Washington To Take On UCLA In Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinals The University of Washington women’s basketball team advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2026 Allstate Big Ten Tournament, where they will face No. 1-seeded UCLA. The Huskies secured their spot with a 76-64 victory over USC in the second round, while the Bruins also advanced with a 73-50 win against the Trojans in their regular-season finale. This marks the 76th all-time meeting between the two programs, with UCLA holding a 42-33 series advantage. Washington’s path to the quarterfinals included a decisive win over USC, which came after a 76-64 result. Sayvia Sellers led the Huskies with a season-high 25 points, shooting 10-for-13 from the field. The victory marked Washington’s first conference tournament quarterfinal appearance since the 2019-20 season. Three Huskies earned Big Ten End-of-Season Honors: Sellers was named to the All-Big Ten First Team, Avery Howell received Honorable Mention, and Brynn McGaughy was recognized as a Big Ten All-Freshman Team member. Sellers also joined the 2026 Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy Women’s Player of the Year Late-Season Team, becoming the first Husky since Kelsey Plum and the fourth Washington player since 2010 to be selected. UCLA, ranked No. 1 in the conference, entered the tournament with a 28-1 record and a perfect 18-0 mark in Big Ten play. The Bruins concluded their regular season with wins over Wisconsin and USC, showcasing their dominance. In their previous matchup against Washington, UCLA defeated the Huskies 82-67 in late February. This time, the Huskies aimed to reverse the outcome, leveraging their recent performance and key player contributions.#big_ten_tournament #ucla #university_of_washington #sayvia_sellers #avery_howell
Iowa women's basketball: No. 9 Hawkeyes ride 6-game winning streak into Big Ten tournament The No. 9 Iowa women’s basketball team enters the Big Ten tournament with a six-game winning streak, positioning them as a strong contender for the conference title. The Hawkeyes, ranked No. 9 in the latest polls, will face off against top-tier competition in Indianapolis, where the tournament will determine the Big Ten’s representative for the NCAA championship. UCLA, the No. 2 seed, has dominated the conference this season, completing the Big Ten’s first perfect regular-season slate since 2014-15 with a victory over longtime rival Southern California. The Bruins, now seeking their first national title since 1978, have already secured their first conference tournament title in nearly two decades and reached their first Final Four in nearly half a century. Coach Jia Cross emphasized the team’s resilience under pressure, noting that their ability to perform in high-stakes moments has been a defining trait. “They have broken almost every single record,” Cross said after Sunday’s win. “It’s a pretty darn fun team to coach.” Despite their dominance, UCLA faces a challenging path to the national title. The tournament bracket features nine Big Ten teams ranked in the NET’s Top 25, including No. 8 Michigan, No. 9 Iowa, No. 11 Ohio State, No. 14 Maryland, No. 18 Michigan State, and No. 19 Minnesota. USC and Nebraska also join the field, creating a highly competitive landscape. Michigan guard Macy Brown highlighted the experience of the team’s sophomore-heavy roster, stating, “Being battle tested and just kind of getting that experience—basically half of our team is sophomores so we have that year under our belts. So being able to play those teams in the Big Ten, it’s always helpful.#big_ten_tournament #iowa_women_basketball #ucla #michigan #minnesota
Big Ten Tournament - No. 1-Seed UCLA Begins Tourney Play Against Washington The No. 1-seeded UCLA women’s basketball team kicks off its Big Ten Tournament campaign against Washington on Friday morning at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The game, scheduled for 9 a.m. PT on the Big Ten Network, pits the Bruins, who finished the regular season undefeated in conference play with an 18-0 record, against the Huskies, who entered the tournament with a 21-9 overall record and 10-8 mark in the Big Ten. This matchup marks the first time in Big Ten history that a team has gone undefeated in conference play, with UCLA joining an elite group that includes only three other teams. UCLA’s dominance this season has been underscored by its performance against top-tier opponents. The Bruins led the nation with 10 wins against Top 25 teams and 14 victories over Quad 1 squads, despite a single loss in their schedule. Their ability to consistently outperform ranked competition has positioned them as one of the premier teams in the country. Washington, however, will need to overcome the challenge of facing a squad that has already proven its mettle in high-stakes games. The two teams have met before, with UCLA securing a decisive 82-67 victory on Feb. 19. While the Bruins’ performance in that game was strong overall, with a 53.3% shooting percentage, their struggles from beyond the arc—hitting just 26.7% of three-pointers—were notable. Washington, on the other hand, shot 43.0% from the field and 37.0% from three-point range, a performance that exceeded the Bruins’ defensive expectations. This discrepancy raises questions about whether Washington can replicate its success against USC in the upcoming matchup. Washington’s recent game against USC provided a glimpse of its potential.#ucla_womens_basketball #washington_womens_basketball #gainbridge_fieldhouse #big_ten_tournament #indianapolis
