Game Preview: Illini host No. 2 UCLA

Illinois vs. No. 2 UCLA

Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026 - 6pm CT

TV: BTN Plus

Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network

 

Illinois Starters Last Game (at Nebraska)
Pos. No. Name Ht. Yr. PPG RPG APG SPG BPG Season Note
G 1 Aaliyah Guyton 5-7 So. 6.1 2.1 2.3 0.6 0.0 Started last two games for Illini
G 2 Destiny Jackson 5-6 Fr. 8.2 4.0 4.8 1.4 0.1 8.2 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 4.4 apg vs. B1G
G 8 Jasmine Brown-Hagger 5-9 Jr. 5.8 2.1 1.7 1.0 0.1 Season-high 16 pts, 5 rebs, 3 assists at Michigan
F 23 Berry Wallace 6-1 So. 19.8 6.9 1.8 0.6 0.5 12 20-point games this season
F 30 Cearah Parchment 6-3 Fr. 12.0 8.1 1.2 1.8 0.6 Six double-doubles; 11 games with 10+ points

Career Record: 234-115 (.670), 12th season
Division I Record: 205-90 (.695), 10th season
At Illinois: 78-40 (.661), Fourth season
Big Ten Record: 35-28 (.556), Fourth season

  • Move the Illini to 4-2 all-time vs. UCLA
  • Improve Green to 1-1 overall vs. UCLA
  • Move Illinois to 3-0 vs. UCLA in Champaign
  • Move Illinois to 50-12 in home games under Green
  • Mark UI's first 6-4 B1G start since 2022-23
  • Move Green's career record to 234-111 in 12 seasons
  • Improve Green to 36-28 in Big Ten games
  • Move Green's DI record to 206-90 in 10 seasons
  • Move Green's Illinois record to 79-40
  • Give Illinois WBB an all-time record of 725-780
  • Move UI to 2-4 vs. ranked teams this season

The 52nd campaign of Illinois women's basketball continues on Wednesday, Jan. 28, when Illinois hosts #2 UCLA for a 6 p.m. CT game on B1G+ from State Farm Center. Mike Koon (PxP) and Kendall Bostic (color) will call the action for the Illini on the Busey Bank Illini Sports Network (1400 AM/93.9 FM). Streaming, audio, and stats links are also available at FightingIllini.com/WBB.

  • Illinois has a ranked win all 4 seasons under Green
  • Illinois has been ranked during all 4 seasons under Green
  • The Illini's 11-game win streak was the longest single-season streak and tied the longest win streak that spanned the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons
  • 10 noncon wins tied program record
  • Illinois went a perfect 6-0 in December
  • Best 14-game start in program history at 13-1
  • Matched best 15-game start at 13-2
  • Illinois' 3-0 start in Big Ten play was the program's best start since a 4-0 start during the 1999-2000 season
  • The Illini faced a 3-game 7-day span vs. ranked opponents (#7/6 Maryland, at #24/19 Michigan State, #19/19 Ohio State)
  • Illinois' next 2 opponents are ranked

UCLA is off to a 19-1 start on the season including a 9-0 reading in Big Ten play. The Bruins and Illini both have shared wins against Penn State, Maryland, Purdue, and Northwestern. UCLA owns a 13 game win streak. Head coach Cori Close is in her 15th season in Los Angeles and  has led the Bruins to the Final Four last season and the Sweet 16 or better in each of the past three seasons.

Illinois leads the all-time series against UCLA, 3-2, with Wednesday's game marking the sixth all-time meeting. The Illini lead 2-0 when the series has been played in Champaign. Prior to last season's meeting as Big Ten foes, the most recent meeting between the Illini and Bruins came during the 2004-05 campaign.

Illinois women's basketball has recorded a 15-5 record through 20 games played each of the past two seasons.

BEST 20-GAME STARTS

Rank Season     Record    Coach

1. 2022-23 16-4 Green
1996-97 16-4 Grentz
1981-82 16-4 Schroeder
1980-81 16-4 Schroeder
5. 4x, MR 2025-26 15-5 Green

Podcasts

557 Sturdy & Stevens on the Keaton Wagler Game

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556 Illini Defeat Purdue 88-82 in the Keaton Wagler Game

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1.23.26 - Illinois vs Purdue - Top 15 Showdown

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555 - CJ Moore Talks Keaton Wagler, the NBA Draft & Illini Tourney Expectations

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554 - Illini Flush Terrapins 89-70 for 8th Win in a Row

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553 Illini Beat Minnesota Winning Streak Up to 7

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1.16.26 - Illini Hoops Update, Portal Kombat & CFP Future

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552 - Illini Break 3-Game Losing Streak at Northwestern

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551 Illini Road Win Over Iowa 75-69

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1.9.26 - Portal Kombat, Illini Women & A'ja Wilson & Illini vs Iowa Coming Up

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550 Illini Crush Rutgers 81-55

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549 Illini Portal Kombat Wins with Steve Sturm

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548 Illini Strangle Penn State 73-65

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1.2.26 - Music City Champs, Basketball Rolling & Why the SEC is Overrated

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547 Portal Kombat Day 1 & CFP Thoughts

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