Honestly, if you looked at the Big Ten women's standings back in November and thought you had it all figured out, you’re probably staring at the current rankings with a fair bit of confusion. It’s January 2026. The snow is piling up in Madison and Ann Arbor, and the conference race is, quite frankly, a total mess in the best way possible.
We all knew the expansion was going to change things. Adding UCLA, USC, Oregon, and Washington wasn't just a geographical headache for travel coordinators; it fundamentally shifted the power balance of the league. But seeing it play out on the court? That’s a different story entirely.
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Right now, UCLA is sitting at the mountaintop. They’ve looked practically untouchable with a 6-0 conference start and a 16-1 overall record. Cori Close has that squad playing a brand of basketball that feels more like a professional clinic than a college game. But look right behind them. Iowa—yes, even in the post-Caitlin Clark era—is refusing to go away. Jan Jensen has kept the Hawkeyes at a perfect 6-0 in the league, proving that the system in Iowa City was never just about one player. It’s about a culture that just knows how to win.
Big Ten Women's Standings: A Look at the Top Tier
The battle at the top is a literal gauntlet. We’re seeing a logjam of teams with only one loss that are essentially interchangeable on any given Sunday. Michigan State is the surprise of the bunch for many. Robyn Fralick has the Spartans sitting at 6-1 in the conference, fueled by an offense that shares the rock better than almost anyone in the country. They’re currently 3rd in the nation in assists, which is wild when you think about how competitive this league is.
Then you’ve got Ohio State and Michigan, both at 6-1 as well. Kevin McGuff’s Buckeyes are playing that frantic, high-pressure defense that makes you exhausted just watching it. Meanwhile, Kim Barnes Arico has the Wolverines at 15-2 overall, quietly putting together one of the most efficient seasons in school history.
Here is how the top of the Big Ten women's standings looks as of January 17, 2026:
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- UCLA Bruins: 6-0 (16-1 Overall)
- Iowa Hawkeyes: 6-0 (15-2 Overall)
- Michigan State Spartans: 6-1 (17-1 Overall)
- Ohio State Buckeyes: 6-1 (16-2 Overall)
- Michigan Wolverines: 6-1 (15-2 Overall)
- Maryland Terrapins: 5-2 (17-2 Overall)
It’s rare to see six teams this deep into January with two or fewer conference losses. It means every single midweek game on Peacock or the Big Ten Network carries massive weight for seeding in the Big Ten Tournament come March in Indianapolis.
The Mid-Pack Muddle and the USC Mystery
If the top is crowded, the middle is a flat-out street fight. Illinois is hanging tough at 4-3, but the real talking point has been USC.
Coming into the season, everyone had the Trojans circled as a Final Four contender. But the absence of JuJu Watkins for stretches has been felt deeply. They’re currently sitting at 2-4 in conference play. Two and four! For a team with that much talent, seeing them in the bottom half of the Big Ten women's standings is jarring. They have the wins over NC State to show they can beat the elite, but the consistency just hasn't been there on the road in the Midwest.
Washington and Minnesota are both sitting at .500 (3-3), which is actually a massive win for Dawn Plitzuweit’s Gophers. They were picked to finish much lower, but they’ve been feisty, especially at Williams Arena.
Statistical Leaders Keeping Teams Afloat
It’s not just about the team records; some of the individual stats in this league are borderline offensive.
- Carolina Lau (Northwestern): She’s averaging 9.3 assists per game. That’s not a typo. She is seeing lanes that don't exist.
- Gracie Merkle (Penn State): Even though the Lady Lions are struggling in the standings (0-7 in conference), Merkle is leading the country in field goal percentage at 74.6%. If she touches the ball in the paint, it’s two points.
- Kennedy Cambridge (Ohio State): She is a nightmare for ball handlers, averaging over 4 steals a game.
Why the Standings Matter Right Now
We are officially in the "NET Era" of basketball, and the Big Ten is dominating it. The league currently has nine teams in the top 25 of the NET rankings. This is crucial because it means even if a team like Nebraska (3-4 in conference) has a few losses, those losses are "Quality Losses" that don't hurt their tournament resume as much.
The Big Ten leads all Division I conferences in field goal percentage and assists. It’s high-level, efficient basketball. It isn't just "big" basketball anymore; it's fast, it's rhythmic, and it's incredibly hard to coach against.
What to Watch Next
If you want to keep a pulse on the Big Ten women's standings, you have to look at the upcoming schedule. There are two massive games on the horizon that will likely break this tie at the top.
On Sunday, January 18, we get Michigan State at Iowa. This is a clash of styles—the high-octane passing of the Spartans against the disciplined, home-court dominance of the Hawkeyes. On the same day, Maryland travels to UCLA. If Maryland can steal one in Pauley Pavilion, the standings get even more chaotic.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Don't ignore the "losses" column yet: Because the Big Ten is so deep, a 4-loss team in this conference might still be a 4-seed in the NCAA Tournament.
- Watch the road records: UCLA and Iowa are undefeated at home, but their ability to win in places like Piscataway or State College will decide the regular-season title.
- Keep an eye on the bottom: Teams like Indiana (0-7) are too talented to stay winless in the league. They are going to play spoiler for someone's title hopes very soon.
The road to the Big Ten Tournament at Gainbridge Fieldhouse is still long, but the picture is finally starting to clear—even if that picture is a bit more crowded than we expected. Check the local listings for those Sunday afternoon matchups; they’re going to be foundational for how this league finishes.