The 2009–10 Big Ten Conference women's basketball season marked the continuation of the annual tradition of competitive basketball among Big Ten Conference members.
On July 30, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), on behalf of the Wade Coalition, announced the 2009-2010 preseason "Wade Watch" list for The State Farm Wade Trophy Division I Player of the Year. The nominees are made up of top NCAA Division I student-athletes who best embody the spirit of Lily Margaret Wade. This is based on the following criteria: game and season statistics, leadership, character, effect on their team and overall playing ability. The list of Big Ten athletes are as follows:Jantel Lavender, Ohio State Samantha Prahalis, Ohio State Jenna Smith, IllinoisOctober 29: Ohio State junior Jantel Lavender was selected as the Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year by the conference coaches and a panel of media members.Coaches Polls1. Ohio State2. Michigan State3. Minnesota4. Purdue5. Iowa6. Illinois7. Penn State8. Northwestern9. Indiana10. Wisconsin11. MichiganJENNA SMITH, Sr., F, ILLAllyssa DeHaan, Sr., C, MSUJANTEL LAVENDER, Jr., C, OSUSamantha Prahalis, So., G, OSUTyra Grant, Sr., F, PSUJenna Smith, Sr., F, ILLAllyssa DeHaan, Sr., C, MSUJANTEL LAVENDER, Jr., C, OSUSamantha Prahalis, So., G, OSUTyra Grant, Sr., F, PSUNov. 11: The Big Ten and Big 12 Conferences announced the formation of an annual inter-conference challenge for women’s basketball. The challenge will span at least two years and will begin in the fall of 2010. The series will feature a home-and-home format over the initial two-year agreement, and each of the Big 12’s teams will play in each Challenge, while one Big Ten team, Wisconsin, will play two Challenge games each year.The rankings are based on the ESPN/USA Today poll.
^Final Poll = ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll
Players of the weekThroughout the conference regular season, the Big Ten offices named a player of the week each Monday.
Midseason watch lists 
