As the 2026-27 women’s college basketball season begins, several Midwest programs are entering key phases marked by new leadership, roster changes, and rising expectations.
Notre Dame returns senior guard Hannah Hidalgo, who is already considered one of the most accomplished players in school history. Hidalgo ranks second all-time in scoring for the Irish with 2,460 points, trailing only Arike Ogunbowale. She also holds several school records in steals, including a single-game NCAA Division I record of 16. Named last season’s Naismith and WBCA Defensive Player of the Year, Hidalgo focused on building strength and leadership during the offseason, gaining eight pounds of muscle. With the Irish integrating multiple freshmen and transfers after losing their top six scorers aside from Hidalgo, she is expected to serve as a vocal leader on and off the court. Head coach Niele Ivey highlighted Hidalgo’s influence in setting standards and mentoring a largely new roster, which includes transfers Madison St. Rose and Anaya Hardy along with freshman guards Jenica Lewis and Jacy Abii.
Illinois, ranked No. 23 in the preseason AP poll, seeks to build on steady progress under second-year head coach Shauna Green. Green has led the Illini to three 22-win seasons in her tenure, a notable improvement after a decade of limited success. The team returns key players from last season’s squad that reached the NCAA Tournament’s second round for the second consecutive year. Junior forward Berry Wallace, a preseason All-Big Ten selection, leads the team after averaging 18.4 points and 6.2 rebounds. Forward Cearah Parchment, coming off a strong freshman season, has used the offseason to enhance her physicality and endurance. Sophomore point guard Destiny Jackson is another player to watch after contributing nearly 10 points and over five assists per game last year. Green emphasized the value of tournament experience gained by her young roster and the impact it may have in close contests this season.
Northwestern begins its campaign under new head coach Carla Berube, who was hired in March after a successful six-year spell at Princeton. The Wildcats have struggled in recent seasons, winning nine or fewer games in four straight years under former coach Joe McKeown. Berube aims to establish a team identity focused on toughness, unselfish play, communication, and consistent improvement. With the departure of leading scorer Grace Sullivan, the program will look to senior guard Casey Harter and junior guard Xamiya Walton, joined by Walton’s younger sister, Xyanna, as primary scorers. Transfers Lexi Blue and Lily Carmody, along with Harter, serve as team captains. Harter acknowledged the adjustments involved with the coaching change but said the new leadership has instilled higher accountability and energized the team.
Coaching changes and developments extend beyond these programs. Berube has brought on former Loyola head coach Allison Guth as her chief of staff. Loyola, which finished 16-18 last season, hired Morgan Paige, previously an associate head coach at Kansas, as its new head coach. Meanwhile, programs such as DePaul, Northern Illinois, Chicago State, and UIC enter the season with relatively new head coaches aiming to make incremental progress. DePaul’s Jill Pizzotti and Northern Illinois’ Jacey Brooks enter their second years, while Chicago State’s Corry Irvin and UIC’s Ashleen Bracey are entering their third and fourth seasons, respectively.
As the season tips off, these Midwest college women’s basketball programs face a mix of rebuilding and building upon momentum, with leadership and emerging talent poised to shape their trajectories.