It is a cold Tuesday night in DeKalb, and if you are standing outside the Convocation Center, you can hear the squeak of sneakers echoing through the concourse. This is where Northern Illinois University women’s basketball lives. It isn't the flashy, high-budget world of the SEC or the Big Ten, but honestly, that’s exactly why people in the 815 area code love it. It's gritty. It’s a blue-collar program that has spent decades punching above its weight class in the Mid-American Conference (MAC).
But things are changing. Fast.
If you haven’t checked the standings lately, you might have missed the seismic shift happening in the athletic department. After a decade under Coach Lisa Carlsen—who basically defined the modern era of Huskies hoops with a high-octane, "score-80-or-bust" philosophy—the program is in the middle of a massive transition. Carlsen moved on to an assistant role at Drake, and in walks Jacey Brooks.
Brooks isn't just a new face; she’s a culture architect who just came off a WNIT championship run as an associate head coach at Buffalo. She’s inherited a roster that looks like a United Nations assembly, with players from Finland, Spain, Angola, and Puerto Rico. It is a weird, exciting, and slightly chaotic time to be a fan.
The Reality of the 2025-26 Season
Let's be real for a second: the 2025-26 season has been a bit of a rollercoaster. As of mid-January 2026, the Huskies are sitting at 3-13 overall. That’s a tough pill to swallow for a fan base used to seeing the team hover around the .500 mark or better.
The most recent outing was a 70-49 loss at Toledo. On paper, it looks like a blowout. In reality? The Huskies actually outrebounded the Rockets—the first MAC team to do that this year. They just couldn't stop throwing the ball away. Twenty-one turnovers will kill you every single time, especially against a powerhouse like Toledo.
One name you absolutely need to know: Nevaeh Wingate.
The junior forward, a transfer from St. John’s, has been the lone bright spot in a lot of these dark January nights. She’s on a streak of five straight games in double figures, including a 15-point performance against the Rockets. She plays with a level of "small-town grit" that Jacey Brooks has been preaching since she arrived from New York.
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Who is on the floor?
The roster is a mix of veteran "portal" finds and fresh faces. You’ve got Nadechka Laccen, a graduate guard from Puerto Rico who came via St. Bonaventure. She’s been the primary ball-handler, trying to steady a ship that feels like it's tilting in the MAC waves. Then there’s Alecia Doyle, a senior guard who previously played at SEMO.
When you look at the box scores, you see the international influence everywhere:
- Teresa Mbemba (Angola) providing size in the paint.
- Maria Serracanta (Spain) bringing that European flair to the perimeter.
- Juliana Haddad (Finland) adding depth at forward.
It’s a bold experiment. Brooks is trying to build a "selfless competitor" culture with players who didn't grow up playing together. It’s hard. It takes time. And right now, the growing pains are visible.
Northern Illinois University Women’s Basketball: The Identity Crisis
Why does this program matter? Because for a long time, NIU was the "fun" team.
Under the previous regime, they played at a breakneck pace. They led the MAC in three-point shooting. They had players like Courtney Woods, who finished her career with over 2,200 points, and Mikayla Voigt, who once dropped 52 points in a single game against Western Illinois. That’s not a typo. Fifty-two.
But that era of "outscore everyone and hope for the best" is over. Jacey Brooks wants discipline. She wants defense. She wants the "loose-ball game."
The Huskies are currently in their final lap of the MAC. In a move that shocked a lot of people in the Midwest, NIU announced they are moving most of their sports to the Horizon League starting in July 2026. This means the 2025-26 season is the "Last Dance" in a conference they’ve called home for 28 consecutive years.
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Moving to the Horizon League (joining schools like Milwaukee, Green Bay, and Cleveland State) is about sustainability. It's about playing in major Midwest markets and keeping travel costs down. But for the women's basketball program, it feels like a chance to reset the ceiling. The MAC is a gauntlet; the Horizon League is just as tough but offers a different flavor of competition.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Huskies
Most casual observers look at the 1989-94 "Golden Era" under Jane Albright and think the program has been in a slump ever since.
Sure, Albright took them to four NCAA tournaments in five years. That was legendary. But the program hasn't been "dead." They made the MAC title game in 2017. They went to the Women’s Basketball Invitational (WBI) in 2023. They’ve consistently produced Academic All-Americans and professional-level talent.
The problem is consistency.
Last season (2024-25) was a perfect example of the "Huskie Headache." They beat the top teams like Toledo and Kent State, then immediately lost five straight. They were the team nobody wanted to play, but also the team that frequently sabotaged itself.
The Transfer Portal Factor
You can't talk about NIU without talking about the portal. It has been a double-edged sword.
They lost stars like A’Jah Davis and Chelby Koker, who were the heartbeat of the team for years. Replacing that kind of production at a mid-major level is basically impossible in one off-season. Brooks had to recruit nine open spots almost immediately after taking the job.
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Imagine trying to build a puzzle where half the pieces are still in the mail. That’s what this year feels like.
Is the Future Actually Bright?
If you’re a fan, you’re probably frustrated. 3-13 is not where anyone wanted to be in January.
However, look at the freshmen. Emilie Sorensen and Cyra Conwell are getting significant minutes. They are being thrown into the fire. In the long run, having a sophomore class next year with 20+ starts under their belt is how you win championships in the Horizon League.
The team's effective field goal percentage is hovering in a range that suggests they are getting the shots they want—they just aren't falling yet. And the rebounding? Outperforming a team like Toledo on the glass is a massive statistical indicator that the "effort" is there.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you are following this team, here is how you should actually judge their progress over the next two months:
- The Turnover Margin: If Brooks can get this team under 14 turnovers a game, they will start winning. The 20+ turnover games are what’s killing their win-loss record.
- Wingate’s Usage: Nevaeh Wingate needs to be the focal point. When she gets 12+ shots, the offense flows better.
- The "Home" Factor: The Convocation Center needs to become a fortress again. Historically, NIU has been much better in DeKalb than on the road.
- The Horizon League Pivot: Start scouting the Horizon League now. The style of play is slightly more defensive-oriented, which actually fits what Brooks is trying to build better than the run-and-gun MAC.
Northern Illinois University women's basketball is in a cocoon phase. It’s ugly right now. There’s a lot of struggle. But the bones of a disciplined, defensive-minded program are being built.
Watch the development of the international players. If the chemistry clicks by late February, they could be the "spoiler" team in the MAC tournament before they pack their bags for the Horizon League. Don't count them out just because the record is messy; the grit is still there.
To keep up with the transition, fans should focus on the upcoming home stands against Western Michigan and Central Michigan—these are the "winnable" games that will define if this season ends with a whimper or a foundation for the future. Check the official NIU Huskies website for the updated 2026 spring schedule and live-stream links on ESPN+.