The Rutgers women’s basketball team is set to kick off 2026 with a matchup against Wisconsin. This game will take place on January 1 at 2 p.m. at Jersey Mike’s Arena in Piscataway, New Jersey. Fans can catch the live stream on B1G+ and listen on FOX Sports New Jersey. The Scarlet Knights enter the game with a record of 8-5 overall and 0-2 in Big Ten play, while the Badgers have a record of 9-4 and 1-1 in the conference.
Recent Performance of the Scarlet Knights
In their last outing, Rutgers faced No. 24/21 Michigan State and suffered a close defeat, ending the game at 70-64. Nene Ndiaye was the standout player, contributing 16 points. She was supported by Faith Blackstone with 15 points, Imani Lester with 11 points, and Kaylah Ivey who reached a milestone of 500 career assists in this game.
Milestones Achieved
- Faith Blackstone scored her 1,000th career point against Lafayette on December 20, 2025, and currently has 1,016 points.
- Kaylah Ivey recorded her 500th career assist on December 28, 2025.
- Head coach Coquese Washington marked her 250th career victory on December 20, 2025.
Upcoming Opponents and Schedule
Rutgers is preparing to face several ranked teams, including nine opponents currently in the Top 25. These teams are as follows:
- No. 4 UCLA
- No. 6 Michigan
- No. 7 Maryland
- No. 14 Iowa
- No. 17 USC
- No. 19 Ohio State
- No. 20 Nebraska
- No. 24 Michigan State
- No. 25 Princeton
After the Wisconsin game, Rutgers will travel to face No. 19/20 Ohio State on January 4.
Coaching Staff Update
Head coach Coquese Washington has strengthened her staff by hiring four new coaches this offseason. Notable additions include:
- Shannon LeBeauf – Senior Associate Head Coach with experience from UCLA.
- Sean LeBeauf – Assistant Coach from UC Riverside.
- Dani Edwards – Former Assistant Coach at SMU.
- James Spinelli – Recent Assistant Coach at Northeastern.
Player Transfers and Returns
Rutgers welcomes six transfers this season, including:
- Lauryn Swann from Arizona.
- Kaylah Ivey from Boston College.
- Nene Ndiaye from Boston College.
- Faith Blackstone from Stephen F. Austin.
- Imani Lester from Kansas State.
- Yacine Ndiaye from UNCG.
Additionally, five players return from last season: Antonia Bates, Deja Young, Zachara Perkins, Kennedy Brandt, and Janae Walker.
Scouting Wisconsin
The Badgers have faced some ups and downs, recently losing to No. 7 Maryland 97-59 after a three-game winning streak. Destiny Howell leads Wisconsin in scoring with an average of 12.8 points per game, while Gift Uchenna averages 6.5 rebounds.
As the Scarlet Knights prepare to face Wisconsin, fans are eager to see how the game unfolds in this early 2026 matchup. Follow El-Balad for updates and highlights from the game.
