With a new team full of fresh faces as well as some familiar ones, Illinois goes into the 2025-26 season with exciting unknowns. Will players stay healthy? How will the versatility of the new roster and the depth of its players impact Illinois’ success this season? However, head coach Shauna Green said the unknowns of this team are what make the Illini dangerous.
“We can throw some different combos,” Green said. “We can go really big. We can go really long … I think that versatility would be something that is in the unknown of, ‘Okay, what is Illinois going to look like this year?’”
From commitments out of the transfer portal to returning players taking their game to the next level, the Illini have many players who stand out on this season’s roster.
Aaliyah Guyton
From a guard standpoint, reloading was important for the Illini to continue building on last season’s success. As Genesis Bryant and Makira Cook graduated from the program in 2025, Illinois needed a new point guard to fill the holes in the roster. So, Green hit the transfer portal and picked up sophomore Aaliyah Guyton.
In her single season at the University of Iowa, Guyton earned solid minutes and shot 37.3% from three-point range. Guyton’s experience playing college-level basketball will be a huge asset to Illinois’ younger roster. However, learning to fit into a new team’s system isn’t easy, let alone learning to lead it. Green noted it will take time for Guyton to reach her full potential in the role, but her work on the court and in film sessions has her on the right track.
Maddie Webber
Green projects that junior guard Maddie Webber will be easy to slot into the Illinois system she is creating. She’s a tall guard at 5-foot-11 with a long wingspan and is an efficient three-level scorer. Webber is particularly useful around the perimeter, averaging 30.5% from the three in her sophomore season. Following the loss of Bryant, who was Illinois’ most efficient three-point shooter, adding depth here was a priority for Green.
While her efficiency was a major draw, Webber’s experience was also a huge win. Webber will be one of the few players in the Illinois lineup who have multiple years of experience at a collegiate level.
Most importantly to Green, these minutes have allowed the guard to develop a good motor. Webber will be joining a team that has had some players pull 40-minute games often. While the goal is for everyone to stay healthy, having players with high stamina will be key as the season goes on.
Destiny Jackson
One of Green’s most dynamic additions was five-star recruit, freshman guard Destiny Jackson. Jackson was a well-rounded guard in high school, averaging 17.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 3.3 steals throughout her four years.
According to Green, Jackson is very coachable. She gets into the gym and watches film nonstop to continue improving her game. “She’s blessed with so many things, but she’s still a freshman,” Green said.
Her athleticism and explosiveness are huge wins for the Illini, who are looking to be defensively disruptive this coming season. Despite still learning who she is as a player and adapting to a new system, Green has noticed improvements from the rookie in every practice.
“When she figures it out, she is going to be an elite defender,” Green said.
Berry Wallace
The injuries that devastated the Illinois roster last season threw sophomore forward Berry Wallace into a much larger playing role than the freshman expected. She had to navigate this on-court leadership role on the fly. Now, Green and Wallace are both excited to take those unexpected situations and grow the forward’s game.
“She’s in the best condition she’s ever been in in our time here,” Green said. “She’s moving well, she’s defending better, her handle is tighter. She’s confident, utilizes her strength very well and is being very efficient.”
Green was quick to compliment Wallace’s work in the offseason. She said that everything about the sophomore’s game has improved. Because of these improvements and roster changes, Green said Wallace needs to adjust to being at the top of the team’s scouting reports.
Another big change for Wallace is working alongside junior guard Gretchen Dolan as they both step into larger leadership roles. Green is more than ready to hand over the keys to the returners and allow them to own the team.
