“This is a big step for our program as we continue to build into what we want this program to be,” is what Illinois women’s basketball head coach Shauna Green said after its historic WBIT win in April. Seven months later, it’s time to see what Green has in store for her third season with the Illini.
Illinois women’s basketball may not have made the NCAA tournament last season, but that did not stop the team from thriving in the postseason. Now, they have a title under their belt, fresh faces, returning star players and a whole lot of energy going into this upcoming season.
The 2024-25 season kicks off in a few days, and conversations about the Illini and their potential success have begun. They’re coming back to action with even more goals than last season, and their eyes are set on even bigger accolades.
Veteran leadership is crucial for success
Near the end of last season, questions arose on which key athletes would return to the Illini for another season. While guards Makira Cook and Genesis Bryant and forward Kendall Bostic could have elected to finish their collegiate playing time, they took it upon themselves to stay in Champaign for a fifth year. All three women massively impacted the court last season, and they’re expected to do the same this year.
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With her elite shooting abilities and close relationship with Green, Cook will continue to play a crucial role for the Illini. She’s reliable, intelligent and extremely talented. Not only is she said to be a leader on the court, but she’s been described as an influence for her younger peers on the team as well. Her ability to direct the team in intense situations and lead them in scoring will be of the utmost importance once again.
Bryant and Bostic will likely scare some competitors on the court this year. Bryant finished last season with 14.2 points per game and amped up her defensive abilities from the season before. Similarly, Bostic averaged a double-double every game last season and will likely continue her rebounding expertise this year. Combined with Cook, these two can be an unstoppable unit on the court when they all get a rhythm going.
“They’ve continued to get more mature,” Green said about her senior lineup. “They’re being more vocal this year because they sense that this is the end. They’re not taking any of that for granted.”
Recruit, recruit, recruit
Illinois gets the best of both worlds: an experienced group of leaders and talent on the rise. This season, Green and her squad welcomed six new athletes to the program. The most anticipated of them all is five-star freshman forward Berry Wallace. Her all-around skills at this young age set a solid foundation for the future of the Illini.
Additionally, the team acquired centers freshman Hayven Smith and sophomore Lety Vasconcelos. These two will provide extra size to the court and assistance to Bostic underneath the rim. Then, they brought in freshman guard Mia Zenere, freshman forward Irene Noya Catoira and sophomore guard Jasmine Brown-Hagger.
“It’s coming together,” Green said regarding the recruitment process.
She continues to secure elite prospects to help the Illini become stronger and more concise every year. Her advanced initiatives to recruit high-caliber athletes gave every reason for the University to extend her contract.
Big Ten, big competition
The Illini can sigh with relief since Caitlin Clark and Jacy Sheldon have left Big Ten. However, they also must endure Big Ten newcomers like sophomore guard JuJu Watkins from USC and junior center Lauren Betts from UCLA.
This season will certainly be fun and captivating, but it will be far from easy. The Illini finished with a conference record of 8-10 last season and particularly struggled on the road.
“I could not be more excited that we finally have some really good matchups for our fans to be able to come to,” Green said. “It’s fun for our fans to come and watch a 30, 40-point win, but they’d rather have a competitive game. We’d rather have a competitive game so now we can prepare for the Big Ten season, which is going to be the hardest Big Ten in history for women’s basketball.”
Green did not sugarcoat this one bit, especially since Illinois has a challenging schedule ahead. With the lessons they’ve learned from last season and the eagerness they have to play, there are plenty of opportunities for the Illini to leave their mark in this conference.
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