Illinois' Gretchen Dolan ruled out for rest of season

Dolan will undergo season-ending surgery to repair a torn meniscus

Feb. 26, 2026 at 2:24am

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The University of Illinois women's basketball team will be without one of its leading scorers, redshirt sophomore Gretchen Dolan, for the remainder of the season. Dolan will undergo surgery to repair a torn meniscus, sidelining her for the team's postseason run.

Why it matters

Dolan's absence is a significant blow to the Illini, who are currently projected as an 8-seed in the NCAA Tournament. She was averaging career-highs in points, rebounds, and assists per game before the injury.

The details

Dolan initially tried to play through the knee injury, but was only able to play 4 minutes in a game against Washington on February 1 before leaving the court. After that, the team decided surgery was the best course of action to repair the torn meniscus. This is the second straight season Dolan has dealt with a major knee injury, as she was only able to play in 10 games last year due to a different knee issue.

  • Dolan underwent season-ending surgery on Monday, February 24, 2026.
  • Dolan attempted to play against Washington on February 1, 2026 but lasted only 4 minutes before leaving the game.

The players

Gretchen Dolan

A redshirt sophomore on the University of Illinois women's basketball team who was averaging career-highs in points, rebounds, and assists per game before suffering a season-ending knee injury.

Shauna Green

The head coach of the University of Illinois women's basketball team.

Aaliyah Guyton

A sophomore on the University of Illinois women's basketball team who has stepped up as a starter in Dolan's absence, providing strong defense and outside shooting.

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What they’re saying

“It's tough obviously, it's always hard for the kid, and for her teammates, and for the program. It's two years now that she's had to deal with something like this.”

— Shauna Green, Head Coach

What’s next

The Illini will look to continue their strong play without Dolan as they prepare for the NCAA Tournament, where they are currently projected as an 8-seed.

The takeaway

Dolan's season-ending injury is a significant setback for the Illini, who will have to find a way to replace her production and leadership as they make a push for the NCAA Tournament. The team's depth and other players stepping up will be crucial in overcoming this loss.