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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Fighting Illini women’s basketball has maintained its rank in the Associated Press Top-25 Poll for the fourth consecutive week, holding steady at No. 21 in the Week 5 listing. The team’s record was 6-1 at the time of the poll’s release.
Under Coach Green, Illinois has appeared in a total of nine AP polls. The team was ranked in four polls during the 2022-23 season, followed by the preseason rankings in 2023-24, and more recently in the Week 2-5 polls for the 2024-25 season.
This marks the 72nd appearance for the Illini in the AP poll throughout 11 different seasons.
Coach Green now stands alongside Naismith Hall of Famer Theresa Grentz as the only coaches in program history to lead their teams to AP Top-25 ranking appearances in three consecutive seasons. The last time Illinois achieved a three-season ranking streak was from the 1996-97 season through the 2000-01 season.
Illinois reached its highest ranking under Coach Green last week at No. 19, with the previous high of No. 21 from the 2022-23 season. The program’s highest ranking ever was No. 5 on Dec. 8, 1997.
For the third consecutive season, Illinois has secured victories over ranked opponents, marking the longest streak since the 2005-06, 2006-07, and 2007-08 seasons. Wins include victories over No. 19 Florida State (11/7/24), No. 16 Indiana (2/19/24), and No. 12 Iowa (1/1/23).
Illinois received votes in both the AP and WBCA preseason polls. The team moved up three spots from No. 22 in last week’s AP poll.
