Unranked Illinois Upsets No. 7 Maryland, Kentucky Beats No. 5 LSU

On the first day of 2026, women's college basketball witnessed a series of upsets that shook up the rankings, with unranked Illinois stunning No. 7 Maryland 73-70 at the State Farm Center in Champaign and No. 11 Kentucky edging No. 5 LSU 80-78 in a thrilling finish. These defeats marked the end of undefeated streaks for both Maryland and LSU, highlighting the depth and unpredictability of the sport early in the new year.

The Illinois victory over Maryland capped a back-and-forth battle that saw the Terrapins lead for much of the game despite early challenges. Maryland's starting point guard Addi Mack encountered foul trouble, limiting her to just 14 minutes after accumulating four fouls, which forced coach Brenda Frese to rely on her bench sooner than planned. The Terrapins held a 39-34 halftime advantage and extended it to 60-55 with 7:53 remaining in the fourth quarter on a layup by Yarden Garzon. However, Maryland's offense stalled, going scoreless from the field for the final 2:22 while committing 18 turnovers throughout the contest. They also struggled from beyond the arc, making just 1 of 12 three-point attempts.

Illinois capitalized on the momentum shift, embarking on a...