2023-24 Big Ten preview

After seven teams reached the NCAA Tournament in 2023 and with a few others poised for bounce back 2023-24 seasons, the Big Ten once again looks to be the nation’s deepest conference.

Here’s a breakdown of where all 14 teams sit with the regular season tipping off on Nov. 7:

(Bold denotes team leader in category.)

Looking for a specific team? Click the links below to skip to your favorites.

Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Maryland | Michigan | Michigan State | Minnesota | Nebraska | Northwestern | Ohio State | Penn State | Purdue | Rutgers | Wisconsin

Illinois

2022–23 record: 22–10 (11–7 Big Ten); lost to Mississippi State in First Four, 70–56.

Key returners:

• Makira Cook, senior guard: 18.3 PTS, 3.4 REB, 4.2 AST, 1.2 STL
• Genesis Bryant, senior guard: 15.2 PTS, 3.2 REB, 3.6 AST, 1.0 STL
• Kendall Bostic, senior forward: 10.2 PTS, 9.8 REB, 1.0 AST, 1.6 BLK
• Adalia McKenzie, junior guard: 13.6 PTS, 6.1 REB, 2.2 AST, 1.4 STL

Key losses:

• NONE

Key newcomers:

• Camille Hobby, fifth-year center (NC State transfer): 8.8 PTS, 4.2 RPG

Notable non-conference games:

• 11/11 — @ Marquette
• 11/18 — @ Notre Dame (Shamrock Classic)
• 12/17 — vs. Missouri

The Illini return all five starters in 2023–24, but more importantly to head coach Shauna Green, the roster is far deeper than it was last season.

“We really needed depth last year; we just were not deep enough,” she said at Big Ten media day in Minneapolis. “Practices are going really well. Super excited to get going.”

Combining more depth with more experience playing in Green’s system should bode well for a team that reached the NCAA Tournament last year.

“It’s nice to have now a year under our belt with returners coming back that understand expectations, our standards, our system and our style,” Green said. “It’ll hopefully be a great year, and I’m excited about this league. I think the league is so deep this year. It’s going to be another really tough battle every single night with every single team in this conference.”

Read more about the Illini here.

Indiana

2022–23 record: 28–4 (16–2 Big Ten); lost in the second round to the University of Miami, 70–68.

Key returners:

• Mackenzie Holmes, graduate forward: 22.3 PTS, 7.3 REB, 1.1 STL, 1.9 BLK
• Chloe Moore-McNeil, senior guard: 9.5 PTS, 3.9 REB, 4.8 AST, 1.4 STL
• Sara Scalia, fifth-year guard: 9.5 PTS, 3.0 REB, 1.6 AST
• Sydney Parrish, senior guard: 12.0 PTS, 5.4 REB, 1.8 AST, 1.6 STL
• Yarden Garzon, sophomore guard: 11.1 PTS, 5.3 REB, 3.0 AST, 0.9 BLK

Key losses:

• Grace Berger (graduated): 12.9 PTS, 4.8 REB, 5.8 AST, 1.0 STL

Key newcomers:

• Sharnecce Currie-Jelks, sophomore forward (UT Martin transfer): 15.2 PTS, 6.9 RPG, 1.4 STL, 1.0 BLK
• Lenée Beaumont, freshman guard: Won three conference championships at Benet Academy in Illinois, named 2023 Illinois Ms. Basketball and 2023 Gatorade Player of the year after averaging 18.8 PTS, 7.4 REB, 3.3 AST and 1.7 STL her senior season.
• Julianna LaMendola, freshman guard: 2023 Texas Gatorade Player of the Year, averaged 17.4 PTS, 9.2 REB, 3.1 AST and 1.4 STL at Coppell High School in Texas.

Notable non-conference games:

• 11/12 — @ Stanford
• 11/23 — @ Tennessee (Fort Myers Tip-Off)
• 11/25 — @ Princeton (Fort Myers Tip-Off)
• 11/30 — @ Maine

The fact that the Hoosiers still expect to compete for a Big Ten title even after losing a player of Grace Berger’s caliber speaks volumes to the ability of head coach Teri Moren and her staff to construct a roster. Berger’s talents will surely be missed, but there should be more than enough talent available to pick up the slack.

“You can’t have the success that we’ve had just because you have one really good player in your program,” Moren said in Minneapolis. “It takes a team full of very skilled, high-character players to be able to maintain the level of success we’ve enjoyed. Obviously losing Grace, big shoes like I said, but we feel like we have a lot to look forward to in those remaining players.”

Read more about the Hoosiers here.

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Iowa

2022–23 record: 31–7 (15–3 Big Ten); lost in national championship game to LSU, 102–85.

Key returners:

• Caitlin Clark, senior guard: 27.8 PTS, 7.1 REB, 8.6 AST, 1.5 STL
• Kate Martin, graduate guard: 7.7 PTS, 4.2 REB, 3.6 AST
• Gabbie Marshall, fifth-year guard: 6.2 PTS, 1.6 AST, 1.6 STL
• Hannah Stuelke, sophomore forward: 6.5 PTS, 3.9 REB

Key departures:

• Monika Czinano (graduated): 17.1 PTS, 6.5 REB, 1.4 AST, 0.4 BLK
• McKenna Warnock (graduated): 10.9 PTS, 5.9 REB, 1.9 AST, 0.4 BLK

Key newcomers:

• Kennise Johnson, freshman guard: one of the top guards out of the state of Illinois, Johnson averaged 11.3 PTS, 6.2 AST, 5.9 REB and 3.1 STL her junior season when her team won the Prep School National Championship.

Notable non-conference games:

• 10/15 (exhibition) — vs. DePaul (Crossover at Kinnick)
• 11/9 — vs. Virginia Tech (Ally Tipoff)
• 11/19 — vs. Drake
• 12/6 — @ Iowa State

After coming up one win short of winning a national championship, the Hawkeyes are hungry as ever to get back out on the floor. Needing to replace Monika Czinano and McKenna Warnock might create some early bumps, but having Caitlin Clark should help overcome any challenges. 

Head coach Lisa Bluder made one thing clear at Big Ten media days, though: For as great as last season was, her program has turned the page.

“I want the players to understand what we accomplished last year. That championship game was the most-watched television audience ever in women’s basketball, and I want them to relish in that,” she said. “I want them to know it’s possible because if you don’t know it’s possible, it’s hard to accomplish it. So, I want them to know it’s possible, but absolutely we’ve turned the page, we’re moving on. We know this is a whole different basketball team.”

Read more about the Hawkeyes here.

Maryland

2022–23 record: 28–7 (15–3 Big Ten); lost in Elite Eight to South Carolina, 86–75.

Key returners:

• Shyanne Sellers, junior guard: 13.9 PTS, 4.8 REB, 3.9 AST, 1.8 STL
• Faith Masonius, graduate guard/forward: 6.9 PTS, 4.9 REB, 2.0 AST, 1.2 STL
• Brinae Alexander, graduate guard/forward: 9.0 PTS, 3.3 REB, 1.1 STL
• Lavender Briggs, graduate guard: 7.2 PTS, 4.2 REB, 1.3 AST, 0.4 BLK

Key departures:

• Diamond Miller (graduated): 19.7 PTS, 6.4 RPG, 2.9 AST, 2.1 STL, 1.3 BLK
• Abby Meyers (graduated): 14.3 PTS, 5.1 REB, 2.3 AST, 1.8 STL, 0.5 BLK

Key newcomers:

• Jakia Brown-Turner, graduate guard (NC State transfer): 9.1 PTS, 3.9 REB, 1.8 AST
• Riley Nelson, freshman guard: 2023 McDonald’s All-American, Maryland Gatorade Player of the Year in 2022 and 2023. Averaged 16.6 PTS and 10.9 REB as a senior at The Bullis School in Potomac, Maryland.
• Summer Bostock, freshman guard: averaged 27.3 PTS, 11 REB, 4.0 STL and 3.0 AST in 2021–22 and played for Team Canada in the 2021 FIBA Under-16 Women’s Americas Championship.

Notable non-conference games:

• 11/12 — @ South Carolina
• 11/16 — @ UConn
• 11/19 — vs. Syracuse
• 11/23 — vs. Washington State (Cancun Challenge)
• 12/12 — vs. Towson
• 12/20 — vs. James Madison

Last year, Maryland took a while to find its groove with so many new players coming in. This year, although the Terps will look quite different, there’s more continuity in terms of returning talent. That’s helped smooth the transition for a team that will be reliant on some new faces this season.

“They come into practice every single day, and they’re ready to be coached,” head coach Brenda Frese said at Big Ten media day. “They want to get better, and it’s probably been a quicker process than a year ago, just having so many of the veterans back from last year with that kind of experience, so that’s been exciting.”

Also exciting, Frese added, has been the progress she’s seen from her returners, particularly those who didn’t play much last year.

“The thing I will say that I’m most encouraged by is every returner from last year has come back better,” she said. “When you have that kind of work ethic that goes on behind the scenes – I throw out a Bri McDaniel. She, as a sophomore, is making that jump that Shyanne Sellers made last year. Really excited for all of our returners coming back because they were kind of in those shadows of both Diamond and Abby last year, and rightly so; they weren’t ready for that responsibility. But they’re more than prepared this season.”

Read more about the Terps here.

Michigan

2022–23 record: 23–10 (11–7 Big Ten); lost to LSU in NCAA Tournament second round, 66–42.

Key returners:

• Laila Phelia, junior guard: 16.7 PPG, 4.2 REB, 1.4 AST, 1.4 STL
• Cameron Williams, senior forward: 6.4 PPG, 3.8 REB

Key departures:

• Leigha Brown (graduated): 17.5 PTS, 5.1 REB, 5.8 AST, 1.3 STL
• Emily Kiser (graduated): 15.9 PTS, 7.1 REB, 2.9 AST, 1.2 STL, 0.8 BLK
• Maddie Nolan (transferred to Colorado): 9.1 PTS, 3.6 REB, 2.0 AST, 1.5 STL

Key newcomers:

• Elissa Brett, graduate guard (Bowling Green transfer): 14.7 PTS, 6.0 REB, 1.7 AST, 1.4 STL
• Lauren Hansen, graduate guard (Missouri transfer): 12.9 PTS, 2.9 REB, 1.4 AST, 1.4 STL
• Taylor Williams, graduate forward (Western Michigan transfer): 14.5 PTS, 9.0 REB, 1.6 AST, 1.1 STL, 1.7 BLK
• Macy Brown, freshman guard: 2023 Michigan AP Division I Player of the Year, averaged 25 PTS, 8.7 REB, 3.3 AST and 2.1 STL during senior season at East Grand Rapids in Michigan.

Notable non-conference games:

• 11/18 — vs. Middle Tennessee (Battle 4 Atlantis)
• 11/19 — vs. South Dakota or DePaul (Battle 4 Atlantis)
• 12/6 — vs. Toledo

Head coach Kim Barnes Arico had to approach the offseason a little differently than she was used to, looking to the transfer portal to plug holes.

“This is the first time that we do have those grad transfers, so we’re trying to figure that identity out right now,” Barnes Arico said at Big Ten media day. “We’re trying to gel with our new pieces. But obviously, when you have a potential All-American in Laila Phelia, it’s going to be important for us to showcase her strengths and to really have her involved and have her hands on the ball a lot.”

Adding transfers like Lauren Hansen – who Barnes Arico said will start at point guard – as well as Elissa Brett and Taylor Williams to go along with Laila Phelia and Cameron Williams should form another strong Wolverine team.

“One of Laila’s greatest strengths this season, and something she worked incredibly hard on in the offseason was becoming a better passer and seeing the game and making other people around her better and not just her ability to score the basketball,” Barnes Arico said. “We noticed that in practices, she’s leading our team in assists in practice as well as scoring, so we’re definitely going to play through her. And Cameron Williams as a senior on this team is an important piece getting post touches. We’re a work in progress, still haven’t figured that out, but those are definitely two keys to our success.”

Read more about the Wolverines here.

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Michigan State

2022–23 record: 16–14 (7–10 Big Ten)

Key returners:

• Moira Joiner, graduate guard: 10.1 PTS, 4.8 REB, 2.1 AST, 1.8 STL
• Gabby Elliott, senior guard: 9.5 PTS, 5.5 REB, 1.5 STL, 0.5 BLK
• DeeDee Hagemann, junior guard: 9.3 PTS, 2.3 REB, 4.9 AST, 2.0 STL

Key departures:

• Kamaria McDaniel (graduated): 14.2 PTS, 3.9 REB, 2.4 AST, 1.1 STL
• Matilda Ekh (transferred to Virginia Tech): 11.8 PTS, 3.0 REB, 2.0 AST
• Taiyier Parks (transferred to Ohio State): 8.3 PTS, 5.2 REB, 1.2 STL

Key newcomers:

• Jocelyn Tate, junior guard/forward (Bowling Green transfer): 10.3 PTS, 6.2 REB, 2.7 AST, 2.2 STL, 0.5 BLK
• Lauren Ross, redshirt junior guard/forward (Western Michigan transfer): 22.1 PTS, 4.4 REB, 2.1 AST, 1.5 STL

Notable non-conference games:

• 11/23 — vs. James Madison (Cancun Challenge)
• 11/24 — vs. Creighton (Cancun Challenge)
• 11/30 — @ DePaul

First-year head coach Robyn Fralick knows the immense challenges that come with the job she’s taken on. With a bunch of new players still figuring each other out, she emphasized communication as key to seeing progress throughout the season.

“I’m not naïve to the fact that when you come in as a new leader with a new team that there’s a lot of emotional continuum that goes with that: new, exciting, challenging, frustrating as we all sort of do this together, and I think the biggest thing is we just name it,” she said in Minneapolis. “There’s a challenge in this, and we’re going to be in this together, and let’s figure out how to do that. For us, culture is incredibly important, something that we have a high importance on every single day of who we are and what we’re about and how we’re going to act and how we’re going to treat each other in our huddle and how we’re going to work. Day by day, step by step, if you stay consistent and intentional with those things, I think kids can really, really thrive with that consistency. As a staff that’s something we’ve been putting a big premium on.”

Read more about Michigan State here.

Minnesota

2022–23 record: 11–19 (4–14 Big Ten)

Key returners:

• Mara Braun, sophomore guard: 15.6 PTS, 3.3 REB, 2.6 AST, 1.5 STL
• Mallory Heyer, sophomore forward: 10.4 PTS, 7.1 REB, 1.2 AST, 0.5 BLK
• Amaya Battle, sophomore guard: 9.0 PTS, 5.9 REB, 4.4 AST, 1.1 STL, 0.7 BLK

Key departures:

• Alanna (Rose) Micheaux (transferred to Virginia Tech): 13.8 PTS, 7.9 REB, 0.7 BLK
• Katie Borowicz (medically retired): 8.5 PTS, 2.7 REB, 3.0 AST, 1.7 STL

Key newcomers:

• Janay Sanders, graduate guard (App State transfer): 13.6 PTS, 3.1 REB, 1.6 AST, 1.6 STL
• Grace Grocholski, freshman guard/forward: averaged 24.7 PTS, 9.4 REB, 4.1 AST and 3.0 STL during her senior season at Kettle Moraine High School in North Prairie, Wisconsin.

Notable non-conference games:

• 11/19 — vs. UConn
• 12/2 — vs. Drake
• 12/6 — @ Kentucky

The Gophers will have a lot of work to do to be competitive in an ultra-deep conference, but new head coach Dawn Plituweit understands the steps it will take for Minnesota to start to see progress.

“We are learning,” she said of each time they step on the floor as a team. “This is what we have to keep reminding our players: As we acquire new knowledge and new skills and we become good at that skill, then it’s time to change to the next thing that we have to learn and we have to get better at. We’re not at a stage where we feel great because we’re always learning new things, but again, the good news is, we have a group of young ladies who care a great deal. They care for each other a great deal, and they are working their tails off at this point in time.”

Read more about the Gophers here.

Nebraska

2022–23 record: 18–15 (8–10 Big Ten); lost in WNIT Super 16 to Kansas, 64–55.

Key returners:

• Jaz Shelley, graduate guard: 14.5 PTS, 4.8 REB, 6.2 AST, 1.7 STL
• Alexis Markowski, junior center/forward: 11.9 PTS, 9.8 REB, 1.1 AST, 0.9 BLK
• Allison Weidner, junior guard: 10.2 PTS, 6.2 REB, 2.4 AST, 1.1 STL

Key departures:

• Isabelle Bourne (graduated): 12.6 PTS, 6.7 REB, 1.2 AST
• Sam Haiby (graduated): 10.8 PTS, 5.0 REB, 2.9 AST, 1.5 STL

Key newcomers:

• Darian White, graduate guard (Montana State transfer): 14.3 PTS, 5.7 REB, 3.6 AST, 1.1 STL
• Logan Nissley, freshman guard: three-time North Dakota Player of the Year, averaged 20.8 PTS, 7.4 REB, 2.5 AST and 3.9 STL during senior season at Bismarck Century.
• Natalie Potts, freshman forward: led Incarnate Word Academy in Missouri to 100 consecutive wins and three state titles, finishing high school career with 2,108 points and 1,008 rebounds.

Notable non-conference games:

• 11/19 — vs. Creighton
• 11/25 — vs. TCU (St. Pete Showcase)
• 12/20 — @ Kansas

If Nebraska returns to the NCAA Tournament in 2024 after missing out last year, it’s likely Alexis Markowski, a junior just one season removed from winning Big Ten freshman of the year, will be right at the center of the success. Consistency, though, will be key for the 6’3 Nebraska native.

“This summer she had an opportunity with USA Basketball, and I think that just really sparked another fire underneath her and just instilled a lot of confidence,” head coach Amy Williams said in Minneapolis. “She was able to go and really train with and against the best players in the country, and I think it taught her a lot about some of the things that she really does well that have put her in the position to be recognized at that level, but also kind of highlighting some of the things she really wants to focus on getting better at. We’ve seen a really focused determination for her.”

In particular, Williams mentioned, Markowski has honed in on improving her field goal percentage.

“To see the work she’s putting in to improve her footwork and balance, and it’s paying off with the way she’s been finishing in practice,” Williams added. “We’re really excited about what she has in front of her.”

Read more about the Huskers here.

Northwestern

2022–23 record: 9–21 (2–16 Big Ten)

Key returners:

• Caileigh Walsh, junior forward: 12.1 PTS, 4.7 REB, 1.1 AST, 1.2 BLK
• Paige Mott, senior forward: 8.9 PTS, 4.4 REB, 1.4 AST, 0.5 BLK
• Caroline Lau, sophomore guard: 5.7 PTS, 2.9 REB, 2.6 AST

Key departures:

• Sydney Wood (graduated): 10.4 PTS, 4.8 REB, 2.9 AST, 2.6 STL, 1.3 BLK
• Kaylah Rainey (transferred to Tulane): 5.1 PTS, 2.6 REB, 3.2 AST, 1.7 STL
• Courtney Shaw (graduated): 5.5 PTS, 4.4 REB, 0.4 BLK

Key newcomers:

• Maggie Pina, graduate guard (Boston University transfer): 9.4 PTS, 2.4 REB, 1.8 AST, 1.2 STL

Notable non-conference games:

• 11/15 — @ Notre Dame
• 11/22 — vs. Florida State (Ball Dawgs Classic)
• 11/24 — vs. Stanford/Belmont (Ball Dawgs Classic)
• 11/13 — @ DePaul

Shooting was not a strength of the Wildcats’ last season when they ranked last in the conference in field goal percentage and 3-point percentage. Adding grad transfer Maggie Pina out of Boston University should help in that area.

During Northwestern’s summer trip to Spain, head coach Joe McKeown said she finished their first game 6-for-6 shooting, including 5-for-5 from beyond the arc.

“One of the great shooters,” McKeown said on Monday. “We couldn’t shoot last year, so every time we talk recruiting, which is every day, the main focus, we gotta shoot, we gotta find somebody to shoot. … She ain’t gonna play any defense, but she’s going to make shots.”

McKeown hopes that 2022–23 was merely a blip for a program that had found itself in NCAA Tournament contention the previous four seasons.

“We’re used to winning at a high level. We’re used to winning championships and top-20 teams,” McKeown said. “Last year was a little tough, so our approach now is to put our head down and go to work. I think the Spain trip really helped us, and I got some great young players. I think you’ll see the Wildcats right back where we were. Really looking forward to the season.”

Read more about the Wildcats here.

Ohio State

2022–23 record: 28–8 (12–6 Big Ten); lost in Elite Eight to Virginia Tech, 84–74.

Key returners:

• Cotie McMahon, sophomore forward: 15.1 PTS, 5.5 REB, 2.4 AST, 1.6 STL, 0.7 BLK
• Taylor Thierry, junior guard/forward: 13.5 PTS, 6.5 REB, 2.3 AST, 2.1 STL, 0.7 BLK
• Jacy Sheldon, graduate guard: 13.2 PTS, 3.6 REB, 3.5 AST, 3.5 STL
• Madison Greene, redshirt senior guard: 10.9 PTS, 2.9 REB, 5.0 AST, 3.0 STL
• Rikki Harris, redshirt senior guard: 6.6 PTS, 4.1 REB, 3.2 AST, 1.6 STL

Key departures:

• Taylor Mikesell (graduated): 17.2 PTS, 2.8 REB, 2.3 AST, 1.4 STL

Key newcomers:

• Celeste Taylor, graduate guard (Duke transfer): 11.4 PTS, 4.8 REB, 2.5 AST, 2.2 STL, 0.6 BLK
• Taiyier Parks, graduate forward (Michigan State transfer): 8.3 PTS, 5.2 REB, 1.2 STL

Notable non-conference games:

• 11/6 — vs. Southern California (Naismith Hall of Fame Series)
• 12/3 — @ Tennessee
• 12/18 — vs. UCLA
• 12/22 — vs. Belmont

The Buckeyes started last season 19–0 and were ranked as high as second in the country. But injuries to Madison Greene and Jacy Sheldon caught up to them during the gauntlet of the Big Ten regular season. Still, it thrust other key players into bigger roles, which should only make Ohio State a better team in 2023–24.

“One of the players that really stepped up and did a great job was Rikki Harris,” head coach Kevin McGuff said on Monday. “We kind of play her in every position, and we had to play her at the point guard position, which is probably not her natural position, but she showed up every day and did whatever she could to help us win. … And then people like Cotie [McMahon] and Taylor Thierry really just stepped up in general and played extremely well to continue to give us a chance to win.”

Read more about the Buckeyes here.

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Penn State

2022–23 record: 14–17 (4–14 Big Ten)

Key returners:

• Makenna Marisa, fifth-year senior guard: 17.5 PTS, 4.1 REB, 4.2 AST, 1.6 STL
• Shay Ciezki, sophomore guard: 11.8 PTS, 2.3 REB, 2.5 AST, 1.2 STL
• Leilani Kapinus, redshirt junior guard: 11.2 PTS, 6.7 REB, 2.9 AST, 3.1 STL, 1.0 BLK

Key departures:

• Taniyah Thompson (transferred to Georgia): 7.8 PTS, 1.9 REB, 78% FT
• Alexa Williamson (graduated): 6.2 PTS, 3.8 REB, 48.2% FG

Key newcomers:

• Ashley Owusu, graduate guard (Virginia Tech transfer): 5.1 PTS, 1.5 REB, 1.0 AST
• Tay Valladay, graduate guard (Virginia transfer): 10 PTS, 3.1 REB, 3.8 AST, 1.4 STL
• Kylie Lavelle, sophomore forward (Drexel transfer): 11.1 PTS, 3.7 REB, 1.0 STL

Notable non-conference games:

• 11/13 — vs. Kansas
• 11/20 — vs. Oklahoma State (Pink Flamingo Tournament)
• 11/22 — vs. Southern California (Pink Flamingo Tournament)
• 12/4 — @ West Virginia

Arguably the biggest key to Penn State’s success this season will be the ability of a whole new group of players to build chemistry without much experience playing together. Having added five players out of the portal, head coach Carolyn Kieger’s banking on a seamless transition to try to get the Nittany Lions back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2014.

“Our team is gelling, and their chemistry — I’ve been so impressed by this summer and this offseason,” Kieger said in Minneapolis. “They just want to win, so we’ve been putting a lot of different lineups together, and every day in practice, we have two teams that are going head to head, and I’ve never had that. Usually you have one team that dominates. It’s going to be really fun because we’re going to have a lot of depth, and a lot of competitiveness. At the end of the day, all 12 of these young ladies just want Penn State to succeed, and that’s our only goal, to be back in that NCAA Tournament.”

Read more about the Nittany Lions here.

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Purdue

2022–23 record: 19–11 (9–8 Big Ten); lost in First Four to St. John’s, 66–64.

Key returners:

• Abbey Ellis, fifth-year guard: 11.2 PTS, 2.9 REB, 1.5 AST
• Caitlyn Harper, sixth-year forward: 10.4 PTS, 3.9 REB, 0.6 BLK
• Jeanae Terry, fifth-year guard: 6.5 PTS, 7.6 REB, 6.3 AST, 2.3 STL

Key departures:

• Lasha Petree (graduated): 14.7 PTS, 3.5 REB, 1.3 AST, 0.5 BLK
• Cassidy Hardin (graduated): 7.5 PTS, 2.6 REB, 1.5 AST

Key newcomers:

• Mila Reynolds, sophomore forward (transferred from Maryland): Played in 22 games, with a season-high 5 PTS and 3 REB. Former four-star recruit, No. 16 forward by ESPN out of high school.
• Mary Ashley Stevenson, freshman forward: averaged 24.6 PTS, 10.8 REB as a senior at The Dalton School in New York
• Rashunda Jones, freshman guard: averaged 19.8 PTS, 4.5 AST, 3.7 STL during her senior season at Washington High School in South Bend, Indiana

Notable non-conference games:

• 11/6 — @ UCLA
• 11/22 — vs. Georgia (Pink Flamingo Championships)
• 12/17 — @ Notre Dame

After losing two key players in Lasha Petree and Cassidy Hardin, head coach Katie Gearlds will partially put her faith in a six-player freshmen class to continue to build the program after last year’s NCAA Tournament appearance.

“We were just excited to have that experience,” Gearlds said on Monday. “Got a good solid five (players) back this year. Then we have two sophomore transfers out of the portal, and then six freshmen. Most days I think I’m crazy for having six freshmen on my team, but it’s been a really fun challenge and just a lot of great energy in our program right now.”

Read more about the Boilermakers here.

Rutgers

2022–23 record: 12–20 (5–13 Big Ten)

Key returners:

• Kaylene Smikle, sophomore guard: 17.9 PTS, 4.5 REB, 1.6 AST, 2.2 STL
• Chyna Cornwell, senior center: 9.5 PTS, 8.6 REB, 0.8 BLK
• Awa Sidibe, graduate guard: 9.3 PTS, 5.2 REB, 3.1 AST, 1.4 STL

Key departures:

• Kai Carter (transferred to Memphis): 7.6 PTS, 3.5 REB, 1.9 AST

Key newcomers:

• Mya Petticord, sophomore guard (Texas A&M transfer): 2.7 PTS, 1.7 REB, 0.5 AST
• Destiny Adams, junior guard/forward (UNC transfer): 4.1 PTS, 3.8 REB, 1.5 STL

Notable non-conference games:

• 10/22 (exhibition) — @ South Carolina
• 11/24 — vs. Texas Tech (South Point Shootout)
• 12/13 — @ Princeton
• 12/17 — vs. Virginia Tech

Without a ton of time to prepare for her first season, Scarlet Knights head coach Coquese Washington entered 2022–23 just looking to get a feel for what she had to work with. Now in year two with a star player in Kaylene Smikle to build around and a couple of additions out of the portal, Washington feels confident about where the program stands with the season a month away from tipping off. 

“Our first year was really about building a foundation, building a culture, establishing how we’re going to run our program, how we’re going to recruit, how we’re going to play on game day,” she said in Minneapolis. “We were successful at that. I think we’re definitely in a position now to continue to move the program forward and be more competitive on game day. We’re looking at where our team is with the additions that we brought in. I’m excited about our ability to do that this year.”

Read more about the Scarlet Knights here.

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Wisconsin

2022–23 record: 11–20 (6–12 Big Ten)

Key returners:

• Serah Williams, sophomore forward: 12.7 PTS, 5.4 REB, 1.9 BLK
• Brooke Schramek, senior guard: 10.4 PTS, 3.9 REB, 2.7 AST

Key departures:

• Julie Pospisilova (graduated): 14.1 PTS, 5.0 REB, 4.2 AST, 1.8 STL
• Avery LaBarbera (graduated): 11.0 PTS, 5.5 REB, 3.4 AST, 1.3 STL
• Maty Wilke (transferred to Utah): 11.8 PTS, 3.9 REB, 2.2 AST, 1.9 STL

Key newcomers:

• D’Yanis Jimenez, freshman guard: averaged 15.4 PTS, 6.2 REB, 2.3 AST, and 3.1 STL as a senior at Charlotte High School in Punta Gorda, Florida.
• Imbie Jones, freshman forward: averaged 11.6 PTS, 4.7 REB and 1.0 AST for Garfield High School in Seattle.
• Leena Patibandla, freshman guard: 16.6 PTS, 8.7 REB, 3.4 AST, 2.7 STL and 3.2 BLK at Jackson High School in Ohio.

Notable non-conference games:

• 11/14 — vs. South Dakota State
• 11/19 — @ Kansas State
• 11/24 — vs. Arkansas (Fort Myers Tip Off)
• 11/25 — vs. Marquette/Boston College (Fort Myers Tip Off)

Wisconsin enters the 2023–24 season in a position not that much different from Penn State. Like the Nittany Lions, the Badgers have a long NCAA Tournament drought. But unlike the Nittany Lions, Wisconsin head coach Marisa Moseley is committed to building her program through high school recruits, not the transfer portal.

The Badgers still have a ways to go to get to the point where they can compete for an NCAA Tournament berth, but Moseley remains confident in her approach paying off in the long run.

“My goal is that each year, not only do we add another core group of young players, but that we’re absolutely making sure that that group that came before them and before them, we’re retaining them,” she said on Monday. “For me, my philosophy has been in recruiting that in order to sustain success and get to a certain level and then be able to sustain it, we’ve gotta make sure that we have younger players. It’s pretty well documented, I haven’t been as heavy in the portal. For me, my mentality has been, in order for us to really build a championship program, we gotta get four-year kids who are dedicated to Wisconsin and to what we’re trying to build.”

Read more about the Badgers here.