The Women's College Basketball Belt · still waiting
Illinois vs. the belt
9Belt games
0–9Record vs. holders
1987First shot
2025Latest shot
Illinois has played 9 belt games and never taken the Women's College Basketball belt: the first chance came on December 28, 1987, the latest on February 23, 2025.
Holders faced most often: Ohio State (3), Iowa (2), Texas (1), Tennessee (1), UConn (1), USC (1).
The closest calls
| Date | Game | Margin |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 12, 1997 | Tennessee beat Illinois 78–68 | 10 |
| Feb 23, 2025 | USC beat Illinois 76–66 | 10 |
| Dec 28, 1987 | Texas beat Illinois 90–75 | 15 |
| Mar 4, 1988 | Ohio State beat Illinois 78–62 | 16 |
| Mar 6, 2009 | Ohio State beat Illinois 70–53 | 17 |
| Jan 22, 1988 | Iowa beat Illinois 90–63 | 27 |
| Jan 12, 2009 | Ohio State beat Illinois 67–35 | 32 |
| Dec 10, 2000 | UConn beat Illinois 97–55 | 42 |
Every belt game
| Belt game | Date | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1,369 | Feb 23, 2025 | USC beat Illinois 76–66 |
| 769 | Mar 6, 2009 | Ohio State beat Illinois 70–53 |
| 755 | Jan 12, 2009 | Ohio State beat Illinois 67–35 |
| 454 | Dec 10, 2000 | UConn beat Illinois 97–55 |
| 341 | Dec 12, 1997 | Tennessee beat Illinois 78–68 |
| 59 | Mar 4, 1988 | Ohio State beat Illinois 78–62 |
| 56 | Feb 21, 1988 | Iowa beat Illinois 87–36 |
| 47 | Jan 22, 1988 | Iowa beat Illinois 90–63 |
| 41 | Dec 28, 1987 | Texas beat Illinois 90–75 |