Trip to No. 24/19 Michigan State Up Next for Illini
January 3, 2026 | Women's Basketball
Preview
| Game 14: [RV/--] Illinois (13-1, 3-0) at #24/19 Michigan State (13-1, 2-1) | |
|---|---|
| Date | Time | Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026 | 11 a.m. CT |
| Location | East Lansing, Mich. | Breslin Center |
| TV | Big Ten Network | FOX Sports App | WATCH PxP: Jason Ross Jr. | Analyst: Shimmy Miller |
| Radio | Busey Bank Illini Sports Network | Listen | Varsity Network App |
| Live Stats | StatBroadcast |
| Rosters | Illinois | Michigan State |
| Game Notes | Illinois | Michigan State |
| Stats | Illinois | Michigan State |
| Record Books | Illinois | Big Ten | NCAA |
| Availability/Interviews | Postgame Press Conference (1/1/26) | YouTube Playlist |
| Shop | Online Store | Auctions |
| Social Media | @IlliniWBB  | @IlliniWBB  | Facebook  | YouTube  |
| Illinois Starters Last Game (vs. Maryland) | ||||||||||
| Pos. | No. | Name | Ht. | Yr. | PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | Season Note |
| G | 2 | Destiny Jackson | 5-6 | Fr. | 8.0 | 3.9 | 4.9 | 1.7 | 0.1 | 7.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 4.3 apg vs. B1G |
| G | 4 | Gretchen Dolan | 5-11 | R-So. | 15.1 | 3.2 | 3.1 | 1.2 | 0.4 | Averaging 17.3 ppg vs. B1G |
| G | 8 | Jasmine Brown-Hagger | 5-9 | Jr. | 6.0 | 1.9 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 0.1 | Season-high 12 pts, 3 rebs, 2 stls at FSU |
| F | 23 | Berry Wallace | 6-1 | So. | 17.9 | 7.1 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 0.1 | Seven 20-point games this season |
| F | 30 | Cearah Parchment | 6-3 | Fr. | 11.5 | 7.9 | 1.2 | 2.3 | 0.6 | Four double-doubles this season |
Head Coach Shauna Green
Career Record: 232-111 (.676), 12th season
Division I Record: 203-86 (.702), 10th season
At Illinois: 76-36 (.679), Fourth season
Big Ten Record: 33-24 (.579), Fourth season
THE NEXT WIN WOULD...
- Move the Illini to 29-47 all-time vs. Michigan State
- Improve Green to 2-2 overall vs. Michigan State
- Mark Illinois' 1st win at MSU since 1/23/2014
- Move Illinois to 22-17 in road games under Green
- Give the Illini a 12-game win streak
- Give the Illini a 4-game road win streak
- Mark UI's first 4-0 B1G start since 1999-2000
- Move Green's career record to 233-111 in 12 seasons
- Improve Green to 34-24 in Big Ten games
- Move Green's DI record to 204-86 in 10 seasons
- Move Green's Illinois record to 77-36
- Give Illinois WBB an all-time record of 723-776
OPENING TIP
The 52nd campaign of Illinois women's basketball continues on Sunday, Jan. 4, when Illinois heads to No. 24/19 Michigan State for an 11 a.m. CT game on BTN from the Breslin Center. The contest marks the 1,500th game in Illinois Women's Basketball history.
- Illinois has won a game vs. a ranked opponent all four seasons under Coach Green
- Illinois has been ranked or receiving votes at some point during all four seasons under Green
- The Illini's 11-game win streak is the longest single-season streak and ties the longest win streak that spanned the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons
- Ten nonconference wins matches the program record for regular-season nonconference victories
- In December 2025, the Fighting Illini went a perfect 6-0
- Illinois' 13-1 start through 14 games is the best start in program history.
- Illinois' 3-0 start in Big Ten play is the program's best start since a 4-0 start during the 1999-2000 season
- The Illini are in the midst of a three-game stretch vs. ranked opponents (#7/6 Maryland, at #24/19 Michigan State, #19/20 Ohio State)
- Illinois is also in the midst of a stretch where five of its next seven opponents are ranked
ABOUT THE OPPONENT
Michigan is off to a 13-1 start on the season including a 2-1 reading in Big Ten play. The Spartans loss came in the conference opener at Wisconsin, 64-78. Most recently, MSU took down Indiana (80-60) and Rutgers (70-64). The Spartans also own a win over No. 15/14 Ole Miss. Head coach Robyn Fralick is in her 3rd season.
ALL-TIME SERIES INFO
Michigan State leads the all-time series against Illinois, 47-28, with Sunday's game marking the 76th all-time meeting. The Spartans lead 25-10 when the series has been played in East Lansing. MSU has won the last two meetings in the series. The Illini are 1-2 against Michigan State since Shauna Green took over the Illinois helm.
DOLAN MEDICAL HARDSHIP WAIVER APPROVED
On Dec. 12, 2025, Illinois got word that Gretchen Dolan's medical hardship waiver for the 2024-25 season was approved by the NCAA, giving the Buffalo, N.Y. native the year of eligibility back. Green made the announcement at media availability that day. As of that day, Dolan will be listed as a redshirt sophomore on the 2025-26 roster.
14-GAME START
Illinois' 13-1 start through 14 games is the best start in program history. Green's squad is the only Illini crew to earn a 13-1 (or 14-0) start all-time.
| BEST 14-GAME STARTS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Season | Record | Coach |
| T-1. | 2022-23 | 12-2 | Green |
| 1980-81 | 12-2 | Schroeder | |
| T-3. | 2024-25 | 11-3 | Green |
| 2006-07 | 11-3 | Grentz | |
| 2002-03 | 11-3 | Grentz | |
| 1996-97 | 11-3 | Grentz | |
| 1986-87 | 11-3 | Schroeder | |
BEST 15-GAME STARTS
The best 15-game start in program history is a 13-2 reading, achieved by two different Illini squads, including one of Shauna Green's teams. The 2025-26 Illinois team has the chance to become the first in program history to achieve a 14-1 start on Sunday.
| BEST 15-GAME STARTS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Season | Record | Coach |
| T-1. | 2022-23 | 13-2 | Green |
| 1980-81 | 13-2 | Schroeder | |
| T-3. | 1996-97 | 12-3 | Grentz |
| 1986-87 | 12-3 | Golden | |
| 5. | 2024-25 | 11-4 | Green |
TAKING CARE OF THE BALL
Since the arrival of Shauna Green, Illinois has taken care of the basketball at an elite clip, turning in three straight seasons ranked with the second fewest turnovers in the Big Ten. The staff's goal is 13 turnovers or less per game and the Orange and Blue have averaged below that all three seasons completed seasons.
| TURNOVERS/GAME UNDER GREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Avg. | B1G Rank | D-1 Rank |
| 2022-23 | 12.9 | 2nd | 27th |
| 2023-24 | 12.4 | 2nd | 16th |
| 2024-25 | 12.6 | 2nd | 24th |
| 2025-26 | 12.3 | 4th | 17th |
EFFICIENCY FROM THE CHARITY STRIPE
Green's Illini have been incredibly efficient from the free throw line. Illinois has led the Big Ten in free throw shooting the last two completed seasons and is doing so once again in 2025-26. The Illini's numbers from 2023-24 and 2024-25 are the two best completed single-season free throw percentages in program history. Following the holiday break, Illinois ranks second in Division I with an 83.1% mark from the stripe.
| FREE THROW PERCENTAGE UNDER GREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Pct. | B1G Rank | D-1 Rank |
| 2022-23 | 75.6 | 8th | 53rd |
| 2023-24 | 79.5 | 1st | 6th |
| 2024-25 | 79.3 | 1st | 7th |
| 2025-26 | 83.1 | 1st | 2nd |
GREEN CLIMBS PROGRAM'S ALL-TIME WINS LIST
Fourth-year head coach Shauna Green continues to move up the program's all-time wins list. Illinois' latest win saw Green post her 76th win at the helm of the program, giving her the third-most victories by an Illinois women's basketball head coach.
| ILLINOIS WBB WINNINGEST HEAD COACHES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Coach | Wins | Tenure (# Years) |
| 1 | Theresa Grentz | 210 | 1995-2007 (12) |
| 2 | Laura Golden | 83 | 1984-1990 (6) |
| 3 | Shauna Green | 76 | 2022-Present (4) |
| 4 | Jane Schroeder | 73 | 1979-1984 (5) |
LONGEST WINNING STREAKS IN PROGRAM HISTORY
Currently on an 11-game winning streak, the 2025-26 Fighting Illini have tied the longest streak in program history. The record spanned the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons following Illinois' WBIT championship.
| PROGRAM WIN STREAKS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Coach | Streak | Dates |
| 1 | Shauna Green | 11 | 3/21/24-11/26/24 |
| Shauna Green | 11 | 11/18/25-Present | |
| 3 | Jane Schroeder | 10 | 11/20/81-1/2/82 |
| 4 | Theresa Grentz | 9 | 12/20/97-1/16/98 |
| 5 | Shauna Green | 8 | 1/23/25-2/16/25 |
BERRY WALLACE'S SOPHOMORE SURGE
Through 14 games of the 2025-26 campaign, Fighting Illini sophomore Berry Wallace is averaging 17.9 points per game up from 9.0 ppg last season, despite being at the top of every opponents' scout.
Along with her 17.9 points, Wallace is averaging 7.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.5 steals, and 0.1 blocks across 32.6 minutes per game. The Pickerington, Ohio, native opened the season with four consecutive 20-point outings, including the first double-double of her career in the Orange and Blue's season opener. Wallace is shooting a scorching 51.1% FG, 34.0% 3FG, and 87.7 FT% through 14 games.
Wallace's four straight 20-point games to open the season made her the only player in a P5 conference to do so. Additionally, she was the only player in the country with 4+ 20-point games against all D1 teams to start the season.
REGULAR SEASON BIG TEN WINS
In her fourth season at Illinois, head coach Shauna Green has led the Fighting Illini to a 33-24 regular season record against the Big Ten. Those 33 victories are already third all-time among Illinois head coaches.
| REGULAR SEASON BIG TEN WINS BY ILLINOIS HEAD COACHES | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RANK | HC | # | SEASONS | TENURE |
| 1 | Theresa Grentz | 101 | 12 | 1995-2007 |
| 2 | Laura Golden | 44 | 6 | 1984-1990 |
| 3 | Shauna Green | 33 | 4 | 2022-Present |
| 4 | Jolette Law | 27 | 5 | 2007-2012 |
| Kathy Lindsey | 27 | 5 | 1990-1995 | |
RINGING IN THE NEW YEAR
Illinois women's basketball defeated No. 7/6 Maryland, 73-70, inside State Farm Center on Thursday evening, its 11th-straight win, tying the longest win streak in program history. The last time Illinois defeated a program ranked 7th or higher, was on Dec. 28, 2012, when it topped Georgia, 70-59. The victory marked Illinois' highest ranked Big Ten win in program history, and gave the Illini their first 3-0 conference start since the 1999-00 season.
Three Illinois players scored in double figures, led by Berry Wallace, who notched 22 points and seven rebounds, her seventh outing with 20 or more points this season. Cearah Parchment added 17 points, eight rebounds, three steals and three blocks and Gretchen Dolan chipped in as well with 17 points.
The Illini took the lead for good on a pair of Destiny Jackson free throws (4Q, 5:39), which followed Jasmine Brown-Hagger's corner 3-pointer (4Q, 6:33). Illinois held Maryland to 8.3% shooting from 3-point range, 1-for-12. UI scored 16 second chance points off 11 offensive rebounds.
PROGRAM WINS OVER TOP-10 OPPONENTS
Illinois' New Year's Day win over No. 7/6 Maryland marked the eighth top-10 win in program history, and the first of the Shauna Green regime. The Illini's victory was the first over a top-10 team since the 2014-15 season and was the program's highest ranked win ever over a Big Ten team.
| ILLINOIS PROGRAM WINS OVER TOP-10 TEAMS | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RANK | DATE | OPPONENT | SCORE | |
| 1 | #3 | 1/13/82 | Long Beach State (H) | 97-91 (3OT) |
| 2 | #6 | 12/28/12 | Georgia (H) | 70-59 |
| #6 | 11/27/99 | Notre Dame (H) | 77-67 | |
| 4 | #7 | 1/1/26 | Maryland (H) | 73-70 |
| 5 | #9 | 11/27/14 | Kentucky (N) | 77-71 |
| 6 | #10 | 2/9/12 | Ohio State (H) | 66-65 |
| 7 | #10 | 1/26/03 | Minnesota (H) | 94-80 |
| 8 | #10 | 1/7/01 | Penn State (H) | 75-71 |
RANKED WINS UNDER COACH GREEN
Illinois' most recent ranked win came over No. 7/6 Maryland, the first top-10 win for Illinois since 2012-13. The victory also marked the highest-ranked Big Ten win in program history.
In 2024-25, when Illinois went on the road and upset No. 14 Maryland in College Park, Green's unit became the first team since 1999-2000 to win three games vs. AP Top-25 ranked teams. Green led the team to a fourth ranked win in the NCAA Tournament First Round as Illinois took down No. 23 Creighton, which secured a ranked win at home, away, and in a neutral setting. Four ranked wins in a single season tied the program record (1999-00).
The 2026 win marked the seventh such triumph under fourth-year head coach Shauna Green, who guided the Illini to ranked wins five times in Big Ten play.
| RANKED WINS UNDER SHAUNA GREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| DATE | OPPONENT | SCORE | LOCATION |
| 1/1/23 | #12 Iowa | 90-86 | State Farm Center |
| 2/19/24 | #14 Indiana | 86-66 | State Farm Center |
| 11/7/24 | #19 Florida State | 83-74 | State Farm Center |
| 1/9/25 | #23 Iowa | 62-57 | State Farm Center |
| 2/2/25 | #14 Maryland | 66-65 | College Park, Md. |
| 3/22/25 | #23 Creighton | 66-57 | Austin, Texas |
| 1/1/26 | #7 Maryland | 73-70 | State Farm Center |
