Illinois vs. No. 7 Maryland

Date/Time: January 1, 2026/3pm CT

Location: State Farm Center, Champaign, Ill.

TV: Big Ten Network

Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network

Head Coach Shauna Green

Career Record: 231-111 (.675), 12th season
Division I Record: 202-86 (.701), 10th season
At Illinois: 75-36 (.676), Fourth season
Big Ten Record: 32-24 (.571), Fourth season

THE NEXT WIN WOULD...

• Move the Illini to 2-17 all-time vs. Maryland
• Improve Green to 2-5 overall vs. Maryland
• Mark Illinois' first win over Maryland in State Farm Center
• Move Illinois to 48-11 in home games under Green
• Give the Illini an 11-game win streak
• Give the Illini a 10-game home win streak
• Mark UI's first 3-0 B1G start since 1999-2000
• Move Green's career record to 232-111 in 12 seasons
• Move Green's DI record to 203-86 in 10 seasons
• Move Green's Illinois record to 76-36
• Give Illinois WBB an all-time record of 722-776

ABOUT THE OPPONENT

Maryland is off to a perfect 14-0 start on the 2025-26 season including a 2-0 reading in Big Ten play with wins over Minnesota and Wisconsin. The Terps' lone away game was their Big Ten opener at Minnesota on Dec. 7, a 100-99 double overtime win.

ALL-TIME SERIES INFO

Maryland leads the all-time series against Illinois, 17-1, with Thursday's game marking the 19th all-time meeting. The Terrapins lead the series 5-0 when the series has been played in Champaign. Illinois won the most recent meeting in the series, a 66-65 victory in College Park on Feb. 2, 2025. The Illini are 1-5 against Maryland since Shauna Green took over the Illinois helm.

DOLAN MEDICAL HARDSHIP WAIVER APPROVED

On Dec. 12, 2025, Illinois got word that Gretchen Dolan's medical hardship waiver for the 2024-25 season was approved by the NCAA, giving the Buffalo, N.Y. native the year of eligibility back. Green made the announcement at media availability that day. As of that day, Dolan will be listed as a redshirt sophomore on the 2025-26 roster.

13-GAME START

Illinois' 12-1 start through 13 games is the best start in program history. Green's squad is the only Illini crew to earn a 12-1 (or 13-0) start all-time.

BEST 13-GAME STARTS

Rank Season Record Coach

BEST 14-GAME STARTS

The best 14-game start in program history is a 12-2 reading, achieved by two different Illini squads, including one of Shauna Green's teams. The 2025-26 Illinois team has the chance to become the first in program history to achieve a 13-1 start on Thursday.

BEST 14-GAME STARTS

Rank Season  Record Coach

TAKING CARE OF THE BALL

Since the arrival of Shauna Green, Illinois has taken care of the basketball at an elite clip, turning in three straight seasons ranked with the second fewest turnovers in the Big Ten. The staff's goal is 13 turnovers or less per game and the Orange and Blue have averaged below that all three seasons completed seasons.

TURNOVERS/GAME UNDER GREEN

Season  Avg. B1G Rank D-1 Rank

EFFICIENCY FROM THE CHARITY STRIPE

Green's Illini have been incredibly efficient from the free throw line. Illinois has led the Big Ten in free throw shooting the last two completed seasons and is doing so once again in 2025-26. The Illini's numbers from 2023- 24 and 2024-25 are the two best completed single-season free throw percentages in program history. Following the holiday break, Illinois leads Division I with an 82.7% mark from the stripe.

FREE THROW PERCENTAGE UNDER GREEN

Season    Pct. B1G Rank D-1 Rank

GREEN CLIMBS PROGRAM'S ALL-TIME WINS LIST

Fourth-year head coach Shauna Green continues to move up the program's all-time wins list. Illinois' latest win saw Green post her 75th win at the helm of the program, giving her the third-most victories by an Illinois women's basketball head coach.

ILLINOIS WBB WINNINGEST HEAD COACHES

Rank Coach           Wins Tenure (# Years)