Illinois basketball had a successful 2025-26 season against non-conference opponents.
Recording a 13-3 record against teams like Missouri, Florida State, and Murray State, the Illini cemented their position in the country with their dominance outside of the Big Ten. This helped lead to their third NCAA tournament appearance in the last four years.
This season, Illinois will look to continue their success in non-conference play, especially during their stint in the Baha Mar Hoops Nassau Championship. Recently, we received a look at who the Illini will be facing this upcoming season.
Our 2026-27 non-con schedule is here!
— Illinois Women's Basketball (@IlliniWBB) September 15, 2026
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There are a few key matchups that highlight this list, including neutral-site games against Marquette and Saint Joseph's, as well as a home game against Braggin' Rights rival Missouri. They will also match up against Southeast Missouri State, whom Illinois beat last season 91-67.
Illinois' non-conference schedule will be an important stretch of games, especially with the Big Ten being such a powerhouse. This is where they will pad their resume for March.
Illinois basketball should expect a strong start with a few speed bumps along the way
The 2025-26 season was a special one for the women's basketball program, as they began the year winning 13 of their first 14 games. They dominated in the early part of their schedule, defeating multiple mid-major programs, as well as six power four schools.
During the 2026-27 season, this trend will continue for Shauan Green. Illinois' roster will be at full strength with a year of play under their belt. This roster will have the continuity that other programs wish they could achieve, as they retained over 90% of their players from a year ago.
There will be some speed bumps along the way, though. Illinois will have to face the aforementioned Saint Joseph's and Missouri after Thanksgiving. With how strong the Illinois roster is, it would be surprising to see them finish with anything less than an 11-2 record in non-conference play.
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