This week is the season finale of a weeks long cutthroat competition that pits personalities from around the world against each other. It features strong teamwork and moments of mental collapse, and at the end of it all there is a winner, or quite possibly winners plural.
That’s right. The end of the Big Ten women’s basketball regular season and the United States’ edition of the world-renowned reality show The Traitors are on the horizon.
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In the game of basketball, it is simple — score the most points to win. The Traitors is a little different. Contestants from all levels of celebrity, whether its from acting, reality show competitions or the world of pop culture, try to vote out traitors who are also hiding in the group of contestants.
Before bed, the contestants vote off a competitor, hoping to send home a traitor. Overnight, another contestant is then “murdered” by the traitors. It is a game that is not simple as basketball, but equally as poetic and entertaining.
To celebrate this momentous week of peak prestige television entertainment, Land-Grant Holy Land’s women’s basketball and The Traitors expert took a stab, no pun intended, at matching up each team with a contestant from season 4.
From the best competitors to people who got a free trip to Scotland, here are all 18 Big Ten teams as members of the 8-time Emmy-winning reality competition. All teams in order of Big Ten standings, as of the publication date.
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Warning that this contains spoilers for the show through its most recent episode.
UCLA – Rob Rausch
The UCLA Bruins rolled to its first undisputed Big Ten regular season title. Head coach Cori Close’s side is 17-0 in the Big Ten, 27-1 overall and sit at No. 2 in the weekly Associated Press rankings. That is Rob R. in a nutshell.
While the Michigan Wolverines came close to stealing a win from the Bruins, that was such a late run in the game that there was not enough time to turn it into an upset victory.
That is Rob’s season on The Traitors in a nutshell.
Even though Rausch came from Love Island, which is a reality competition in its own right, the overall-wearing Alabaman hid behind his quiet demeanor and strategic gameplay all season to be one of two traitors left before Thursday’s finale.
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While he received some recent heat at the round table, where contestants get banished on a nightly basis, Rausch’s traitorous play of getting rid of his two original traitor partners, and his relative ease in getting to a victory, makes him arguably the best traitor to ever play the game.
Iowa – Dorinda Medley
There are many reasons why this comparison makes sense. The former Real Housewives of New York star Dorinda Medley is well known to fans of the Bravo television channel, known as the Bravoverse. Dorinda joined Real Housewives only 11 years ago, but made an indelible mark on the genre of reality television.
On The Traitors, Dorinda brought experience from being only the second repeat cast member in the USA’s version of the show. Iowa is a well-known experienced side led by long-time Hawkeye head coach Jan Jensen.
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Dorinda also made it further than a lot of fans expected, like the Hawkeyes who sit in third place in the standings despite the continued move away from the Caitlin Clark years.
Iowa has marquee wins against both Ohio State and Michigan at home this season, although the Hawkeyes had a slip up against the two Los Angeles sides and a home defeat to the Minnesota Golden Gophers. It has been a polarizing season of results, although mostly positive.
Dorinda has her fair share of polarizing moments across years on television, thanks to her outspoken persona, which also lines up well with Hawkeye basketball fans who are not afraid to tell a referee or opposing team how they feel.
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Even so, Iowa is a contender. They made it nice.
Michigan – Candiace Dillard Bassett
Behind Rob, the second best traitor of the season is former Real Housewives of Potomac star Candiace Dillard Bassett. Recruited with Rausch in the first episode, Candiace played a strong, yet consistent, game that featured consistent results.
After Rob had a big hand in the elimination of their third traitor friend, Candiace made the first of a couple mistakes that cost her the game. After a feeble attempt to get rid of Rob in a moment of revenge, contestants banished Candiance from the mansion in the Scottish Highlands.
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Early in the season, the Big Ten battle was UCLA and Michigan. The Bruins were the favorite for their all-around game, experience and leadership. Even so, the up and coming Wolverines, starring sophomore guards Mila Holloway, Olivia Olson and Syla Swords beat Notre Dame early in the season and took the No. 1 overall team in the country, UConn, to the brink.
That, like Candiance’s standing in the game, did not last and the Wolverines slipped up against the Washington Huskies on the road and more recently a 16-point defeat to the Iowa Hawkeyes in Iowa City.
While it took them out of the running for the conference crown, Michigan is still around like Candiace’s “Rob” votes that resurfaced to bring a little bit of attention to the traitor. If the Wolverines and Bruins make it to the Big Ten Tournament title game, can head coach Kim Barnes Arico’s side get that revenge?
Ohio State – Tara Lipinski
Tara Lipinski is not known for her reality television prowess. Fans of the Olympics know the name because the then 15-year old figure skater won the gold medal at the 1998 Nagano winter games. The skater had speed, grace and jumps that amazed both judges and a national alike.
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That sounds a lot like point guard Jaloni Cambridge.
Ohio State goes the way that Jaloni Cambridge goes. The 23.1 points per game average scoring goes up to 26.3 points in conference play. Cambridge scored 40 points in front of her idol, WNBA star A’Ja Wilson. Jaloni Cambridge does not shy away from the bright lights, like Lipinski.
But team wise, Ohio State lines up with how Tara played in The Traitors. The figure skating commentator is in the finale of The Traitors, like the Buckeyes are competing in the top four of the conference, but it is on shakier ground than the teams above them, and even some below.
Lipinski made some rash moves, confided in the wrong people and then decided to reveal a secret she kept for eight days, which is enough for banishment on both nights. Fortunately for her, other competitors around her made their own blunders.
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The Scarlet and Gray just ended a two-game losing streak that included giving up a 19-point lead to Maryland and a lopsided loss to the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Even so, the Buckeyes sit in the top four.
Despite the falls, Ohio State is still in the competition. Will the Buckeyes overcome their inexperienced lineup (only three of 11 players are upperclassmen) to surprise the conference in the tournament? Maybe. Maybe not.
Minnesota – Eric Nam
When singer Eric Nam is not incorrectly identifying footsteps and analyzing handwriting, he is a dark horse to go all the way in The Traitors, as a traitor. After playing the game as a faithful, or the group that are not traitors and actively trying to get rid of traitors, Rob recruited Eric to join him up in the turret. Eric went from a reliable faithful to a treacherous traitor.
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Minnesota had a change this year too. After the Golden Gophers lost four of their first seven games in Big Ten play, head coach Dawn Plitzuweit led Minnesota on a nine-game winning streak that culminated in the team’s return to the top-25 rankings.
Like Eric as a traitor, Minnesota’s jump to a competitive platform has come quietly. It took voters a while to reward the Golden Gophers with the ranking, despite the team’s spot in the top-15 of the NET rankings for much of the season.
The trip to Iowa City for Minnesota showed that this team can compete in hostile environments, like Eric has thwarted getting any heat at the round tables.
All that is left for Eric is to continue this great form to a victory, or be sacrificed by Rob in the process.
Michigan State – Mark Ballas
It is tough to find consistent media coverage of the Michigan State Spartans women’s basketball team. From the hiring of a new football coach to a highly ranked men’s side, the women’s team seems to get pushed to the side, which is both unfair and unwarranted.
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Meet Mark Ballas. A faithful who might have the most moments lying on the editing room floor.
The thing about both Michigan State and Mark is that they are both pretty good at what they do. Even if Mark aligned with Rob, not foreseeing his eventual demise, Ballas is a professional dancer from Dancing With the Stars and snazzy dresser who made it all the way to the finale of The Traitors despite not taking too many stances, that at least the viewers see.
On top of not getting the credit they deserve, Michigan State lost a core player in senior guard Theryn Hallock at the start of the season. Regardless, the Spartans nearly made it into the top four of the conference to earn a bye in next week’s Big Ten Tournament and are a near lock to make the NCAA Tournament.
Maryland – Natalie Anderson
Natalie Anderson is a former cast member of The Amazing Race, Survivor and The Challenge, even winning Survivor and coming in second place on another season, like decorated national championship-winning head coach Brenda Frese and the Maryland Terrapins.
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Also like Natalie, the Terps battle game-in and game-out. The way that Maryland rebounds without what some would call a traditional center position stands out on this side, especially since they are without four players due to season-ending injury.
That included guards Bri McDaniel and Kaylene Smikle, who are on and off court leaders for Maryland.
Since the 2006 national title, Maryland continually competed at a high level but have not reached the pinnacle since. That tracks with Natalie who nearly made it to the finale before contestants voted her out of the castle in the second to last episode. Despite that former peak success, it seems like a continued case of close but no cigar.
Illinois – Maura Higgins
While USC lost a superstar, Illinois practically lost a team. The once senior-heavy starting lineup for head coach Shauna Green replaced with a slew of underclassmen. Former Love Island contestant Maura Higgins never competed on a reality show like Survivor or The Challenge, and came into The Traitors with the same sort of freshman-eyed wonderment.
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That is a bad combination in a reality show but Maura is in the finale thanks to the partnership with Rob, who may soon either “murder” or shock his former Love Island cast member/faithful.
Despite losing all of that talent, Illinois has never been in a position to fall into the bottom three and miss the Big Ten Tournament. Like Maura, the Fighting Illini stay consistent and are still around late into the campaign.
The partnership of forwards Berry Wallace and Cearah Parchment is a partnership to watch not only the last few weeks of Big Ten play and March Madness. Even more so into the future with three potential years of the formidable interior duo.
Southern California – Lisa Rinna
Lisa Rinna, a former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills mainstay and longtime actor, entered the castle and became a traitor on the first night. Alongside Rob and Candiace, the trio orchestrated impressive “murders in plain sight” where they played chess, had a conga line and made someone touch a lapel pin to get eliminated.
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However, something was missing. The normally boisterous and confident Lisa “F******” Rinna did not have the same level of openness as fans saw in her reality television days. The pressure of being a traitor made Lisa go quiet. As one contestant famously mentioned, he expected a housewife and did not get one.
The USC Trojans may be one of the most impressive sides in the season this season, despite sitting in eighth place in the conference. Freshman star guard Jazzy Davidson is a phenom who leads her team in points, rebounds, assists and more.
Davidson makes the game look easy and Kennedy Smith plays with more poise as a sophomore, especially on defense.
Even so, like the missing housewife persona of Rinna, the Trojans are missing JuJu Watkins. Not having the 2025 National Player of the Year winner, due to a season-ending injury sustained in the NCAA Tournament, is the reason USC is not at the top of the conference.
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Once Watkins does return, the 26-27 season may not be a competition for the rest of the 17 teams.
Washington – Stephen Colletti
Washington is a bit of a conundrum. The Huskies had a great stretch with wins over the Minnesota Golden Gophers and stole a win in College Park against a ranked Maryland Terrapins side. Not dissimilar to the strong game of former One Tree Hill and Laguna Beach actor Stephen Colletti. The faithful played a quiet game, helped rake in a lot of money in challenges and went with the group on banishments.
Then in a flash he was gone. After a five-game winning streak, the Huskies lost five of the next seven, dropped out of the top-25 and now sit in the middle of the Big Ten standings.
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In terms of the Big Ten Tournament, the Huskies’ currently 10th place spot means they have to play on Wednesday, the first day of games. Washington needs some help to leap into a Thursday spot but when Stephen needed help he did not have any. Might be the same outcome in the Pacific Northwest.
Oregon – Johnny Weir
When the Oregon Ducks lost Deja Kelly, it felt like head coach Kelly Graves’ side was set for possibly competing at the bottom of the standings for its place in conference postseason basketball. However, guard Katie Fiso’s rise from a freshman playing less than 10 minutes per game into the team’s most consistent offensive threat, and the heart of the team, Oregon will be in the tournament.
On top of that, the Ducks are projected to enter March Madness with a higher seed than last season, jumping from a No. 10 to a No. 8.
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It is not a bad season for the Ducks in Eugene, even though lately the tides have not been going in the team’s favor. The season has many parallels to former figure skater Johnny Weir on The Traitors. The skater turned commentator said many times he has no idea what is happening in the game but is surprisingly in the finale, like Oregon’s surprise competitiveness.
Oregon’s current three losses in four games is a lot like Weir’s late heat at the round tables after he stood up for friend Candiace before contestants exposed her as a traitor. Even so, like the Ducks, Weir is hanging in there and is always fun to watch. Plus the uniforms are always fun and interesting for both.
Nebraska – Monét X Change
When you think of RuPaul’s Drag Race, Nebraska usually does not come to mind, but it is the perfect pairing with the faithful and the Cornhuskers.
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Monét was a strong leader in the game early in the show while guard Britt Prince led Nebraska to a 12-game winning streak to start the season. Then Monét told Candiace that they thought Lisa Rinna was a traitor, which turned into the star was murdered the same night. It felt a lot like Nebraska getting into Big Ten play.
Nebraska swapped their strong nonconference start into hit or miss Big Ten performances that lately have been more miss. On Sunday, coach Amy Williams’ side ended a six-game losing streak with a win in Washington and end with a likely winning streak when they welcome Rutgers on Sunday. Even so, that will not bring back a lot of the promise Nebraska had this season.
Wisconsin – Yam Yam Arocho
“The player that was cursed to death… IS YOU YAM YAM!” host Alan Cummings yelled at the Black Banquet episode this season. Sure, the Survivor star did not make it near the finale of the game, but that moment turned the tables on the entire competition.
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Between his public “death” sentence and the castle guards taking him away in front of the entire cast, Yam Yam told everyone that it was Lisa Rinna who “murdered” him in plain sight.
Even if Yam Yam got the means of the “murder” wrong (it was fixing a pin over getting a kiss on the cheek), he was right about Rinna’s identity, which started a domino effect of her banishment, Candiace’s exit and the Robification of this season.
Although Wisconsin is on the wrong side of the Big Ten standings, the Badgers had the surprise moment of the season when they went two overtimes against Oregon to defeat the Ducks. It was arguably one of the most entertaining games of the season, like that Black Banquet.
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Wisconsin exposed the Ducks, defeated a ranked Michigan State side and overcame Nebraska back when the Cornhuskers still had some momentum in the conference.
Indiana – Kristen Kish
Things looked bleak for the Indiana Hoosiers earlier this season. After the loss of guard Yarden Garzon, and a practically whole team of up and coming underclassmen, the Hoosiers lost their first 10 Big Ten games of the season and looked destined to missing the conference tournament.
Top Chef host Kristen Kish had a quiet edit this season. It was easy to forget she was even on the show, but as some of the louder personas left the cast, Kristen’s strong gameplay finally made it to air. That is like the Indiana Hoosiers’ four wins in their last six games. Sure, they lost the two games in California against USC and UCLA, but most teams do that.
Indiana has games left against Penn State and Rutgers, which will both likely end in Crimson victories and are a scary team to face on Wednesday next week in Indianapolis, at the tournament. Kish also scared Eric right as he turned into a traitor, because she clocked the quietness of the singer at the round tables.
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Rob and Eric “murdered” Kristen before she could really hurt them, but there is still time for the Hoosiers to inflict an upset or two against conference sides in their home state.
Purdue – Ron Funches
Poor Ron. Poor poor Ron. The comedian and actor on Loot came into the house without any of the comedy he is known for outside of the Scottish Highlands. Ron got mixed up with the wrong folks early in the show (more on that soon), and it put a target on his back that he could not escape, even if he almost made the move of the season when he sacrificed himself at the banishment table and told, almost, everybody how much he cared about them as people.
It was a touch of emotion in an otherwise tainted season for Funches.
Purdue’s program does not feel like it should be on the cusp of potentially missing the Big Ten Tournament, but that is reality. Are there NIL issues? Is coaching the problem? There are many questions, but head coach Katie Gearlds seems liked by her team enough for guard Madison Layden-Zay to return to the team for her final season of eligibility after seemingly leaving college basketball forever.
The highlight of the season for the Boilermakers is their first win over Indiana after 13-straight losses. Then there is the lone winning streak against good Wisconsin and Washington teams midway through the campaign. Like Ron, the end feels spelled out for Purdue, but hopefully one day there is justice for the women’s basketball program in West Lafayette.
Penn State – Michael Rapaport
It has not been a great few years for women’s basketball in State College, Pennsylvania. Allegations loomed over head coach Carolyn Kieger before the start of the 24-25 season. Since then, Penn State has four Big Ten wins, but three came this season with the addition of scorer Kiyomi McMiller and the return of the second most efficient player in NCAA history with center Gracie Merkle.
Despite those things going the team’s way, Kieger has had one winning season in seven years with Penn State, yet there is a chance that the Nittany Lions make the 15-team Big Ten Tournament with some help from Northwestern and Purdue.
That reads a lot like actor Michael Rapaport’s time on The Traitors. Sure, he is loud and rude. Sure, not many of the competitors like him. Sure, the way he eats is really weird. His demise was a foregone conclusion before the season even began and the amount of times he put his foot in his mouth is admirable only to a human pretzel at the circus.
Even so, he stuck around longer than most expected. Penn State could surprise people, but either way it ends it will be entertaining.
Northwestern – Donna Kelce
There is a lot to like about Northwestern this season. Guard Caroline Lau is one of the best passers in the nation and legendary coach Joe McKeown is in his final season at the helm of the Wildcats. Even so, the Wildcats need a miracle to make the Big Ten Tournament to even have a chance at stealing a win or two as a parting gift for coach and the senior Lau.
The future mother-in-law of Taylor Swift, Donna Kelce, came into the show with a strong “aw shucks” factor when she claimed to be starstruck meeting all of the “famous” contestants. That is hard to convince people of when you hang out with Taylor Swift in luxury boxes weekly.
Kelse was not long for The Traitors world, and she was part of the first twist in the US edition of the game when producers made her the “secret traitor” who helped choose who the known traitors would banish for the first couple days. Unfortunately for Swifties and Donna Kelce alike, she was voted out of the show early and never really had a chance to establish herself as a competitor. Still a fun story though.
Rutgers – Porsha Williams
In The Real Housewives of Atlanta world, Porsha Williams is a known entity. Porsha brings good drama to the show and is likable when many housewives across many of the different cities struggle staying on the show because of how much they are disliked.
Rutgers head coach Coquese Washington has a strong, and long, resume leading the Nittany Lions to success in the early 2010s and returned to the conference four seasons ago after taking a few years off from leading a college program. That is respected experience, like Porsha.
Unfortunately, Porsha was banished the first night of the show, voted off because of a verbal slip-up in one of the side chats in the castle. It was the end of a promising game, not different from the promise of a new roster who all wanted to be at Rutgers.
If you signed up for Peacock to watch Big Ten women’s basketball, watch The Traitors finale Thursday night at 9:00 p.m. ET.
Bravo tutti.
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