As No. 9 Iowa women’s basketball (24-5, 15-3 Big Ten) begins their 2026 Big Ten Tournament play following their double-bye as the field’s second seed, the Hawkeyes will take on tenth-seeded Illinois (21-10, 9-9 Big Ten) tonight from Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Iowa’s well-earned double-bye is a byproduct of their outstanding Big Ten regular-season, which saw it finish on a six-game winning streak that was capped by an 81-52 rout of Wisconsin from Madison on March 1.
The Hawkeyes are led offensively by sophomore center Ava Heiden’s 17.6 points per game on 65.1% shooting. The 6-foot-4 native of Sherwood, Ore., recorded a team-leading nine double-doubles and earned unanimous selection by the coaches and media as All-Big Ten First Team honors.
Watch Iowa vs. Illinois
Meanwhile, Illinois enters tonight’s matchup after defeating Wisconsin, 82-70, on March 4 and Michigan State, 71-69, on March 5.
The Fighting Illini are led offensively by sophomore forward Berry Wallace, who averages 18.9 points per game on 48.5% shooting, followed by freshman forward Cearah Parchment’s 13.8 points per game on 51.1% shooting. It’s worth noting that the Fighting Illini’s top scoring duo found plenty of success in their Feb. 26 meeting with the Hawkeyes.
As the tip nears, here’s where and when Hawkeyes fans can watch Iowa women’s basketball take on Illinois:
How to watch Iowa women’s basketball vs. Illinois
Streaming: Big Ten Network
Tipoff Time: 5:30 p.m. CT
Sloane Martin, Christy Winters Scott, and Elise Woodward will be on the call for tonight’s game between Iowa women’s basketball and Illinois from their booth at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, with the game being broadcast on the Big Ten Network.
How to stream Iowa women’s basketball vs. Illinois
Streaming: Fubo
Hawkeye fans can stream the Big Ten clash between Iowa women’s basketball and Illinois via Fubo, which offers a free trial to first-time subscribers.
Hawkeye Radio Network
Radio: Hawkeye Radio Network
Iowa fans can also tune in to play-by-play voice Rob Brooks and color analyst Kathryn Reynolds on the Hawkeye Radio Network.
Series history
Iowa leads the all-time series, 62-21.
The Hawkeyes have also won nine out of the last 11 meetings with the Fighting Illini, including an 82-78 victory from Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Feb. 26.
Iowa women’s basketball schedule
All times CT
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Where to watch Iowa women’s basketball vs Illinois: TV channel, time
Reporting by Scout Springgate, Hawkeyes Wire / Hawkeyes Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
