With just a handful of games left on the schedule, the 2025-26 season is entering crunch time for the Illinois women’s basketball team. At 17-8 overall and sitting even at 7-7 in Big Ten play, the Illini are right in the thick of things-but after dropping four of their last six, they’re also at a bit of a crossroads.
Shauna Green’s squad has shown plenty of promise this year. The young core is talented, the offense can catch fire, and when the defense clicks, they’ve proven they can hang with just about anyone in the conference. But as the regular season winds down, Illinois finds itself needing a strong finish to solidify its standing before March.
Next up? A home matchup against a struggling Rutgers team that’s won just once in Big Ten play.
On paper, it’s a prime opportunity for Illinois to get back on track. But as always, there are a few key questions that could shape how this one plays out.
Can Illinois contain Nene Ndiaye?
Let’s be honest-Rutgers hasn’t had much to celebrate this season. The Scarlet Knights have dropped 12 of their last 13 and are staring down the possibility of missing the Big Ten Tournament altogether. But amidst a tough year, junior forward Nene Ndiaye has been a clear bright spot.
The Boston College transfer has stepped in as the centerpiece of Coquese Washington’s lineup, leading Rutgers in scoring with 15.2 points per game. She’s also chipped in 5.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists while shooting an efficient 46% from the field. Ndiaye’s versatility and ability to create her own shot make her a matchup problem, even for defenses that have held their own against tougher competition.
Illinois has already seen its fair share of dynamic wings this season-players like Indiana’s Shay Ciezki and Ohio State’s Jaloni Cambridge have tested the Illini on the perimeter. So this group knows what it takes to slow down a go-to scorer.
The key will be staying disciplined, keeping Ndiaye off the free-throw line, and forcing the rest of Rutgers’ offense to beat them. If Illinois can neutralize Ndiaye early, it’s hard to see the Scarlet Knights keeping pace.
Have the Illini turned the corner on their slow starts?
One of the biggest storylines for Illinois lately has been their tendency to start games sluggishly-something that’s come back to bite them in a few key matchups. In recent losses to USC and Oregon, the Illini were outscored by a combined 82-47 in the first halves. Those kinds of deficits are tough to dig out of, no matter how explosive your offense is.
But last week’s 82-60 win over Wisconsin may have marked a turning point. Illinois came out firing, putting up 24 points in the opening quarter and never looking back.
The three-point shooting was lights-out-11-of-17 from beyond the arc, including a perfect 6-for-6 effort from sophomore guard Aaliyah Guyton. That kind of start is exactly what this team has been searching for.
The question now is whether that performance was a one-off-or the start of a new trend. Rutgers may not be a top-tier opponent, but this game is still a chance for Illinois to build some momentum and prove that the first-half struggles are in the rearview mirror.
If the Illini can bring the same energy and execution they showed against Wisconsin, especially in the opening minutes, they’ll be in a great spot-not just to pick up a win, but to set the tone for the final stretch of the season.
Looking Ahead
With the Big Ten standings tightening and March looming, every possession matters a little more from here on out. Illinois has shown flashes of being a dangerous team, but consistency has been the missing piece. A strong showing against Rutgers could be exactly what they need to reset the tone and remind the rest of the conference what this group is capable of.
It’s not just about beating a team at the bottom of the standings-it’s about building habits, finding rhythm, and playing the kind of basketball that travels into postseason play. For Shauna Green and the Illini, the time to lock in is now.