The Illinois State women’s basketball team has earned another home game in the WNIT, but not on their usual home floor.
The WNIT has announced the Redbirds will play the Abilene Christian Wildcats in the Super 16 round on Thursday at Illinois Wesleyan University’s Shirk Center at 6:30 p.m.
The game was moved due to a scheduling conflict at CEFCU Arena.
The Redbirds [22-12] advanced to the Super 16 round with a 90-80 win over Western Illinois University on Sunday.
The 2025 WNIT Championship is scheduled for 3 p.m., Saturday, April 5.
Contract extension
ISU athletics director Jerri Beggs announced Tuesday that women’s basketball head coach Kristen Gillespie has signed a five-year contract extension through the 2029-2030 season.
Terms of the contract were not disclosed.
Gillespie has led ISU to three straight 20-plus win seasons for the first time since 2011. In her eighth season at ISU Gillespie is the second-winningest coach in program history [155-94].
“Kristen has made a tremendous impact on Illinois State University, Redbird Athletics and our women’s basketball program,” Beggs said in a statement.
Gillespie also directed the Redbirds to the program’s first Missouri Valley Conference regular-season title since 2010 during her 2023 MVC Coach the Year season.
“Illinois State is a special place, and I appreciate the support that our program receives from President Tarhule, Dr. Jeri Beggs and [ISU athletics chief operating officer] Leanna Bordner. I’m incredibly proud of all we have accomplished on the court, in the community and in the classroom. Go Birds!”
