Illinois Women's Basketball Ranked No. 23 in Preseason AP Poll

For the fifth time in as many seasons under head coach Shauna Green, the Illinois Fighting Illini are ranked in the AP Top 25. This time, they're entering the year with a number next to their name.

Illinois was ranked No. 23 in the Associated Press' preseason Top 25 on Tuesday, marking the second time this century that the Illini began a season as a ranked team. The other instance was in 2023, when Illinois was also ranked No. 23 entering the year and eventually missed the NCAA Tournament, but finished 19-15 overall.

The Fighting Illini are one of nine ranked Big Ten teams, the most by any Division I conference. USC was ranked No. 3, with star guard JuJu Watkins returning after missing last season with a torn ACL, and No. 5 Michigan and No. 10 Iowa rounded out the top 10. Reigning national champion UCLA earned the No. 11 ranking, followed by No. 16 Washington, No. 17 Minnesota, No. 18 Ohio State and No. 20 Maryland.

Nebraska, Michigan State and Oregon also received votes, but were unranked.

Illinois does not play any ranked nonconference opponents, but will have 11 games against Big Ten foes that are currently ranked or receiving votes. Five of those will be on the road, with the Fighting Illini traveling to play No. 18 Ohio State, No. 11 UCLA, No. 3 USC, No. 20 Maryland and No. 17 Minnesota over the course of the season.

In 2025-26, Illinois went 3-8 against ranked Big Ten opponents. Five of those losses came by six points or less.

The Illini spent just one week last season as a ranked team. Green's squad came in at No. 25 in the Week 11 AP Poll after advancing to 14-3 (4-2 B1G) with a road win over Penn State. That positioning was short-lived, though, as Illinois dropped out of the poll after losing by 16 to No. 8 Michigan.

Illinois ended the year with a 22-12 (9-9 B1G) record and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The trip marked the third time in four years under Green that Illinois had reached March Madness and the second consecutive year of playing in the Round of 32.

Green has won nearly 65% of her games since arriving in Champaign in 2022, and her 85-47 record already gives her the second-most wins by a women's basketball coach in Fighting Illini history. She trails only Theresa Grentz, who picked up 210 wins in 12 years at the helm.

Illinois is set to open its 2026-27 regular season on Wednesday, Nov. 4, against Detroit Mercy. The Fighting Illini will hold an exhibition match against the University of Illinois Springfield on Friday, Oct. 30.