On February 8, 2026, the No. 24 Washington Huskies walked into Madison needing a statement road win to solidify their Big Ten positioning, and they walked out with a 91–86 overtime victory over Wisconsin that showcased the Huskies’ resilience, shot‑making, and star power.
This was not (the expected) runaway Huskies victory because Wisconsin answered every UW surge in a game that featured lead changes and high‑level guard play.
Washington also decided to trade punches from three-point range with Wisconsin, one of the nation’s best volume-shooting teams — a risky strategy to say the least.
Instead of Washington dominating the points-in-the-paint production, as was expected, Wisconsin matched the Huskies’ inside scoring production of 32 points.
Offensively, Washington shot 48.4% from the field and 39.4% from three (13 made threes).
Meanwhile, Wisconsin hit 48.6% overall and an impressive 50% from deep (11 made threes), setting a new season‑high three‑point percentage.
However, UW’s 19 turnovers, compared with the Badgers’ 11, was the main culprit keeping the game close; Wisconsin turned those miscues into 21 points, outpacing Washington’s 14 points off turnovers.
Surprisingly, the overall tenor of the game was not determined by Washington’s defensive prowess so much as Wisconsin’s aggressive defense producing 15 steals — more than double Washington’s 6 — which fueled Wisconsin’s transition offense and helped the Badgers match the Huskies with 21 fast‑break points each.
Instead, Washington’s biggest advantage came via rebounding. The Huskies dominated the glass 40–30, limiting the Badgers to just seven offensive rebounds, one of Wisconsin’s lowest marks of the season.
UW’s ability to end Wisconsin offensive possessions with a defensive rebound prevented the Badgers from manufacturing many second‑chance opportunities.
STARTING FIVE
First Quarter: Trading Punches then Dawgs Edge Ahead
In the first period, Wisconsin struck first behind Badger Kyrah Daniels at the top of the key, and almost immediately Badger Gift Uchenna began to impose herself in the paint, collecting two quick rebounds and a pair of steals.
The Badgers shot 38.9% from the field and were a lethal 66.7% from three-point range.
The Huskies shot 41.2% from the floor, and although they connected on just 33.3% from deep, their balance was evident.
Avery Howell set the tone with nine first‑quarter points, while Elle Ladine chipped in three points and the trio of Sayvia Sellers, Brynn McGaughy, and Devon Coppinger added two points each.
Washington closed the period with a composed late push that allowed UW to grab an 18–17 lead.
Second Quarter: Offensive Fireworks and a Washington Response
The second quarter opened with a familiar threat: Wisconsin’s perimeter firepower.
Badger star guard Destiny Howell opened the period with a bucket and later caught fire from three.
The Badgers shot a blistering 58.3% from the field overall and a remarkable 80% from beyond the arc in the period.
Even so, Washington’s offense not only matched the Badgers’ pace but subtly seized control.
The Huskies hit 55.6% from the field overall, and again shot 33.3% from three, but demonstrated cleaner execution in the half court offense — committing only two UW turnovers in an otherwise turnover-prone performance.
Sellers and Ladine each poured in 10 points during the quarter; plus Howell, Stines, and Coppinger added two points apiece.
The Dawgs’ ability to answer every Wisconsin scoring burst allowed them to carry a 44–38 lead into halftime, despite the Badgers’ torrid outside shooting.
Third Quarter: Wisconsin’s Surge, Washington’s Composure
After halftime, one pivotal moment came when Ladine corralled a defensive rebound, pushed the ball up the floor, and fed Howell for an and‑one — a sequence that both extended the lead earlier in the quarter and marked Ladine’s 500th career rebound, underscoring her two‑way impact for the Dawgs.
The Huskies shot an efficient 50% from the field in the period and a scorching 75% from three-point range.
However, Wisconsin was determined to flip the momentum. When Washington committed turnovers on consecutive possessions, the Badgers capitalized in transition.
The Badgers’ 52.9% overall shooting, including 33.3% from deep, powered an 11–0 run that eventually turned UW’s lead into a 59–60 Wisconsin advantage.
Avery Howell led UW with six points, while Brynn McGaughy, Elle Ladine, and Chloe Briggs each added three points each.
Fourth Quarter: Back‑and‑Forth Drama to Force Overtime
By the fourth quarter, the game had settled into a heavyweight exchange.
Uchenna, locked in on both ends, continued her dominant afternoon with four more baskets, eventually finishing with 24 points, 12 rebounds, three steals, and three blocks. Her work on the glass produced her fourth double‑double of the season and 25th of her career, giving Wisconsin an interior counterpunch to Washington’s rebounding edge.
The Washington Huskies shot 42.9% overall but only 25% from three.
Wisconsin countered with 46.7% shooting and 33.3% from deep.
Sayvia Sellers and Avery Howell each poured in seven points in the final frame, with Hannah Stines adding two points.
The lead swung back and forth multiple times in the closing minutes.
Ultimately neither side could land the knockout blow in regulation, sending the game into overtime tied at 75-75.
Overtime: Avery Howell’s Overtime Masterclass
Overtime began with Wisconsin seizing the initiative. The Badgers stole the ball on Washington’s end and converted the first basket of the extra period, then the Badgers added another layup, followed by Badgers guard Destiny Howell drilling a pair of clutch threes and adding a free throw to keep the Badgers’ upset bid very much alive.
However, the extra session ultimately belonged to Washington’s Avery Howell.
The sophomore wing-guard completed one of the most dominant performances in UW history, scoring 10 points in overtime alone, including two of her (career high) six three‑pointers.
The Huskies shot 60% from the field and 66.7% from deep in OT, while Wisconsin hit 50% overall and 40% from three — strong numbers, but not enough to withstand Howell’s shot‑making and Washington’s composure from the free‑throw line as the Dawgs closed out the 91–86 win.
UW WBB Huskies Player of the Game – Avery Howell
On paper, the headline belongs squarely to Howell: 34 points, 14 rebounds, six made threes, two assists, a block, and a steal. It was her sixth double‑double of the season and the only such stat line in Washington program history with that combination of points and boards.
Other Notable Huskies Performances
Sayvia Sellers added 23 points, five assists, and four steals — her eighth career game with at least 20 points and five assists.
Meanwhile, Elle Ladine rounded out the scoring trio with 16 points, seven rebounds, and three assists.
