Illinois State hosts SIUE in its only exhibition game Monday at 6:30 p.m. at CEFCU Arena, one week before the regular-season opener. The Redbirds enter the 2026-27 season after reaching the WNIT Championship game and return seven players from last year’s team.

By the Numbers
  • Illinois State went 24-14 overall and 13-7 in Missouri Valley Conference play last season.
  • The Redbirds were 17-1 at home, matching the program’s best home-win total in the Kristen Gillespie era.
  • ISU was picked second in the MVC preseason poll with 396 points; Murray State was first with 477.
  • Illinois State leads its regular-season series with SIUE, 6-3, and is 4-1 against the Cougars at CEFCU Arena.
Yes, But

Monday’s exhibition won’t count in the official record, and SIUE poses a strong early test: the Cougars were picked second in the Ohio Valley Conference after outperforming preseason expectations last season.

State of Play
  • Tipoff is Monday at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free; no video broadcast is planned.
  • Fans can listen live on the Varsity Network, WJBC AM 1230 and FM 102.1.
  • Four Redbirds—returners Trista Fayta and Nevaeh Thomas, plus newcomers Chloe Spreen and Danyella Mporokoso—were named MVC Players to Watch.
What’s Next

Illinois State opens the regular season Nov. 2 at home against Chicago State. The Redbirds play 12 nonconference games before beginning MVC play Dec. 20 against Valparaiso.

Bottom Line

The exhibition is a first look at a Redbirds team with postseason momentum and several new faces, as it begins the push toward another MVC title run.