Starting Five: Wisconsin ready for WBIT semifinal showdown

MADISON, Wis.– Wisconsin (#3 seed) advances to the semifinal round of the Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament (WBIT). They will face fourth-seeded Columbia on Monday, March 30 inside the Charles Koch Arena on the campus of Wichita State. The game will air on ESPNU with tip time set for 1:30 p.m. (CT).

Here are five things to know before the Badgers face the Lions:

1. WISCONSIN IN THE POSTSEASON:
The team is making its first appearance in the Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament (WBIT) in 2025-26. The Badgers have made 16 all-time postseason tournament appearances, including 7 in the NCAA Tournament, 7 in the WNIT, and one in teach the WBIT and AIAW Tournament. Wisconsin captured the 2000 WNIT Championship under head coach Jane Albright and finished WNIT runner-up in 2007 under Lisa Stone. This will be UW's first appearance in a postseason semifinal since the 2007-08 season.

2. TOURNAMENT HISTORY:
This will be UW's first-ever appearance in the Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament (WBIT). The Badgers are the only Big Ten team to earn a bid to the tournament this year. Since the tournament's inaugural run in 2024, Big Ten teams have claimed the title each year, with Illinois winning in 2024 and Minnesota in 2025.

If Wisconsin claims the title, it will be the team's first winning record since the 2010-11 season.

3. SCOUTING COLUMBIA:
This will be the first meeting between Wisconsin and Columbia. The Lions enter the game 23-8 overall and a 11-3 mark in conference play. As a team they are averaging 71.6 points per game and are pulling down 37.1 rebounds per game.

Leading the Lions offense is Riley Weiss, who averages 20.0 points per game, with Perri Page also among the top scorers in the lineup. Fliss Henderson controls the boards for Columbia, pulling down 6.9 rebounds per game. The team is coached by Megan Griffith, who is in her 10th season at Columbia.

4. LAST TIME OUT:

The Wisconsin women's basketball team stormed back late to take down Harvard in the WBIT Quarterfinals at the Kohl Center. The Badgers tallied seven unanswered points in the final 42 seconds to force overtime. UW held strong on the defensive end to win it, as Ronnie Porter took a charge with under 10 seconds to cap off the victory.

Four Badgers finished in double figures offensively, as Gift Uchenna led the way with 17 points on 8-of-13 shooting. Kyrah Daniels accumulated 15 points on five 3-pointers, Destiny Howell chipped in 13 and Lily Krahn added 10.

5. UP NEXT:
If Wisconsin advances, the team will play either one-seeded BYU or second-seeded Kansas in the WBIT Championship. The final is set for Wednesday, April 1 at 6:30 p.m. (CT).