CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Following the Big Ten schedule announcement live on Big Ten Network Thursday, the 2024-25 Illinois women's basketball schedule is complete. The Fighting Illini revealed the third non-conference slate under head coach Shauna Green on Sept. 9.
SCHEDULE NOTES
- Illinois is slated for an 18-game conference schedule with nine home games and nine on the road.
- This season marks the sixth time in the last seven seasons that the league will play an 18-game women's basketball schedule, and the 23rd time overall since 1982-83.
- Nine current Big Ten squads appeared in the 2023-24 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament: Iowa (NCAA Runner-Up), USC (Elite Eight), UCLA (Sweet 16), Indiana (Sweet 16), Nebraska (Second Round), Ohio State (Second Round), Michigan State (First Round), Maryland (First Round), and Michigan (First Round).
- Illinois will play nine league games against teams that appeared in the NCAA Tournament last season.
- The Illini will face off against just one team twice during the regular season: Northwestern.
- Illinois will host Oregon and Washington this season while heading west to visit USC and UCLA in those four programs' first year in the Big Ten.
- Weekend conference games inside State Farm Center include Oregon (Saturday, Dec. 28), Michigan State (Sunday, Jan. 19), Nebraska (Sunday, Feb. 16), and Michigan (Sunday, March 2).
- The Illini will play nine weekday conference games, including five at home inside State Farm Center.
- Illinois will play one league game on a Monday when Purdue visits on Jan. 27. The Orange and Blue will also host Washington for a Tuesday, Dec. 31, matchup.
- The Illini open conference play on the road at Ohio State on Sunday, Dec. 8, before concluding the remaining portion of its non-conference schedule.
- Illinois' regular-season finale is Sunday, March 2, at home versus Michigan.
- The Big Ten Tournament is scheduled for March 5-9 in the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Season tickets for the 2024-25 Illinois women's basketball season are on sale now with new seating options available. Illinois is entering Year 3 under head coach Shauna Green and has compiled a 24-8 record at home over the last two seasons, including two upsets of AP top-15 ranked teams: No. 12 Iowa (1/1/23) and No. 14 Indiana (2/19/24).
In two years under Green, the Illinois women's basketball team has registered 41 wins, the first postseason championship in program history (2024 WBIT), and back-to-back top-5 season attendances in State Farm Center.
The Fighting Illini are coming off winning the inaugural WBIT championship last season and securing a 19-15 record, including five straight wins to close the campaign. Illinois returns a core that includes four of last year's starters, more than 81% of minutes played, and nearly 85% of scoring.
