Illinois women’s basketball has already shown what it can do outside the Big Ten, and now the Illini are set up to test that formula again.
After going 13-3 in non-conference play during the 2025-26 season, Illinois used that stretch to build a résumé that helped push the program to its third NCAA tournament appearance in the last four years. Wins over teams like Missouri, Florida State, and Murray State helped establish the Illini early, and that same part of the schedule figures to matter again this season.
The newly released 2026-27 non-conference slate gives a clearer picture of what’s ahead, and it includes several notable matchups. Illinois will face Marquette and Saint Joseph’s on neutral courts in the Baha Mar Hoops Nassau Championship, and it will also host Braggin’ Rights rival Missouri. Southeast Missouri State is on the schedule as well, with Illinois having beaten that team 91-67 last season.
Illinois’ non-conference run will carry real weight once again, especially with the Big Ten’s reputation as one of the toughest leagues in the country. These games are where the Illini will have a chance to stack wins and strengthen their March case before conference play takes over.
The early portion of last season showed just how dangerous this group can be when it gets rolling. Illinois opened by winning 13 of its first 14 games and handled a mix of mid-major opponents and six Power Four schools along the way.
That kind of start could be in play again for Shauan Green’s team. Illinois enters the 2026-27 season with its roster intact and a full year of experience behind it, having kept more than 90% of its players from last year’s team. That continuity should give the Illini a real edge as they navigate the non-conference schedule.
There are still a few tests waiting, though, and Saint Joseph’s and Missouri come after Thanksgiving. Even with those bumps, Illinois would have every reason to expect another strong non-conference showing, with anything short of an 11-2 mark looking like a disappointment.
In Other News...
Illinois May Be Losing Ground In A Crucial 5-Star Battle
Brad Underwood has been on the road and on the phone as Illinois keeps working to capitalize on a stretch of momentum that has put the program in bigger recruiting conversations. The Illini have hosted several prospects lately, including five-star targets Moussa Kamissoko and Darius Wabbington, and that kind of company speaks to where Illinois is trying to stay after a Final Four run and a recent top NBA draft pick helped raise the programs profile.
Still, the picture is not entirely settled on one of those marquee battles. Rivals prediction model now points more toward Syracuse for Kamissoko, even though no commitment has been made, leaving Illinois with a live but increasingly difficult fight on its hands. The Illini have other recruits committed or visiting, so the board is far from empty, but the next move in this particular chase could tell a lot about how much of that recent success can be converted into another elite class. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois Is Building A Frontcourt Puzzle Fans Will Want Solved
Illinois keeps piecing together its frontcourt board, and the next notable name in the mix is Benjamin Berrouet. The five-star class of 2028 big man has set an official visit to Champaign for Nov. 5, giving the Illini another chance to make an impression on a prospect whose stock is already rising well beyond his age group.
Berrouets profile got a major boost through his play with Latvias U16 team, where he earned MVP honors at the FIBA U16 EuroBasket. Illinois is viewing him as part of a broader frontcourt search, and there is at least some consideration of him as a reclassification candidate for 2027, which makes his visit one more important step in a recruitment that could shape how the roster is built down the line. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois Faces Its Biggest Reality Check Yet At Ohio State
Illinois heads to Ohio Stadium on Sept. 26 with a 2-1 record and a chance to find out how much of its early-season momentum can travel against a familiar heavyweight. Ohio State is also 2-1, but the broader history in this matchup still leans heavily toward the Buckeyes, who own the all-time series and have taken the last 10 meetings. For Illinois, this is the kind of Big Ten test that can clarify whether a promising start is just that, or something more.
The buildup around the game has the usual layers that come with a marquee conference trip, including injury reports for both sides, betting odds, broadcast details and a look at what the weather may bring. Even with all that context, the real draw is simple: Illinois is walking into one of the toughest environments in the league, against a team that has made a habit of turning this series into a reality check. [Read more 🡒]