Honestly, if you took a nap during the off-season and just woke up to look at the big ten women's basketball standings, you’d probably think you were dreaming. Or maybe that someone messed with the settings on your sports app. Seeing UCLA and Oregon in the middle of a Midwest-heavy conference race still feels kinda weird, doesn’t it?
But here we are in mid-January 2026, and the "new" Big Ten isn't just a geographical experiment anymore. It’s a gauntlet. The standings are currently a mess of tiebreakers and unexpected collapses, and the fight for those top four seeds in the conference tournament is getting genuinely stressful for fanbases that aren't used to sweating this early.
The Top Tier: UCLA and Iowa Refuse to Blink
Right now, the view from the top is incredibly crowded. As of January 18, UCLA and Iowa are basically playing a game of chicken. Both squads are sitting at a perfect 6-0 in conference play. UCLA, ranked No. 3 in the nation, has been an absolute juggernaut. Cori Close has this team playing a style of defense that feels suffocating. Lauren Betts is a problem. Plain and simple. She’s currently averaging a double-double and making every opposing coach rethink their entire life strategy when they enter the paint.
Then there’s Iowa. Everyone thought the post-Caitlin Clark era would be a slow rebuild.
Wrong.
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Jan Jensen has kept the momentum rolling, and Hannah Stuelke has transformed into an absolute superstar. The Hawkeyes are 15-2 overall and haven't dropped a Big Ten game yet. Their 6-0 start is a statement that the culture in Iowa City wasn't just about one player. It’s about a system that works.
The 6-1 Logjam
Just a hair behind the leaders, we have a massive traffic jam.
- Michigan State: Robyn Fralick has the Spartans at 17-1 overall (6-1 B1G). They are currently riding a nine-game win streak.
- Ohio State: The Buckeyes are 16-2 (6-1 B1G). Jaloni Cambridge is a human highlight reel. She recently dropped 41 points on Illinois. Forty-one!
- Michigan: Kim Barnes Arico’s crew is right there at 15-2 (6-1 B1G). They aren't flashy, but they win.
What’s Going On with the "Blue Bloods"?
If you look further down the big ten women's basketball standings, you’ll find some names in places they shouldn't be. Maryland is currently 5-2 in the conference. That’s not bad, but they’ve had some close calls that suggest they aren't quite the untouchable force they were a few years ago. Brenda Frese is still one of the best in the business, but the depth of this league is testing them every single night.
The biggest shock? Indiana.
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The Hoosiers are 0-7 in conference play. Read that again. It feels like a typo, but it’s real. After years of dominance under Teri Moren, they’ve hit a wall that no one saw coming. They are 11-8 overall, so they’re winning their non-conference games, but the Big Ten schedule has been a nightmare. It’s a reminder of how quickly things can turn when a few key injuries or a lack of rhythm hits at the wrong time.
The West Coast Transition is... Interesting
USC was supposed to be the crown jewel of the new additions, especially with JuJu Watkins. But the Trojans are struggling to find a rhythm, currently sitting at 2-4 in the conference. Transitioning to a schedule that involves flying to West Lafayette or Piscataway in the middle of January clearly has a learning curve.
Washington and Oregon are hovering around the .500 mark. They’ve shown flashes of brilliance—Oregon gave Iowa a scare recently—but the consistency just isn't there yet. It turns out that playing in the Big Ten is more of a physical grind than some of the former Pac-12 schools might have anticipated.
Stats That Actually Matter Right Now
If you want to know why the standings look the way they do, look at the shooting percentages. The Big Ten currently leads all Division I conferences in field goal percentage (.458) and assists (17.0 per game).
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Illinois is leading the nation in free-throw shooting at 83.3%. That’s absurd. Meanwhile, Minnesota has turned into a defensive fortress, leading the country by allowing only 51.8 points per game. When you have a league where one team can't miss a free throw and another team won't let you score 50 points, the standings are going to be volatile.
What to Watch for Next
The race for the double-bye in the Big Ten Tournament is the real story here. Finishing in the top four is the difference between a rested run at a title and an exhausting early-round exit.
Keep an eye on the Ohio State vs. Michigan matchups. Those are usually bloodbaths, but this year they have massive implications for the top of the table. Also, watch out for Nebraska. They are 3-4 in the conference but have played the toughest strength of schedule so far. They’re a "trap" team that could ruin someone’s season in February.
Actionable Insights for the Second Half of the Season:
- Monitor the Road Records: In this expanded conference, home-court advantage has become even more valuable. Teams like Michigan State and Michigan are undefeated at home (10-0 and 9-0, respectively). If you're looking at upcoming matchups, always favor the home team in these mid-tier battles.
- Watch the Freshman Impact: Jaloni Cambridge (Ohio State) and Olivia Olson (Michigan) aren't just playing like freshmen; they are carrying their teams. Their stamina in late February will determine who stays in the top five.
- The Bubble is Real: Teams like Illinois and Nebraska are currently on the NCAA Tournament bubble. Every conference win for them isn't just about the Big Ten standings—it’s about keeping their March Madness hopes alive.
The schedule doesn't get any easier from here. We’re headed for a finish that will likely come down to the final weekend in March. Buckle up.
Stay updated on the latest box scores and injury reports through the official Big Ten availability portal, as roster depth is becoming the deciding factor in these cross-country road trips. Check the schedule for the upcoming Coretta Scott King Classic and other televised doubleheaders that will likely shift these rankings before the month is out.