The 2016–17 Illinois State Redbirds women's basketball team represented Illinois State University during the 2016–17 NCAA Division I women's basketball season.

The Redbirds, led by fourth year head coach Barb Smith, played their home games at Redbird Arena and were members of the Missouri Valley Conference.

They advanced to the quarterfinals of the Missouri Valley women's tournament, where they lost to Northern Iowa.

On March 13, the school fired Barb Smith.

She finish at Illinois State with 4 year record of 28–93.