Gallery | Reflecting on Illinois’ 2025-26 season
In 2025-26, Illinois saw one of its best seasons in over 20 years. The Illini managed to make it to the second round of the NCAA tournament for the first time since the 1999-2000 season. With lots of freshmen on her team this year, head coach Shauna Green knew it would be challenging. Earlier in the season, Green said with this new team, she wasn’t always sure what the issue was or how to fix it. But now, she is more excited than ever.
“I just think this whole year has just taught us so much, and now we’ve got to use this and take all those lessons and put it into next year,” Green said. “Now we won’t be the youngest team, we won’t be any of that, but now we are an experienced team that can reference back to remember when this happened, and this is what we did, and we did that even at our last few games.”
“That has me even more optimistic and more excited to get back with these guys and get back to work because they’re ready to go, and they’re committed, and they’re hungry,” Green said.
“For me, it means a lot to be a part of this program,” said junior guard Jasmine Brown-Hagger. “The reasoning is just because there’s no excuses, and kind of what our standards are.”
“I think I just learned a little bit more so what I’m capable of,” said sophomore forward Berry Wallace about being at the top of scouting reports. “It means a lot, the confidence that my coaches and my teammates have in me, and they try to put me in the best possible situations on the court to succeed.”
“I think the biggest thing I take from this season is just, like, your response to adversity is the most important thing,” Wallace said. “I think we learned a lot about ourselves as a team, and I know I did, as well.”
“I think we’re learning all the little things matter. Every single game matters, and I think that’s what we can take from this March Madness tournament,” Brown-Hagger said.
“I know we’ve got to take some time off, but I’m ready to get back to practice and get going and preparing for next year.”
– Shauna Green
