NORMAL, Ill. – For the second-straight season, Illinois State (21-13) and Abilene Christian (24-10) will compete against each other in the postseason, as the Redbirds and Wildcats will meet in the WNIT Super 16 on Friday, March 27, at 6:30 p.m. CT on Doug Collins Court at CEFCU Arena.
ABOUT THE BIRDS
• Illinois State secured a 20-win campaign for the fourth-consecutive season under head coach Kristen Gillespie in 2025-26, marking the first time since 2007-08 to 2010-11 that the program has earned four consecutive seasons with 20+ wins. That allowed the Redbirds to make their 17th appearance all-time in the WNIT and their fifth trip to the WNIT in Gillespie’s tenure.
• The Birds are 20-11 overall in the WNIT since 2000, which includes a 3-1 record and a berth in the WNIT Fab 4 last postseason.
• ISU earned a first-round bye and punched its ticket to the WNIT Super 16 with an 81-52 win over the UTRGV Vaqueros in the second round on March 22.
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
• Abilene Christian returns to the WNIT for the second year in a row, after competing in the Western Athletic Conference Tournament championship game.
• Last season, ACU beat Northwestern State and Central Arkansas en route to the WNIT’s Super 16, before being defeated by the Redbirds 78-68 at the Shirk Center in Bloomington, Illinois.
• At 23-10, ACU collected its most victories since 2019-20, while its 13-5 showing in WAC play was also good for its most conference wins in six years.
• The Wildcats have been fueled by All-WAC selections Payton Hull and Erin Woodson, who were named to the conference’s All-Tournament team. Hull was the WAC Player of the Year and landed on the All-WAC First Team and All-WAC Defensive Team. Woodson earned All-WAC Second Team honors.
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