Despite a winning regular season, Illinois (22-10, 11-7) had a disappointing postseason, falling in the second rounds of both the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments.
For programs with more history in March, this would be a devastating blow. But for head coach Shauna Green, losses like these are still wins. Despite losing veteran talent, Green has a deep bench returning next year. Additionally, she has been recruiting and hunting for the portal to fill in the gaps.
“You just don’t see the same core group for three years anymore,” Green said. “I don’t know if you’ll ever see it a lot. I hope we can continue to build the culture. You’re sustaining success because it’s the culture and the expectation.”
Let’s jump into the grades from the season’s shining stars:
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*Genesis Bryant (A-): Fifth-year guard Genesis Bryant will be remembered as a crucial part of Illinois’ rebuild. She was its go-to for shooting free throws and three-pointers. She was a key factor in the Illini’s ability to lead the Big Ten in free throw percentage (79.3%).
Like her teammates, Bryant needed to step up with so many injuries on the team. For the veteran, this meant increased playing time. The fifth-year logged seven 40-minute games. She also had ten 20+ point games this season, including matching her career-high 32 points against Washington in December.
Bryant’s coaches and teammates routinely applauded her grit, stamina and leadership. She was honored with All-Big Ten Second Team status by coaches and media. This was her second time making this roster, as she earned the honor in 2022-23.
*Kendall Bostic (A): Fifth-year forward Kendall Bostic had a huge impact on the program that will be remembered for years to come. This season, she surpassed Jenna Smith’s career-highs in rebounds (1217) and double-doubles (53). She was one of the best players the program has ever seen.
Bostic saw all of the program’s ups and downs and still stuck with it. Green’s rejuvenation of the program was monumental for her to see and be a part of.
She was honored with a placement on the All-Big Ten First Team and the Sportsmanship Award, two more accolades for Bostic’s impressive career.
*Brynn Shoup-Hill (B-): Senior forward Brynn Shoup-Hill was one of the players Green brought over in her move from Dayton. The confidence and work ethic instilled in the forward her freshman year carried over when she became an Illini. In her final season, she was a reliable defender and a formidable paint presence. Working alongside Bostic to cover the key, the duo had a combined 60 blocks across 32 games.
Shoup-Hill also had a positive impact on the offensive end. When the team needed a boost, she could step up and knock down some key shots. She could also make inside-out runs and shoot from beyond the arc.
Berry Wallace (A-): As the injury list grew, Green turned to her younger players to step up alongside her seasoned vets. Freshman forward Berry Wallace, a 2024 McDonald’s All-American and five-star recruit, was injured in her very first collegiate game. When she returned, her team was down a starter with few subs available.
After three games post-injury, Wallace scored a season-high 18 points against Southern Indiana. By the start of conference play, she was logging at least 20 minutes per game and averaging over six points. Towards the end, she started in the last six games and averaged nine points per game.
Her three-point shooting was crucial in the team’s ability to fight through a small rotation. When Wallace got going, it was hard to stop her. The Illini won every game in which she converted three or more triples, including in the closely contested 66-65 win over Maryland.
Wallace also honed her defense as the season continued. She often subbed on for Shoup-Hill, which meant she had to replicate the senior’s outstanding defensive efforts and provide a spark on offense.
*Adalia McKenzie (B+): Senior guard Adalia McKenzie worked hard to become a more well-rounded player this season. This effort didn’t go unnoticed by coaches, teammates or fans. The senior made a consistent impact as a scorer and defender all season.
McKenzie ranked third in total rebounds behind Shoup-Hill and Bostic. She finished the season with 156 boards and averaged 4.9 per game. It was her late-season surge that stood out. In her last nine games, McKenzie averaged 6.3 rebounds, putting a cap on her season-long growth.
Her hustle and discipline created crucial second-chance opportunities for Illinois. McKenzie brought the energy whenever she was on the floor. She usually guarded other teams’ best players and never shrank away from an assignment.
She used her aggression and instincts to navigate around her taller matchups and snatch loose balls out of their hands. McKenzie’s playmaking kept up the team’s mindset on the court, which helped them stay focused and move on from poor plays. Her efforts earned her an All-Big Ten honorable mention.
“When you leave your legacy, it’s by passing on the culture and what it’s about,” Green said. “You can expect to win. That’s the biggest thing we’ve done here. They had never won. This group can continue to pass down the legacy and standards of saying ‘Hey, we’re here’.”
There is no doubt that Green is creating a long-lasting legacy here in Champaign.
