Women's Basketball 2025-26

[Marquette Fan]

Some great games today - former Marquette player Nicki Collen's Baylor team handed Iowa State their first loss of the season at Iowa State in a close game.  Iowa State also has former MU player Kenzie Hare on their team.

Vanderbilt remained undefeated by beating visiting LSU in a close game.  Vandy is coached by former UCONN star Shea Ralph.

And Wisconsin made a big comeback late against former MU coach Carolyn Kieger's Penn State team.  Penn State is now 0-4 in the Big 10 and I don't see how Kieger remains at PSU after this season.

The remaining undefeated teams are Texas Tech, UCONN, Vanderbilt and Texas.  There were 12 undefeated teams 6 days ago though - https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6924493/2025/12/29/womens-college-basketball-undefeated-uconn-lsu/

I don't see anyone beating UCONN this season - could see them having an undefeated season on their way to another National Championship.

[MU82]

Wisconsin made a big comeback late against former MU coach Carolyn Kieger's Penn State team.  Penn State is now 0-4 in the Big 10 and I don't see how Kieger remains at PSU after this season.

Yet another coach finds out the grass isn't always greener.

[WhiteTrash]

Yet another coach finds out the grass isn't always greener.

Didn't she double her salary going to PSU? I can't blame anyone for making that choice even if she loved being at MU.

[JWags85]

Speaking of ISU, obviously the biggest story in WBB this year has been Audi Crooks.  Really interesting story cause she's obviously been unstoppable but it also kind of displays a HUGE glaring issue tactically in women's CBB with how they teach post defense as well as how they deploy (or fail to deploy) double teams.  So much of her success has been taking advantage of completely overmatched defenders left on an island, which is fueled by ISU having multiple snipers on the perimeter if teams try to collapse on her.

Also, might be the first women's star I can think of where its clear her game won't translate to the WNBA.  It happens often in the mens game, but not so much in college.  She won't be able to simply shoot over/brute overpower WNBA centers, she won't see endless single coverage deep in the post, and they will force her out of the paint relentless on defense.

[MU82]

Speaking of ISU, obviously the biggest story in WBB this year has been Audi Crooks.  Really interesting story cause she's obviously been unstoppable but it also kind of displays a HUGE glaring issue tactically in women's CBB with how they teach post defense as well as how they deploy (or fail to deploy) double teams.  So much of her success has been taking advantage of completely overmatched defenders left on an island, which is fueled by ISU having multiple snipers on the perimeter if teams try to collapse on her.

Also, might be the first women's star I can think of where its clear her game won't translate to the WNBA.  It happens often in the mens game, but not so much in college.  She won't be able to simply shoot over/brute overpower WNBA centers, she won't see endless single coverage deep in the post, and they will force her out of the paint relentless on defense.

I have only seen a few bits and pieces of their games. I guess they have good shooters so opponents are reluctant to double-team her?

If I had a tall defender, even if she's slight, I'd absolutely do some fronting - make them have up attempt difficult passes over the top.

[Marquette Fan]

Iowa State continues their free fall today losing their 5th straight game after starting 14-0 - today they lost at Oklahoma State and it wasn't even close - 86-58.  I'd think they'll fall out of the rankings this week.

UCONN and Vanderbilt are the only remaining undefeated Women's Basketball teams.  I think UCONN has a good shot at staying undefeated through the national championship.  Former UCONN star Shea Ralph is doing pretty well as the Vanderbilt coach - they have a tough test tomorrow versus Michigan in a game on Fox tomorrow at 1:30P central.

Penn State is now 0-8 in the Big 10 in last just behind 0-7 Indiana (wow have they fallen in the last few years).

[MU82]

Exciting upset victory for Oklahoma over South Carolina last night.

Nobody will deny that Dawn Stalely is one of the great coaches in the sport, but S.C. failed to get off a shot at the end of regulation despite having plenty of time to do so.

Remember that the next time it happens to your favorite women's, men's, NBA or WNBA team and you want to scream about how bad your coach is. Sometimes, even on great teams coached by one of the greats, good players fail to execute. Also, the opponent has good players and a good coach, too.

[Marquette Fan]

Exciting upset victory for Oklahoma over South Carolina last night.

Nobody will deny that Dawn Stalely is one of the great coaches in the sport, but S.C. failed to get off a shot at the end of regulation despite having plenty of time to do so.

Remember that the next time it happens to your favorite women's, men's, NBA or WNBA team and you want to scream about how bad your coach is. Sometimes, even on great teams coached by one of the greats, good players fail to execute. Also, the opponent has good players and a good coach, too.

There were some good games last night.  I switched over to this one after finishing up the Maryland-Iowa game viewing.  I was rooting for Oklahoma coach Jenny Baranczyk (Lillis) who used to be an assistant coach at Marquette (think she overlapped with Consuegra on the MU staff for a bit and think they shared at least one season playing together at Iowa - Consuegra is older).  I enjoyed watching this game - Oklahoma looked like they'd blown this one in regulation but got it to OT and took care of business then.  Wow are there a lot of good teams in the SEC.  But it may not really matter though as I don't think anyone can come close to competing with UCONN this season.

There's a good SEC game coming up on Sunday - Vanderbilt at South Carolina at 2P central on ESPN.  Vanderbilt and UCONN are the only two undefeated women's basketball teams right now.  Former UCONN standout Shea Ralph is the Vanderbilt coach.