USD Coyote women fall in WNIT Fab Four

Coyotes' season ends with loss to Illinois State in semifinal

Apr. 2, 2026 at 7:05pm

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A cubist, geometric painting in bright team colors, capturing the energy and action of a women's basketball game in an abstract, fragmented style.The USD Coyotes' WNIT semifinal loss to Illinois State marks the end of another successful season for the women's basketball program.Vermillion Today

The University of South Dakota Coyotes women's basketball team saw their impressive postseason run come to an end with a 67-60 loss to Illinois State in the WNIT Fab Four semifinals in Vermillion, South Dakota.

Why it matters

The Coyotes had advanced to the WNIT semifinals, one of the furthest postseason runs in program history, before falling short of reaching the championship game.

The details

The Coyotes jumped out to an early lead, but Illinois State rallied and built a 15-point advantage in the fourth quarter that USD couldn't overcome despite a late comeback attempt.

  • The game took place on Wednesday, April 2, 2026 in Vermillion, South Dakota.

The players

USD Coyotes Women's Basketball Team

The women's basketball team from the University of South Dakota, who advanced to the semifinals of the 2026 WNIT postseason tournament.

Illinois State

The opponent that defeated the USD Coyotes in the WNIT Fab Four semifinal game.

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The takeaway

While the Coyotes' season ended short of a WNIT championship, their deep tournament run showcased the program's continued growth and competitiveness at the Division I level.