Northwestern, the No. 10 seed, is set to compete against No. 7 seed Maryland in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament. The match takes place on April 23 at 1 p.m. CT in Columbus, Ohio. Northwestern previously faced Maryland, narrowly losing 4-3, despite notable performances from first-year Margot Phanthala and sophomore Mika Dagan Fruchtman. Phanthala recently earned All-Big Ten honors, marking a milestone for the team as she becomes the first Wildcat first-year to achieve this accolade since 2021.

By the Numbers
  • Northwestern's record: 14 wins, 10 losses (6-7 Big Ten)
  • Margot Phanthala's singles record: 8 wins at No. 1 position, ranked No. 88 nationally
  • Dagan Fruchtman's season singles wins: 14, most by a Wildcat underclassman since 2021
  • Raath's total team-leading wins: 26 (11 singles, 15 doubles)
State of Play
  • Both teams are coming off a recent match where Northwestern lost to Maryland.
  • Maryland has set a program record with 8 Big Ten wins this season.
  • Northwestern is seeking its first Big Ten Tournament win since 2024.
What's Next

The winner of the Northwestern vs. Maryland match will advance to face No. 2 seed USC. This match is scheduled for April 24 at 1 p.m. CT, setting the stage for a competitive second round in the tournament.

Bottom Line

Northwestern aims to leverage its recent performances and growing talent, particularly from Phanthala and Raath, to break a recent tournament slump and secure a victory against Maryland. A win could reinvigorate their postseason aspirations.