Breaking down the Big Ten contenders in WCBB

We’re in the back end of the women’s basketball season, with teams across the country trying to kick into full gear a month out from March.

The Big Ten has proven to be a highly competitive conference, with several teams fighting for a positional advantage.

Let’s break down the contenders.

UCLA

Undefeated in conference play, have won 16 straight, and have only one loss on the campaign.

I’d say this team is pretty good.

The Bruins are led by Gabriela Jacquez, who was recently named a Mid-Season Top 10 candidate for the 2026 Cheryl Miller Small Forward of the Year Award.

She’s been shooting a highly effective 56.7 field goal percentage, while also providing 14.4 points a game.

The squad displayed its potent offense in an 86-46 rout of lowly Rutgers.

UCLA’s offense is solid thanks to its performances on the floor. They lead the conference in field goal percentage and from three-point percentage.

The No. 2 Bruins will need to continue the strong play and offensive consistency, as they will

play the best scoring team in the conference when they face No. 8 Michigan on Super Bowl Sunday.

Michigan

Just like UCLA, Michigan has one of the best offenses in the conference.

The Wolverines lead the Big Ten in points per game, and they have only one loss in conference play.

20-3 overall, the leading scorer for Michigan is Olivia Olson. She ranks eighth in the conference with 18.8 points per game, while shooting an effective 47 percent from the field.

Heading down the stretch, the Wolverines will look to make a statement win against the Bruins. Michigan will also be searching for its sixth victory in a row, a win that would solidify itself as a dangerous team heading into March.

Ohio State

Directly under the Wolverines at No. 9, the Buckeyes are another squad that is in the mix in 2026.

Jaloni Cambridge is a player worth noting, averaging a whopping 22.9 points per game and averaging eight buckets a game. Both are good for second in the conference.

Ohio State is a top-five scoring team in the Big Ten as well, ranking fourth behind Michigan State, Michigan, and UCLA.

The Buckeyes sit third in the Big Ten with two conference losses on the season. Those defeats came at the hands of Iowa in late January and UCLA earlier in the season.

However, they have been bouncing back nicely with three straight victories. One of those wins includes a top-25 win vs. Washington.

The Buckeyes will square off against Oregon Sunday afternoon to try to continue their winning ways.

Iowa

The Hawkeyes are the fourth-ranked team in the conference. However, they’ve been skidding as of late.

No. 10 Iowa has dropped three games in a row after rattling off an eight-game win streak.

The yellow and black have fallen to USC, UCLA, and, most recently, Minnesota.

Ava Heiden is their leading point getter, averaging 16.7 per game, and ranking third in the Big Ten with a 66.3 field goal clip.

The Hawkeyes won’t be suiting up until next Wednesday when they face Washington, so this period is the perfect time for the crew to get right before making a push for March.

Ben Barker is a third-year student studying broadcast journalism. To contact him, email bsb5566@psu.edu