The University of Chicago women’s basketball program is welcoming former Maroons forward Caroline Workman back to Hyde Park, naming her assistant coach for the 2026-27 season.
A La Grange, Illinois, native, Workman returns to the Maroons after a decorated four-year career as a forward, where she was part of NCAA Tournament teams in 2023 and 2026, deep tournament runs that bookended her career, from her freshman year to her senior year. As a freshman in 2022-23, the Maroons reached the Sectional Semifinals with wins over Northwestern (MN) and Whitman. As a senior in 2025-26, she appeared in all 28 games with 20 starts, leading the team with 27 blocks while adding 123 points, 128 rebounds, 41 assists, and 23 steals in 26.0 minutes per game, as UChicago reached the program’s second-ever Elite Eight appearance with wins over Gustavus Adolphus, #22 UW-Whitewater, and #7 Hope.
A three-time Academic All-UAA honoree in 2024, 2025, and 2026 and two-time CSC Academic All-District selection in 2025 and 2026, Workman was as consistent in the classroom as she was on the floor. She capped her career with a career-high 16 points in an 85-54 win over Rose-Hulman on November 22, 2025, and a career-high 10 rebounds in the Maroons’ 62-46 Regional Final victory over #22 UW-Whitewater in the 2026 NCAA Tournament.
“After an amazing four years as a member of the UChicago Women’s Basketball team that culminated in our second-ever Elite Eight appearance, I am grateful for the opportunity to return to the program as an assistant coach while pursuing my Master of Public Policy at the Harris School,” said Workman. “As a coach, I will be learning from the best in Coach Michelle, Coach Diamond, and Coach Dolly. I am excited to get started! Go Maroons!”
“Caroline has been an integral part of our program for the last 4 years, and we are thrilled that she will be staying just as involved, now as an assistant coach!” said Head Coach Michelle Gardner-Bilek. “Caroline was a high-IQ, versatile player, a consistently positive voice in our locker room, and an exemplary leader of our core values. Because of the qualities she brought, our team achieved tremendous success with her on the court. We are so excited to see Caroline carry that same leadership, passion, and commitment into her new role as an assistant coach!”
Workman appeared in 91 career games at forward for the Maroons across four seasons, developing into one of the team’s defensive anchors by her senior season. She blocked a career-high 4 shots in a 52-44 win over Case Western Reserve during her senior season and recorded a career-high 6 steals as a junior in a 61-45 win over Millikin. While at UChicago, Workman majored in Environmental Science, was a member of Out for Business, and earned Dean’s List honors in 2022-23.
Workman will pursue a Master of Public Policy at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy while serving on the coaching staff alongside Head Coach Michelle Gardner-Bilek and Assistant Coaches Diamond Pikulyk and Dolly Yuan.
The University of Chicago women’s basketball team will open its 2026-27 season on Friday, November 6, as the Maroons host Wisconsin Lutheran at the Ratner Athletic Center.
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