Illini women's basketball confident in new year following strong finish to 2025-26

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WAND) - Illinois women's basketball are continuing their summer workouts following another successful season under head coach Shauna Green.

The Illini secured back-to-back trips to the NCAA tournament for the first time since a four-year stretch from 1996-2000. The team won their first round game against Colorado before being eliminated by #2 seed Vanderbilt.

Entering last season, Illinois had one of the youngest rosters in Division 1. Now, as the team returns a bulk of their roster following the 2025-26 season, players are confident that their familiarity and experience will lead them to more wins.

Senior guard Maddie Webber transferred to Illinois from Villanova following her sophomore season. After discussions throughout the year with Coach Green, Webber said she felt most comfortable coming off the bench, and became the Illini's go-to option as a substitute. After her experience last season, she feels prepared to take on an even bigger role as needed entering a new year.

"I remember when I was in the [transfer] portal, I didn't think I was even good enough to play in the Big Ten," Webber said. "I didn't think that was an option for me. So, being able to compete at such a high level, it obviously brought be a lot more confidence and I know how good of a team this is."

During the 2025-26 season, Illinois registered three wins over ranked opponents, including the first top-10 win during Shauna Green's coaching tenure, against #7 Maryland.

Despite showing inexperience at times through difficult stretches of Big Ten play, Illinois demonstrated resiliency. On several occasions, they erased significant deficits to test some of the conference's most challenging opponents. The hope entering the 2026-27 journey is to minimize those deficits and maintain a fierce persona.

"Being here last year with Coach Green, we've been having a bunch of talks," said sophomore guard Destiny Jackson. "Just telling me that [confidence] definitely grew over time. I'm just, like, the most confident that I've been in probably like my whole career."

Jackson hopes to follow an impressive freshman campaign, where she set the Illinois freshman and overall record for single-season assists (176). Her efforts setting up plays as one of the returning ball-handlers played a key role in the Illini's scoring performances.

The Illini also return unanimous All-Big Ten first team selection Berry Wallace, as well as All-Big Ten freshman Cearah Parchment.

Nonconference opponents for the 2026-27 season for Illinois women's basketball have yet to be formally announced by the team.