Illinois State Reaches First WNIT Championship Ever

The Illinois State Redbirds are heading to their first championship game in program history, and they earned it the hard way.

Playing at South Dakota's Sanford Coyote Sports Center on Wednesday night, the Redbirds faced a team that had won 15 of 18 home games this season. The crowd was loud, the pressure was intense, but Illinois State refused to back down.

Senior forward Doneelah Washington delivered when it mattered most. She scored 21 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, her second straight double-double performance in the tournament. Washington hit four three-pointers, a career best, including a crucial shot in the fourth quarter that pushed the Redbirds ahead by 15 points.

The game was a back-and-forth battle through the first half. South Dakota jumped out early, but Illinois State kept clawing back. The Redbirds took a slim 33-31 lead into halftime thanks to a layup by Addison Martin with just four seconds remaining.

Illinois State broke the game open in the third quarter with strong team play. Bella Finnegan came off the bench to provide crucial energy, scoring 10 points including two three-pointers. Trista Fayta and Martin each added 14 points to give the Redbirds four players in double figures.

South Dakota made one final push in the fourth quarter, cutting a 15-point deficit down to just five with under three minutes to play. But Kya Hurt stepped up at the free-throw line, sinking four straight free throws to seal the 67-60 victory.

The Ripple Effect

This win represents more than just advancing to a championship game. Illinois State has now won seven of their last eight WNIT tournament games over two seasons, establishing themselves as a program on the rise. The team finished the regular season 24-13, overcoming adversity to peak at exactly the right moment.

For Washington, a senior playing in her final games as a Redbird, the performance was the culmination of years of hard work. For the younger players watching her lead, it's a blueprint for how to perform under pressure.

The Redbirds will face Marshall on April 4 in Huntington, West Virginia, for the WNIT Championship. One more win, and Illinois State will bring home the first championship trophy in program history.