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Michigan State Women's Basketball Faces Uphill Battle After Recent Losses
Spartans look to rebound against No. 2 UCLA after losing 2 of 3 games
Feb. 10, 2026 at 6:23pm
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Michigan State's women's basketball team, ranked No. 13, has hit a rough patch, losing 2 of their last 3 games, including an 86-70 defeat at home against No. 22 Maryland. The Spartans, who had avoided poor starts all season, struggled with slow starts and a lack of effort in their recent losses. As they prepare to face No. 2 UCLA, the team will need to regain their early-season form to have a chance against the highly-ranked Bruins.
Why it matters
Michigan State's women's basketball team was off to a strong 20-4 start this season, but the recent losses have raised concerns about their ability to compete with the top teams in the Big Ten and nationally. The Spartans will need to quickly address their issues with slow starts and lack of effort to avoid falling further behind in the conference standings and NCAA Tournament seeding.
The details
In the loss to Maryland, the Terrapins outscored MSU 23-13 in the second quarter and won the third and fourth quarters by a combined six points to earn an easy upset win over Michigan State. The Spartans then had to rally from behind to beat Penn State, a team with just one Big Ten win, in a 81-70 comeback victory. Senior forward Grace VanSlooten took responsibility for the team's poor performance against Maryland, but her teammates will need to follow suit to turn things around.
- Michigan State lost 86-70 at home to No. 22 Maryland on February 8, 2026.
- Michigan State won 81-70 on the road against Penn State on February 11, 2026.
The players
Grace VanSlooten
A senior forward for Michigan State who took ownership of the team's poor outing against Maryland.
Michigan State Spartans
The women's basketball team at Michigan State University, currently ranked No. 13 in the country with a 20-4 record.
UCLA Bruins
The women's basketball team at the University of California, Los Angeles, currently ranked No. 2 in the country with a 23-1 record.
What they’re saying
“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”
— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident
“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”
— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee
What’s next
The Spartans will need to quickly address their issues with slow starts and lack of effort as they prepare to face the No. 2 UCLA Bruins on February 15, 2026.
The takeaway
Michigan State's women's basketball team has hit a rough patch, losing 2 of their last 3 games, including a blowout loss at home to Maryland. The team will need to regain their early-season form and address issues with slow starts and effort if they hope to have a chance against the highly-ranked UCLA Bruins and remain in contention for a top seed in the NCAA Tournament.
