna Ware (Stony Brook, 5’8, G, Jr. – 14.7 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.2 apg)

Outgoing transfers

  • Tessa Grady (Coastal Carolina, 6’2, F, Jr. – 3.6 ppg)
  • Gracie Grzesk (Green Bay, 5’11, F, So.)
  • D’Yanis Jimenez (Coastal Carolina, 5’8, G, Jr. – 1.8 ppg)
  • Carter McCray (West Virginia, 6’1, C, Jr. – 10.6 ppg, 7.1 rpg)
  • Serah Williams (UConn, 6’4, F, Sr. – 19.2 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 2.3 bpg)

Graduates

  • Tess Myers (7.2 ppg)
  • Halle Douglass (4.6 ppg, 3.3 rpg)
  • Natalie Leuzinger (6.9 ppg, 2.2 rpg)

Incoming freshmen

  • Nikki Kerstein (5’8, G)
  • Dorja Zaja (6’3, C)

Key returners

Editor’s note (Oct.21, 3:35 p.m. ET): An earlier version of this story misstated that Sophie Hart was graduating, but she is returning this season.

Written by Thomas Costello

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