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Women’s college basketball started 2026 with a bang — and it set a fitting tone

women’s-college-basketball-started-2026-with-a-bang-—-and-it-set-a-fitting-tone
Women’s college basketball started 2026 with a bang — and it set a fitting tone
Four women's basketball players for the Illinois Fighting Illini celebrate their win against the Maryland Terrapins.
Gretchen Dolan #4, Destiny Jackson #2, Cearah Parchment #30 and Mia Zenere #12 of the Illinois Fighting Illini celebrate following the game against the Maryland Terrapins at State Farm Center on January 1, 2026 in Champaign, Illinois. Getty Images

With No. 5 LSU up by one point with 18.5 seconds left, Tigers junior Mikaylah Williams felt the rambunctious energy within Maravich Assembly Center after she drained a go-ahead free throw.

Williams bobbed her head and put her left arm into the air in front of a crowd of 11,485 that included LSU’s new football coach, Lane Kiffin

A win against No. 11 Kentucky felt within reach. 

But the celebration was premature. There was far too much time left for a talented Kentucky team, led by junior Clara Strack and senior Tonie Morgan, to doctor up some magic. 

ucla-hero-jerry-neuheisel-following-chip-kelly-to-northwestern

UCLA hero Jerry Neuheisel following Chip Kelly to Northwestern

giants’-assistants-will-need-to-wait-before-finding-out-their-fate-with-new-staff

Giants’ assistants will need to wait before finding out their fate with new staff