Big Ten Enforces Forfeits on Northwestern Amid Wildfires

The Northwestern women's basketball team was assessed two forfeits by the Big Ten Conference for not playing scheduled games against UCLA and USC in January due to wildfire concerns in Los Angeles. Northwestern's decision not to travel was made in light of the wildfires affecting the area, which had also disrupted other sports events. Despite the team's safety concerns, the Big Ten applied its bylaws strictly, awarding wins to UCLA and USC while giving Northwestern two losses. This ruling significantly harms Northwestern's chances of qualifying for the Big Ten Tournament, as they are now battling for the final spot. Northwestern's Athletic Director, Mark Jackson, expressed disappointment but accepted the decision, emphasizing the team's reasoning due to the natural disaster. UCLA and USC remain at the top of the conference standings, while Northwestern faces a challenging path to the postseason.