Illini Women's Basketball 2026-2027

#207      
JKR
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#209      
ptgrd23
Doc I said:
Any info on the Spanish JC guard we picked up?
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freshman at JC last season
14 ppg
5 rbg
2 apg
shot 34% from 3

Our backcourt last Destiny 5'6" Aliyah 5'7" Maddy 5'11"

Added some nice size Divine 5'11" Ona" 5'11"

I suspect its going to be very hard to keep Divine
 
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#213      
Fan Since '70
ptgrd23 said:
Imagine 4 big time scoring threats. Berry, Gretchen, Divine and Cearah

247sports.com

SIGNED: Illini WBB lands LSU transfer guard Divine Bourrage

Bourrage was the No. 7 player in the Class of 2025, according to 247Sports.
247sports.com 247sports.com
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With Maddy Weber ready to be offensive sparkplug to sub out Dolan and/or Bourrage and a very capable 6.0' Ona Riopedre up next. Destiny will also become a bigger scoring threat in her soph season and also expect backup Guyton to improve and mature and Brown-Haggar provide veteran presence. The center complement of Alves, Brenjo and Vasconscelos will step up more than last year and provide increased team balance, also allowing good shooting Parchment to play outside perimeter more often. 2026-2027 Most balanced Illini team in past 5 years, IMO.
 
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#216      
Luwdoo
I don’t see Ona getting much playing time. I kinda doubt she’s anywhere near as good as Destiny, Jasmine, Aaliyah, or Divine. And then add Berry, Cearah, Gretchen, and Maddy. This is going to be one tough lineup to crack. Especially if Gretchen and Manuela are 100%.
 
#217      
Illiniindian
Luwdoo said:
I don’t see Ona getting much playing time. I kinda doubt she’s anywhere near as good as Destiny, Jasmine, Aaliyah, or Divine. And then add Berry, Cearah, Gretchen, and Maddy. This is going to be one tough lineup to crack. Especially if Gretchen and Manuela are 100%.
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I am really surprised at these transfers. Shauna likes to play a very short bench. Not sure how any of these transfers except Divine get playing time. I wonder if they will transfer again.
It must be NIL $$ getting them to join. Unless I am missing something. Ie, why does Irina Catoria stick around?
 
#218      
Champaign Toast
Illiniindian said:
I am really surprised at these transfers. Shauna likes to play a very short bench. Not sure how any of these transfers except Divine get playing time. I wonder if they will transfer again.
It must be NIL $$ getting them to join. Unless I am missing something. Ie, why does Irina Catoria stick around?
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(I'm get the sense there is not much NIL for low-profile women. Maybe what there is, is comparable or above what is available at mid-majors. I really don't know.)

I imagine the decision comes down to environment and career benefits versus playing time and role.
Begin your career at a mid-major, break out and transfer up or stay and be a key player?
Begin at a high-major where you may have better facilities, support services, and competition in practices and games, and a flashier environment, travel, kit, and degree but won't play as much? Either work your way into a major role or transfer down after a year or two?
Which best fulfills the student-athlete's goals? If it's about developing into the best player they can be, arguments can be made for both. If it's overall experience, there are arguments for both as well.

Hayven Smith was here two years, probably didn't see a major role coming in year three and decided to transfer to a mid-major. Irene is entering year two at Illinois--one more year to challenge herself to attain a larger role... or maybe it's the money or other benefits that outweigh playing time.

I would guess that Ona Riopedre comes seeking an elite training environment and a challenge. Her frosh year stat averages were pretty good at the juco level, though her shot percentages were pedestrian. She didn't look like a sensation in the juco game footage that's available online. She's coming off injury. Were she a bigger deal she would have been signed earlier with a host of suitors after her. Clearly she wants a big-time environment. She takes a big step up and will be another capable body at practices, like Gisela Segura (who completed her eligibility) and Mia Zenere. If we're lucky, she'll grow into a contributor in games.

My assumption is that Lana Brenjo is in a similar place as Riopedre. A fitting replacement for Hayven, she may--a year or two from now--be in the position of Irene and Hayven. She's coming from being one of the younger players in a lower-profile European women's league where she was a starter with moderate stats. I expect that she's looking at an Irene Catoira / Hayven Smith role, which includes matching up with the bigs in practice and having opportunity there and in low-intensity and emergency minutes to prove mettle and earn a role in the rotation. Perhaps there is a little money for her, to match what she'd get from her club in Serbia; but there are other benefits to trading the Serbian women's league for the training ground of high-major US women's college basketball that includes a pathway to a free degree from Illinois and post-graduation career opportunities. Again, if we're lucky, she's got some big moves in her bag and up her sleeve.

I know that if I were back at age 18, I would appreciate the challenge and experience of a high-major year to test myself, challenge myself, and learn from the environment. On top of the prestige of the degree, I might even find value in preparing for a career in high-major coaching by attaching myself to a coach with a track record and a program with elite resources. Of course in that case, there is also value in learning to do it where resources are more limited.
 
#219      
Illiniindian
Champaign Toast said:
(I'm get the sense there is not much NIL for low-profile women. Maybe what there is, is comparable or above what is available at mid-majors. I really don't know.)

I imagine the decision comes down to environment and career benefits versus playing time and role.
Begin your career at a mid-major, break out and transfer up or stay and be a key player?
Begin at a high-major where you may have better facilities, support services, and competition in practices and games, and a flashier environment, travel, kit, and degree but won't play as much? Either work your way into a major role or transfer down after a year or two?
Which best fulfills the student-athlete's goals? If it's about developing into the best player they can be, arguments can be made for both. If it's overall experience, there are arguments for both as well.

Hayven Smith was here two years, probably didn't see a major role coming in year three and decided to transfer to a mid-major. Irene is entering year two at Illinois--one more year to challenge herself to attain a larger role... or maybe it's the money or other benefits that outweigh playing time.

I would guess that Ona Riopedre comes seeking an elite training environment and a challenge. Her frosh year stat averages were pretty good at the juco level, though her shot percentages were pedestrian. She didn't look like a sensation in the juco game footage that's available online. She's coming off injury. Were she a bigger deal she would have been signed earlier with a host of suitors after her. Clearly she wants a big-time environment. She takes a big step up and will be another capable body at practices, like Gisela Segura (who completed her eligibility) and Mia Zenere. If we're lucky, she'll grow into a contributor in games.

My assumption is that Lana Brenjo is in a similar place as Riopedre. A fitting replacement for Hayven, she may--a year or two from now--be in the position of Irene and Hayven. She's coming from being one of the younger players in a lower-profile European women's league where she was a starter with moderate stats. I expect that she's looking at an Irene Catoira / Hayven Smith role, which includes matching up with the bigs in practice and having opportunity there and in low-intensity and emergency minutes to prove mettle and earn a role in the rotation. Perhaps there is a little money for her, to match what she'd get from her club in Serbia; but there are other benefits to trading the Serbian women's league for the training ground of high-major US women's college basketball that includes a pathway to a free degree from Illinois and post-graduation career opportunities. Again, if we're lucky, she's got some big moves in her bag and up her sleeve.

I know that if I were back at age 18, I would appreciate the challenge and experience of a high-major year to test myself, challenge myself, and learn from the environment. On top of the prestige of the degree, I might even find value in preparing for a career in high-major coaching by attaching myself to a coach with a track record and a program with elite resources. Of course in that case, there is also value in learning to do it where resources are more limited.
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Appreciate the response. Agree with all of this. Catoria probably views Illinois as a place to develop her game to perform that much better in Spain. I think you are correct on Ona. Wants to be part of a top 20 division one program to see where it takes her. I do hope Lana can contribute this year. I have heard great things about Aviles but she is coming off an injury and we can always use more size.

More than Hayven, I think Naomi Benson
wanted more. In the few minutes I saw her play, I could see the talent. Oh well. Really hope she shines at Cincinnati.

So glad I bought season tickets. Looking forward to it!
 
#220      
Luwdoo
Ona made mention of pursuing an engineering degree. That seems to have played a role in her choosing Illinois. Whatever their reasons for coming to Illinois they both seem like excellent fits in that they both are talented enough to compete in practice and both have the potential to contribute in the future.
 
#221      
JKR
Illiniindian said:
I am really surprised at these transfers. Shauna likes to play a very short bench. Not sure how any of these transfers except Divine get playing time. I wonder if they will transfer again.
It must be NIL $$ getting them to join. Unless I am missing something. Ie, why does Irina Catoria stick around?
Click to expand...
Some of these gals are perfect fits for their roles. Take Riopedre, for instance. Her goal is to earn an engineering degree. She has no interest in extending her basketball career beyond college. With this opportunity, she can return to Spain with a very credible degree under her belt. Mia Zenere has an interest in Medical School so she is majoring in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences. I don't know Catoira's ultimate goal, but she is majoring in Kinesiology which can lead to a career in various Health and Fitness careers. They are all getting wonderful degrees at no cost to them. In exchange, they spend countless hours contributing to an activity that they enjoy. Green, on the other hand, needs to fill a 15-player roster. She can't do that with 15 5-star athletes because both NIL and playing time are limited. She needs to find players who will fill their roles without causing disention in the locker room. Win-win.
 
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