Illinois Women's Basketball to Host Exhibition Game

The Fighting Illini face Illinois-Springfield at the State Farm Center on October 30, 2026.

Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Basketball

Illinois Women's Basketball to Host Exhibition Game

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The Illinois women's basketball team is set to host an exhibition game against Illinois-Springfield on October 30, 2026. This matchup at the State Farm Center serves as a final tune-up before the team officially begins its regular season.

Why it matters

The exhibition provides critical game-speed experience for a roster that includes both returning veterans and new additions. It allows the coaching staff to finalize rotations before the squad begins high-stakes play against non-conference opponents.

Illinois enters the season ranked No. 23 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll following a 22-win campaign during the 2025-26 season. The roster retains 11 players from that previous year, including nine members of the primary rotation.

The players

Illinois Women's Basketball

The collegiate program competes in the Big Ten Conference and plays its home games at the State Farm Center in Champaign.

Shauna Green

She serves as the head coach of the Illinois women's basketball program and is entering her fifth season at the helm.

Manuella Alves

The player is a member of the Illinois roster who is returning to action after suffering a season-ending ACL injury during the previous campaign.

The details

Illinois is integrating new talent into its established core, including LSU transfer Divine Bourrage, junior-college transfer Ona Riopedre, and freshman Morgan Baptist. Manuella Alves also returns to the floor after missing the entire 2025-26 season due to a torn ACL.

The Illinois women's basketball team played throughout the 2025-26 season.
The exhibition game against Illinois-Springfield takes place on October 30, 2026.
The Illinois regular season opener against Detroit Mercy is scheduled for November 4, 2026.

Season Trajectory

This game allows the program to build on the foundation laid during the 2025-26 Illinois women's basketball season, which saw the team achieve 22 wins. Success here helps position the program to maintain its status as a top-25 contender as it moves into a competitive non-conference schedule.

Fans should monitor the integration of transfers Divine Bourrage and Ona Riopedre, as their performance in this exhibition will likely dictate their usage rate in the season opener. The return of Manuella Alves to the rotation is a key variable for the team's depth and defensive capability this year.

The takeaway

Exhibition games serve as a controlled environment to test new talent and returning players before the season pressure mounts. Developing chemistry in these early minutes is vital for any team hoping to maintain its national ranking throughout the winter months.