Illinois Springfield women's basketball will open its 2026-27 season Monday at 5:30 p.m. when the Prairie Stars host Purdue Northwest at TRAC. The season opener begins a doubleheader, with the men's team hosting Millikin immediately following.

The Prairie Stars enter the regular season with momentum from their preseason exhibitions. UIS faced Illinois at State Farm Center on Friday, Oct. 30, before earning a 75-70 road win over Division I Southern Illinois in Carbondale on Tuesday.

UIS returns its core led by senior Kayla Rice, the program's all-time leader in steals and 3-pointers made and fourth on the career scoring list. Rice had 30 points in the exhibition win at Southern Illinois.

The sophomore class also brings valuable experience after seeing significant playing time during the 2025-26 season. Julia Mingus led that group after averaging 13.0 points per game as a freshman. She scored 16 points against SIU, going 8-for-8 from the free-throw line.

Illinois Springfield also added three Division I transfers who have quickly emerged as key pieces during the preseason. Julia Sollberger, Kace Urlacher and Addison Tarr all appeared in the Prairie Stars' exhibitions. Sollberger provided a new facilitator for the lineup, leading the Stars with four assists against Southern Illinois.

The Prairie Stars have maintained their ability to play with pace while spreading the scoring throughout the lineup, and the experienced roster gives UIS an opportunity to make an early push in the GLVC. UIS was picked ninth in the conference's preseason poll.

Monday's opener also begins a stretch of home games that will keep the Prairie Stars in Springfield for much of the early season. Following the matchup with Purdue Northwest, Illinois Springfield will host the Midwest Crossover on Friday and Saturday, facing Tiffin and Hillsdale. Purdue Northwest will also play both teams during the crossover.

The Prairie Stars will then host Ashland on Wednesday, Nov. 18, before traveling for their first road game of the season on Saturday, Nov. 21.

Fans can watch Monday's game on GLVCSN, follow live statistics online or attend in person at TRAC. Tickets are available online.