The 25 greatest women's basketball players in Big Ten history

Northwestern's first All-American women's basketball player and the first two-time winner of Big Ten Women's Player of the Year (1984, '85). A three-time All-Big Ten selection, Browne was the league's first true star, totaling 2,307 points and 951 rebounds during her All-American career. In 1984-85, Browne led the nation, averaging 30.5 points. She also set an NCAA record with six straight games of 30 or more points. However, Browne might be best known for winning a harassment  lawsuit against former New York Knicks general manager Isiah Thomas and Madison Square Garden.

A three-time, first-team All-Big Ten pick, Abram is arguably the most prolific scorer in the history of Hoosiers women's basketball. She twice averaged more than 22 points for a season, highlighted by a stellar senior campaign when she scored a Big Ten-leading 23.2 points per contest and pulled down 7.2 rebounds and dished out 4.1 assists -- all career highs -- a game. 

The University of Iowa's first basketball superstar, Edwards, is also one of the greats ever to play the game. The Hall-of-Famer still ranks among Hawkeyes career leaders for scoring (1,821), assists (431) and steals (235). She was the Big Ten Player of the Year and a Kodak All-American for 1987-88, when she averaged career highs of 20.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.9 steals. The three-time, first-team All-Big Ten pick also helped lead Iowa to two league titles and three NCAA Tournament appearances. Edwards' No. 30 was retired by the school.

Hall followed in the footsteps of Anucha Browne in repeating as Big Ten Player of the Year (1986, '87). Hall was also the league's first player to be named to the Kodak All-American team twice. She started all 122 games she played for the Buckeyes, and totaled 1,912 points and 1,115 rebounds -- both among the most in school history. Hall, the first player in Ohio State history to record 300 rebounds in a season, led the Buckeyes to three consecutive Big Ten titles (1985-'87).

An early star for the Golden Gophers. Shudlick totaled more than 2,000 points, 700 rebounds and 200 assists during her stellar four-year career at Minnesota. A two-time all-league first-teamer, Shudlick was named Big Ten Player of the Year and earned national player of the year recognition (winning the Wade Trophy) in 1993-94, when she averaged a career-high 23.4 points. 

The Big Ten Player of the Year in 1996, Smith is a member of both the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and Women's Basketball Hall of Fame. The two-time Kodak All-American was also a three-time, first-team All-Big Ten pick for the Buckeyes, with whom she scored 2,578 points (eighth-most in Big Ten history) -- which at the time was a league record -- and shot nearly 47 percent. Smith, who parlayed her college success onto the international and WNBA scenes, won three Olympic gold medals for Team USA and two league titles.

The only Illinois women's hooper to win Big Ten Player of the Year (1997), Berggren is still a legend in Champaign-Urbana. A three-time, first-team All-Big Ten selection and third-team All-American pick from The Associated Press, Berggren helped Illinois win its first league title and scored more than 2,000 points. As a sophomore in 1995-96, Berggren set career highs, averaging 24.6 points and 9.4 rebounds.

The first of two stars from Purdue's 1999 national championship squad. White was a high school basketball legend in Indiana, and carried that success over to the college court, where she was a two-time All-Big Ten first-teamer and the league's player of the year as a senior. White's 2,182 points rank third in Purdue history, and she averaged at least 20 in her final two campaigns. White averaged also 4.6 assists, 5.3 rebounds and 2.2 steals. She's since enjoyed success as a WNBA coach, notably with the Indiana Fever.

A teammate of Stephanie White, Douglas was twice named Big Ten Player of the Year (outright or sharing) and Kodak All-American. She finished her career with 1,965 points and averaged 5.4 rebounds with nearly four assists per game. Douglas, a sophomore on the Boilermakers' '99 national championship squad, went on to become a five-time WNBA All-Star and considered among the best defensive players in that league's history.

Whalen laid the foundation for her stellar WNBA career at the U, where she was a two-time, first-team All-Big Ten performer and the league's player of the year in 2002. In fact, Whalen's college success helped rejuvenate the Golden Gophers program, which reached its only Final Four in 2004. Whalen's 2,287 career points were a school record at the time, and still rank among the top 20 in Big Ten history. In her college career, Whalen averaged 20.2 points, 5.1 assists, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.1 steals. She also won two Olympic gold medals for Team USA.

One of two Penn State players who currently rank among the top 10 in Big Ten history for career points. Mazzante is one of the most decorated scorers in conference history, as her 2,919 points are fourth all-time. A four-time, first-team all-conference pick, twice named Big Ten Player of the Year, and a two-time All-American by The Associated Press. Mazzante ended her brilliant college career averaging 21.9 points.

Davenport was the Big Team Freshman of the Year for averaging 12.5 points and 5.7 rebounds, then only got better. By the time she graduated, Davenport was a three-time Big Ten Player of the Year recipient and two-time, first-team All-American from The Associated Press. She was also twice selected to the Big Ten All-Defensive Team. As a senior, Davenport averaged career highs of 20 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 2.5 assists for her career. Davenport averaged 17.7 points, while shooting 60.4 percent, and 8.4 rebounds. 

No player in Wisconsin women's basketball history has scored more points than Anderson's 2,312. The league's freshman of the year in 2005 and co-player of the year in 2008, Anderson averaged nearly 20 points in each of her final two seasons at Madison. Anderson was also one of the most complete players in Big Ten history, posting more than 840 rebounds, 400 assists, and 240 steals.

The 6-foot-9 DeHaan, also a member of the Spartans volleyball team, should go down as one of the greatest defensive players in Big Ten history. She ranks among the program's top five for career points (1,649) and rebounds (919), and her 503 blocks are among the most in NCAA history. DeHaan was a two-time, first-team All-Big Ten pick, a member of the league's All-Defensive team each of her four seasons at Michigan State, and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year for 2010.

Fifth on the Big Ten's all-time scoring list with 2,816 points, Lavender is the only performer to be named Big Ten Player of the Year (by either the coaches or media), either outright or shared, four times. A two-time All-American first-teamer by The Associated Press, Lavender ranks second in Big Ten history with 1,422 rebounds and led the Buckeyes to three regular-season conference titles. For her career, she averaged 20.7 points and 10.5 rebounds. College basketball historians and those associated with Ohio State consider Lavender the greatest player in school history.

Lucas ranks 10th in Big Ten history with 2,510 career points. She averaged 20.1 points in 2012-13 to earn Big Ten Player of the Year honors, and she shared the award one season later for averaging 21. Lucas remains the Big Ten's all-time leader for free-throw percentage (90.7) and her 365 3-point field goals sit sixth. She was a three-time, first-team All-Big Ten pick and earned various All-American consideration while a member of the Nittany Lions.

From the get-go, Banham's collegiate career at Minnesota was destined for greatness. She started all 36 games her first season, when she averaged 16.1 points and shot 42.6 percent from 3-point range to earn Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors. By the time her college career ended, Banham started all 144 games she played, totaled 3,093 points (currently third-most in league history), was a three-time, first-team all-conference pick, and Big Ten Player of the Year in 2015-16, when she averaged 28.6 points on 45.7-percent shooting.

Mitchell's ability to score the basketball was evident from the moment she first stepped on the court for the Buckeyes. Her 873 points were the second-most by a freshman in NCAA history. Three years later, Mitchell was the Big Ten's scoring leader with 3,402 points (which now ranks second all-time). Mitchell was named co-Big Ten Player of the Year in 2015 and '18, and took the honor outright in 2017. She averaged 24.5 points as a Buckeye, and earned various All-American recognition. 

Before there was that superstar gracing the court at Iowa (more on her in a bit), Gustafson was the greatest scorer in Hawkeyes history. Currently, her 2,804 points rank sixth in Big Ten history. Gustafson was a two-time Big Ten Player of the Year -- in 2017-18 (averaging 25.7 ppg) and 2018-19 (27.8). For the latter, Gustafson was named Naismith and AP Player of the Year. She shot 65.6 percent for her career, and, oh yeah, is also the Big Ten's all-time rebounding leader with 1,422. Her No. 10 was retired by the school.

A first-team All-Big Ten selection in each of her four seasons at Ann Arbor, Hillmon is one of the most complete players in league history. In 117 college games, Hillmon scored 2,183 points -- second-most in school history. However, she is the program leader with 54 double-doubles and averaged 24 points and 11.4 boards while being named Big Ten Player of the Year in 2020-21. For her career, the All-American averaged 18.4 points and 8.9 rebounds and was also a member of the Big Ten All-Defensive team. 

When it comes to all-around talent, Indiana's Berger is well worth the praise. This Hoosier legend was a four-time, first-team all-Big Ten recipient during her five-season college career. During the 2020-21 campaign, Berger recorded the first triple-double in Indiana history and posted two more to lead the country in that department. For her career, Berger is the winningest player in school history with 118 victories and finished with 1,841 points, 573 assists, and 752 rebounds. 

Indiana's all-time leading scorer with 2,530 points (ninth-most in Big Ten history), Holmes was named a first-team All-Big Ten pick three times. She'll also go down as one of the best defensive players in the history of the league while totaling 990 rebounds, 258 blocks, and 123 steals. The 6-3 Holmes was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in 2023. Like teammate Grace Berger, Holmes played five seasons at Indiana.

Perhaps the most popular women's basketball player of all time, Clark's success transcended the Big Ten. The Iowa product is the NCAA's all-time leading scorer with 3,951 points and also holds the single-season record of 1,234 (2023-24). Clark remains the all-time national leader with 1,293 field-goal makes and 548 made 3-pointers, and is third with 1,144 assists. A four-time, first-team All-Big Ten selection, Clark won AP Player of the Year, the Wooden Award, Naismith College Player of the Year , and Wade Trophy in 2023 and '24. Is she the greatest women's college player of all time? 

When her two-season Big Ten tenure ends, Betts will go down as one of the best to play in the conference -- regardless of gender. As a junior for the Bruins in 2024-25, in the school's first season in the league, Betts averaged career highs of 20.2 points and 9.5 assists while helping her team reach the Final Four. In addition, the All-American was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, Naismith Defensive Player of the Year , and won the Lisa Leslie Award, given to the top center in the game.

Watkins has played two seasons for USC, but only one in the Big Ten. However, it remains one of the best ever. She was not only named Big Ten Player of the Year and Big Ten Female Athlete of the Year as a sophomore for 2024-25, but won numerous player of the year awards despite her season ending in the second round of the NCAA Tournament due to an ACL injury (which will keep her out all of 2025-26). Watkins finished that season averaging 23.9 points on 42.6-percent shooting, 6.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.8 blocks.