Illini Women's Basketball 2026-2027

#276      
Champaign Toast
"An average of 5,766 fans took in each regular season outing in SFC last season, which ranked as the third-best mark in Illinois women's basketball history. Home crowds for the Illini were the fifth largest in the Big Ten and ranked 14th across the NCAA." (FightingIllini.com)

Average home attendance over the last three seasons:
2023-4: 3,720
2024-5: 4,967
2025-6: 5,766

I think our home attendance average increases again.
6,000?
7,000?!
 
#277      
Champaign Toast
DeonThomas said:
Our projected opening night starting line-up? As well as the first 3 off the bench? TY!!!!
Click to expand...

My guess this evening is:
Destiny
Brown-Hagger
Wallace
Parchment
Alves

I feel most confident in Destiny, Wallace, and Parchment starting. I have a really hard time guessing the first three off the bench because I think we have a solid 10-deep rotation, including Guyton, Bourrage, Dolan, Webber, and Vasconcelos. If we're truly restricting this prediction exercise to opening night--against perhaps a D2 squad--I wouldn't be shocked if the first substitution is all five of the above checking in together.

I never want to count anyone out, but I suspect the value of the remaining rostered five most likely manifests in practice competition and bench energy.
 
#279      
Rlouizjr01
JKR said:
Wow!!
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I wish they would quit harping on that starting notion.She can play,and really well.This team has seriously added at least 3 starters with Manuela and Dolan coming back..Divine is going to be the McDonald's AA.She is the highest ranked recruit to ever come to Champaign..This team is going to be awesome,no doubt about it.
 
#280      
bluemountain
Champaign Toast said:
"An average of 5,766 fans took in each regular season outing in SFC last season, which ranked as the third-best mark in Illinois women's basketball history. Home crowds for the Illini were the fifth largest in the Big Ten and ranked 14th across the NCAA." (FightingIllini.com)

Average home attendance over the last three seasons:
2023-4: 3,720
2024-5: 4,967
2025-6: 5,766

I think our home attendance average increases again.
6,000?
7,000?!
Click to expand...
That is really impressive!
 
#281      
ILLHoopsterFan
Champaign Toast said:
My guess this evening is:
Destiny
Brown-Hagger
Wallace
Parchment
Alves

I feel most confident in Destiny, Wallace, and Parchment starting. I have a really hard time guessing the first three off the bench because I think we have a solid 10-deep rotation, including Guyton, Bourrage, Dolan, Webber, and Vasconcelos. If we're truly restricting this prediction exercise to opening night--against perhaps a D2 squad--I wouldn't be shocked if the first substitution is all five of the above checking in together.

I never want to count anyone out, but I suspect the value of the remaining rostered five most likely manifests in practice competition and bench energy.
Click to expand...
My guess is:
Jackson
Dolan
Berry
Parchment
Vasconcelos.
Three proven scorers. An excellent point guard and a center who can alter shots and clog up the middle.
First off the bench is Webber, which is a role she seems to enjoy.
After that, Brown-Haggar, Bourrage, Guyton, and Alves will compete for minutes. It will be a fun season.
 
#282      
pruman91
I think starting out the season we will see Berry , Gretchen , Destiny and CC are sure fire starters ...............

Lety fouls too much to be a starter............
Maddie is too valuable as the 6th man , giving us a boost when she checks in.............
Guyton needs to be PG2 , and another boost...........
Jasmine could be the 5th starter because of her defense alone.........
Bourrage and Alves make us such a loaded roster along with the rest of the squad......

this years roster could be coach Green's best so far since she has been at the Illini........the squad pre Cook injuries was very good but not as deep as this season............JMHO................
 
#283      
ptgrd23
Guarantee - Berry SF, Destiny PG, Cearah PF

Fighting for other 2 slots - Gretchen 5'11" (2 consecutive years of knee injuries scary) SF , Divine is 5'11" top 20 HS recruit 2G, Manuela C 6'3", Aliyah 5'6" Jasmine 5'9"

JMO

1. Limit Gretchen to 20 mpg to protect her knee
2. Start Manuela to build her confidence
3. Start Divine - lets find that top 20 talent
4. Aaliyah and Jasmine are too small to start next to Destiny
5. Maddy plays better off bench
 
#284      
Luwdoo
I think the obvious 3 plus Divine and Manu give us the highest ceiling.
Maddie, Aaliyah, Jasmine, provide speed and quickness.
Gretchen if she is healthy. A big if though.
Lety needs to improve a lot to play any significant minutes. She does not clog up the middle and alters very few shots. She’s most effective against other very large post players.

With Destiny, Divine, Maddie, Aaliyah, and Jasmine we can keep some real speed on the floor at all times. That should be a strong point for us this year. Having Gretchen and Lety in together would really slow us down.
I hope Lety proves me wrong.
 
#291      
JKR
Parchment scored 2 points and grabbed 6 rebounds for team Canada in 15 minutes last night in a victory over UCLA.
 
#292      
BDMAN
JKR said:
Parchment scored 2 points and grabbed 6 rebounds for team Canada in 15 minutes last night in a victory over UCLA.
Click to expand...

I have a feeling she will be more involved and celebrate in another victory over UCLA this year (season)
 
#294      
Rlouizjr01
This team has PROS......PROOOOSS from different area codes.. Just a fact... There will be scouts at every game this year. We might not lose any players this year I don't think.
 
#295      
Rlouizjr01
When we think like scouts.Number one we may automatically think of Berry Wallace ,and no doubt she was a McD AA coming in and has shown shooting an inside game a mid range supremacy.She can play decent defensive ability.Some may view her foot speed lacking and a limited ball handle but overall one on one practically unstoppable. She only has to limit the person in front of her to be a lock as a pick.
The second I believe is Divine.Im kinda going with the male model of how they map them into NBA slots. Usually a top ten player finds a way into a draft. We can only think that being on a team with 2 top ten guards in front of her was tough. Plus going to a place that glittered instead of following her heart..She will blossom into that No. 7 ranking she had coming into college.
Cearah is very crafty, determined and of course gifted.Having her play out of her natural position which I believe is a 4 but I'm leaning towards a 3 at times because she has a handle we didn't get to see .She is unselfish in passing the ball.She just like Berry is a three level scorer.Last year she had the benefit of training with the team before she played and the season went on she got better and better..Her conditioning will get better and in so many ways she may be our best pro prospect.
I believe Destiny will find a way into the league because she is a controlled blur on the court.She is very athletic uncanny court vision and total command of the game pace.Her defensive chops are top flight for such a small frame.When her outside shot catches up to her superb floor game,her only hinderance is height,but I believe she can navigate the pro game as well.
Now those are my WNBA pro prospects,but there are a couple of wild cards who could have a shot with their shot.Gretchen is definitely on the verge of May the W if she can stay healthy and stay microwave hot for a good streak of games and stay fit for a season it could happen.Her defense improved last year but it hast get better. Her three level scoring and passing exudes next level. If team success exceeds expectations it will boost her prospects but I'm not foolish to think we have 5 or W players on the team am I?? Of course not ,I'm thinking Manu has serous shot at this kinda growth too.She was already on the senior Brazilian team as a highschool player...Lety is 6 ft 7and can move but this may be her year of excelling in the post...All these players seriously give us championship aspirations..If they make good on them,then the scouts will live at Illinois because of coaching and talent.
 
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