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Articles by Brie Dirl
Column | An early look at the WNBA Playoffs
A new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the WNBA and the WNBA Players’ Association left almost all of the players as free agents ahead of the 2026 season. However, there was not as much of a shake-up to the powerhouse teams as expected. Most stars stayed with their franchises, and last year’s playoff teams didn’t have many changes to their cores.
Column | An early look at the WNBA Playoffs
A new Collective Bargaining Agreement between the WNBA and the WNBA Players’ Association left almost all of the players as free agents ahead of the 2026 season. However, there was not as much of a shake-up to the powerhouse teams as expected. Most stars stayed with their franchises, and last year’s playoff teams didn’t have many changes to their cores.
Column | Why Chicago got it right with Gabriela Jaquez
UCLA guard Gabriela Jaquez went No. 5 overall in the 2026 WNBA draft to a refreshed Chicago Sky. The Sky are looking to reset to a winning identity after a pitiful 10-34 season. Chicago went all in on adding experienced talent but to complete the rebuild, it needed elite scoring, defense and a real glue player. It undoubtedly found that in Jaquez.
Reflecting on Illinois’ bench performance
Illinois’ bench was instrumental in the team’s historic success this season. The Illini played their first three consecutive games of the Big Ten Tournament since 2011 and made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in back-to-back years for the first time since 2000. The most influential of those bench player contributions weren’t on the team last year, or if they were, had smaller roles or didn’t play at all.
Illinois loses Erica Finney to transfer portal
Categories: Illini’s guard depth takes hit as freshman hits portal Freshman guard Erica Finney entered the transfer portal Tuesday evening, Talia Goodman reported on X. She is the third Illini to enter the portal, following the departures of sophomore center Hayven Smith and freshman forward Naomi Benson last week. Finney looks for a new home with four years of eligibility remaining after redshirting this past season while recovering from bilateral knee surgeries.
Illinois adds LSU guard Divine Bourrage
Categories: With only three players leaving so far, Illinois was already well-positioned to build on this season’s success. Now, the Illini add another long guard to their lineup with 5-foot-11 freshman Divine Bourrage, as announced Thursday by Kedric Prince on X. Bourrage played in 24 games at LSU and averaged 2.1 points and 1.7 rebounds. Despite the rising sophomore’s limited action, the addition of Bourrage addresses Illinois’ need for more versatility at the guard position.
Illinois adds LSU guard Divine Bourrage
Categories: With only three players leaving so far, Illinois was already well-positioned to build on this season’s success. Now, the Illini add another long guard to their lineup with 5-foot-11 freshman Divine Bourrage, as announced Thursday by Kedric Prince on X. Bourrage played in 24 games at LSU and averaged 2.1 points and 1.7 rebounds. Despite the rising sophomore’s limited action, the addition of Bourrage addresses Illinois’ need for more versatility at the guard position.
Center Hayven Smith to enter transfer portal
After two seasons with Illinois, sophomore center Hayven Smith has entered the transfer portal, according to Talia Goodman on X. In her freshman season, the Frankfort, Illinois native played 17 games and averaged 5.4 minutes, 0.8 points, 1.4 rebounds, 0.2 assists and 0.1 blocks. She was the tallest forward on the team at 6-foot-6, and her height gave Illinois advantages in frontcourt matchups. However, her role decreased in her sophomore season.
No. 7 Illinois prepares for No. 2 Vanderbilt in NCAA tournament round of 32
No. 7 Illinois has already had a very successful postseason. For the first time in 15 years, Illinois won back-to-back Big Ten tournament games. Also, for the first time in back-to-back seasons since 1999-2000, the Illini advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament. They are now hunting for their first trip to the Sweet 16 this century. Standing in their way are the No. 2 Vanderbilt Commodores, who have had a standout season.
No. 7 Illinois charges past No. 10 Colorado 66-57 to advance to second round - The Daily Illini
No. 7 Illinois (22-11, 9-9) and No. 10 Colorado (22-12, 11-7) played close for most of their first-round NCAA tournament game, but the fourth quarter was where the Illini pulled away for their 66-57 win. Coming into this game, the Buffaloes’ height and defensive pressure were the main threats to the Illini. However, the young Illini showed poise even as the lead narrowed, and the possessions weren’t always optimal.
Illinois locks in No. 7 seed for NCAA tournament
Head coach Shauna Green is getting close to wrapping up her fourth season leading the Illini (21-11, 9-9). The Shauna Green era has brought an impressive resume to the program, and she now adds on another accolade: a fourth consecutive postseason appearance and a third NCAA tournament appearance. Illinois earned a No. 7 seed for the NCAA tournament and will compete in Nashville, Tennessee, for the first round and second round if it advances.
How No. 10 Illinois upset No. 7 Michigan State to move on to Quarterfinals
No. 10 Illinois (21-10, 9-9) was finally able to finish a close contest. The Illini as a whole outplayed the No. 7 Michigan State Spartans (22-10, 11-7) by far in this 71-69 victory. The Illini had five players in double-digits, with freshman forward Cearah Parchment leading the Illini with 15 points. Michigan State redshirt sophomore guard Kennedy Blair scored 30 of her team’s points. For most of the game, she was Michigan State’s only source of reliable production.
What each Illini can bring to Big Ten tournament
Because they capped the season with two frustrating losses, the Illini (19-10, 9-9) did not earn a bye for the upcoming Big Ten tournament. However, the No. 10 Illini should feel good about their first opponent, the No. 15 Wisconsin Badgers (13-16, 5-13). Illinois kicked off a three-game run of 20-point wins with a dominant rout of Wisconsin on Feb. 11. But the Illini shouldn’t get too comfortable. Head coach Shauna Green and the players both feel the team is not playing up to their standard.
Illinois falls short against No. 9 Iowa, looks ahead to senior day against No. 22 Minnesota
Illinois (19-9, 9-8) saw its dominant three-game win streak end in Iowa City on Thursday. The 82-78 win for No. 9 Iowa (23-5, 14-3) positions it well to win out its regular season and earn a coveted double-bye in the upcoming Big Ten tournament as the No. 2 or No. 3 seed. Illinois now needs a win in its senior day matchup against No. 22 Minnesota (21-7, 12-5) to stay above .500 in conference play. Illinois is caught in a three-way tie between USC (17-11, 9-8) and Washington (19-9, 9-8).
Illinois dominates Northwestern in 27-point road victory
Illinois’ (19-8, 9-7) dominant 92-65 win over Northwestern (8-19, 2-14) marks a three-game stretch of 20-plus point victories. “We were really locked in, we were moving, we were connected on both ends of the floor,” said head coach Shauna Green. “We did a good job of coming out strong and staying strong throughout the 40 minutes.” Playing a full 40 has been difficult for Illinois, especially since redshirt sophomore guard Gretchen Dolan has been missing from the lineup for about three weeks now.
2 matchups to watch as Illinois faces Rutgers on TikTok day
Categories: Who to watch as Illinois closes their homestand on Tuesday Following a loss to USC (16-9, 8-6) to open its homestand, Illinois (17-8, 7-7) responded with an electric 32-point win over Wisconsin (13-13, 5-10). Now, the Illini look to close their final home stretch against the Rutgers Scarlett Knights (9-16, 1-13) with the burst they need to finish the regular season strong. “We learned from that game as well,” said sophomore forward Berry Wallace.
Multiple Illini record career-nights in Illinois’ dominant win over Wisconsin
Slow starts have been the talk of the Illinois (17-8, 7-7 ) locker room for over a week now. Both coaches and players have been trying to get to the root of the issue, and it seems they’ve found the solution. “We were just playing very together, very unselfish, and we were always talking to each other on the court,” said junior guard Jasmine Brown-Hagger. “That just kind of helped us know that our team needs to have our back.
‘We need this community to pour into us’: Illinois aims to sell out State Farm Center
Illinois (16-7, 6-6) head coach Shauna Green is calling on all Illini fans to come out on Sunday and sell out State Farm Center for the first time in almost 30 years. It would be just the third time in program history if accomplished. “If we can get this done, it would be monumental for this program,” Green said. “It will be great for recruiting. It’ll be great for our players in a big game with USC coming in. This place gets loud; I’ve been to men’s games here multiple times.
What went wrong in Illinois’ loss to Oregon
Illinois (16-7, 6-6) completed its first long road trip of the season 1-1. After upsetting then-No. 25 Washington (17-5, 7-4) on its home court, Illinois fell short against the Oregon Ducks (18-7, 6-6) despite fighting out of a 21-point halftime deficit. The downside of the team’s inexperience and youth is that they need to gain more chemistry, especially with redshirt sophomore guard Gretchen Dolan’s extended absence.
Illini head to Pacific Northwest to face 7th ranked opponent
Illinois (15-6, 5-5) has already made a trip out to Oregon once this season, when it suffered its first loss to Oregon State (17-6, 9-1) back in November. That early exposure taught the team how to prep for long away trips. “Our nutritionists help us a lot with making sure we fuel properly on the plane and getting reset with the time change,” said sophomore forward Berry Wallace.
Illinois freshmen lead second-half comeback in 80-67 loss to No. 2 UCLA
No. 2 UCLA (20-1, 10-0) came into this matchup as the clear favorites, but Illinois (15-6, 5-5) made UCLA work hard for that win. Illinois was able to get the first points of both the first and second quarters. The Illini also got the lead to single digits multiple times. Ultimately, the Bruins got the best of the Illini Wednesday night and handed them a 67-80 loss. “They gave us all we could handle,” said UCLA head coach Cori Close.
Illinois freshmen lead second-half comeback in 80-67 loss to No. 2 UCLA
No. 2 UCLA (20-1, 10-0) came into this matchup as the clear favorite, but Illinois (15-6, 5-5) made UCLA work hard for that win. Illinois was able to get the first points of both the first and second quarters. The Illini also got the lead to single digits multiple times. Ultimately, the Bruins got the best of the Illini Wednesday night and handed them a 67-80 loss. “They gave us all we could handle,” said UCLA head coach Cori Close.
The good, bad and ugly of Illinois’ loss against No. 24 Nebraska
Standout sophomores carried both Illinois (15-5, 5-4) and No. 24 Nebraska (15-5, 4-5) in the Cornhuskers’ 81-75 win Saturday. For the Illini, sophomore forward Berry Wallace carried the team on her back. By halftime, she had scored 18 of her team’s only 23 points. Sophomore guard Britt Prince bolstered the Cornhuskers as she led the team with 20 points and controlled the game from start to finish. Prince was involved in almost every play.
What Illinois needed to do, what it did against No. 24 Michigan State
Categories: Illinois women’s basketball falls short during road contest against Michigan State Illinois (13-2, 3-1) fell short in its matchup against No. 24 Michigan State (14-1, 3-1). A tough-fought 40 minutes wasn’t enough for the Illini to continue their win streak. Sunday’s contest marks Illinois’ first loss since Nov. 14. “We know how hard the Big Ten is,” said redshirt sophomore guard Gretchen Dolan. “It’s such a gauntlet of a league.
Illinois upsets undefeated No. 7 Maryland in New Year’s Day thriller
For only the second time in program history, Illinois (13-1, 3-0) took down No. 7 Maryland (14-1, 2-1). The game was tense from the start and was defined by fast-paced transition play and hard fouls. For back-to-back years, free throws have been the deciding factor between the Terrapins and the Illini. Last year, senior guard Genesis Bryant sank a free throw for a walk-off win on the road, 66-65.
Illinois returns from break for conference road test
Illinois (11-1, 1-0) last played nine days ago, earning a decisive 86-43 win over Jackson State (2-9). The Illini now travel to West Lafayette, Indiana to take on the Purdue Boilermakers (8-4, 0-1) in their second conference matchup of the season. Following the Jackson State win, head coach Shauna Green praised her team’s connected playmaking, efficient shooting and unselfish style. “21 assists to 33 makes, that’s big time right there,” Green said.
Illinois defeats North Texas in 81-69 thriller
With Illinois’ (10-1, 1-0) win over North Texas (6-3), the program is off to its best 11-game start since the 1981-82 season. Despite losing several standout players from last year, sophomore forward Berry Wallace always believed this team was special. “I expected great things out of this year, even though we were losing a lot of players,” Wallace said. “I saw the potential of our young players.
Illinois sets sights on Braggin’ Rights
The Illinois (8-1) and Missouri (9-2) programs have met on and off for the past 35 years, totaling 17 contests over that time. Since 2019, neither the Illini nor the Tigers has been able to secure the Braggin’ Rights at home. Their last meeting was in 2023, and the Tigers have held the title since their three-point victory. Wallace’s versatility anchors team The Illini and the Tigers only met in an unofficial scrimmage last season, but the players’ intensity about this rivalry hasn’t wavered.
The Daily Illini
With this 78-57 win, Illinois (8-1, 1-0) earned its first Big Ten opener victory since 2016. The victory also means Illinois now boasts a three-game win streak against Indiana (8-2, 0-1), which it hasn’t achieved since 2009. During Illinois’ three good quarters, it forced Indiana to commit 20 turnovers and held the visitors to nearly 20 points under its season average.
Freshmen play big roles in big win for Illini
The less-than-ideal weather led to lower turnout, but the energy for this weeknight matchup was still high. Illinois (7-1) looked composed from the start and posted its third 90-point game of the season. This gives the Illini a nice boost ahead of Saturday’s Big Ten opener. Illinois’ easy 90-41 win over Bellarmine (2-8) wasn’t just for show. It gave players the chance to hone their fundamentals in a lower-stakes in-game environment. All 13 healthy Illini played at least five minutes.
Illinois hosts Le Moyne, Bellarmine to continue four-game homestand
Illinois (5-1) bounced back in a big way after its loss to Oregon State. In the three games following, it improved its three-point shooting and committed fewer fouls. The point guards’ scoring and assisting improved with every game, and this shows in the team’s cleaner ball movement and improved shot creation. Most importantly, the defense has stayed solid and been able to adjust mid-game. “For us and our program, defense has always been what we rely on,” said head coach Shauna Green.
Illinois recovers on road for 86-63 win over Florida State
Illinois (4-1) earned its first road win of the season, beating Florida State (3-4) in a must-win matchup. Its win came behind career nights from both junior guard Gretchen Dolan and redshirt sophomore center Lety Vasconcelos. A second-quarter surge from the Illini flipped the game in their favor, and it was a decisive victory from there. “We wanted to come out here today and prove ourselves right,” Dolan said. “We know we can do this.
Illinois hosts Murray State for annual Field Trip Day
Categories: Illini welcome Racers for morning tip-off After suffering its first loss, Illinois (2-1) returns to Champaign Tuesday to face Murray State (2-1) for its ninth-annual Field Trip Day. Before the Shauna Green era, attendance peaked in 2019 with 4,189. Under Green, attendance exploded to over 8000 in 2022 and peaked last year with 13,846. “It’s gonna be an exciting environment,” Green said.
Column | 3 mistakes, 1 positive from Illinois’ road loss to Oregon State
Head coach Shauna Green knew that her young roster needed to learn how to play on the road. Before the season, she scheduled an away scrimmage to simulate a travel day. Facing a tough team early like Oregon State (3-0) was also part of that plan. The 64-59 loss is another learning experience for Illinois (2-1). It dominated SEMO (1-2) and survived a close battle against Illinois State (2-1).
Column | Player notes, grades from Illinois week 1
Illinois (2-0) is starting off strong with its young team. The Illini scored a total of 166 points in the season’s first two games. They are proving that their age is just a number that doesn’t reflect their performance on the court. Head coach Shauna Green said that coaching a young team comes with its challenges, but that they are up for it and learn each day. Despite Green saying she’s still learning who plays well with whom, she’s used the same starting lineup.
Illinois survives Illinois State’s late-game push
Despite a late push from Illinois State (1-1), Illinois (2-0) managed to hold on and secure a 75-65 victory. The Illini were led by their pair of veterans: sophomore forward Berry Wallace and junior guard Gretchen Dolan, the only Illini with double-digits. Even with these strong scoring performances to fall back on, Illinois struggled to avoid forcing shots, despite holding a solid lead.
New era of Illinois starts with SEMO in season opener
Twelve Illini saw action in Thursday’s preseason exhibition against Maryville, including two freshman starters: forward Cearah Parchment and guard Destiny Jackson. Parchment led the team with 22 points, 13 rebounds and a steal. Jackson had a quieter scoring night, but still added nine points, five steals and four assists. Her performance showed she is ready for the responsibility of starting point guard.
Illini bounced from Big Ten tournament after 2-0 loss to Huskies
In Illinois’ (13-5-2, 5-4-2) opening-round win Thursday, one of its biggest struggles was keeping Ohio State (8-4-6, 4-2-5) out of its defensive half. It faced the same issue in its 2-0 loss to Washington (12-2-5, 8-1-2) Sunday from kickoff until the final whistle. Both teams made it clear early on that this would be a fast-moving game. While both kept the energy up the whole match, Washington did more with their possessions. A major contributor was the Huskies’ tighter defense.
Parchment powers Illinois in promising exhibition win
Fans’ first look at Illinois’ new squad was a fierce one. Freshman forward Cearah Parchment made a statement, leading the team in scoring and rebounding. Redshirt sophomore center Lety Vasconcelos also played her first minutes as an Illini, making her long-awaited return from an ACL tear. She made a strong case at the boards and finished around the rim well. Maryville didn’t make the win easy, though. The Saints are tough to control from the perimeter.
Illini soccer returns to Big Ten Tournament after 5 years
Following a late, game-tying goal from sophomore forward Cayla Jackson, Illinois (12-4-2, 5-4-2) officially earned a spot as the No. 9 seed in the Big Ten Tournament this past Sunday. On Thursday, the team will take on Ohio State (8-3-6, 4-2-5) in the first round. Illinois has already faced Ohio State this season. The Buckeyes were one of only three teams to shut out the Illini in their 3-0 victory earlier this month. Illinois got off to a slow start and never quite got its footing in that game.
Berry Wallace, Shauna Green speak on defense, depth, development
Illinois tips off for its season in less than a month, and head coach Shauna Green, sophomore forward Berry Wallace and junior guard Gretchen Dolan gave a rundown about what excites them about this fresh-faced team at Big Ten Media Day on Wednesday. “It is a learning experience every moment with this group,” Green said. “Every day hasn’t been perfect.
Illinois faces Purdue to close home schedule
Illinois (11-2-1, 4-2-1) and Purdue (5-7-3, 2-4-1) have played each other yearly since 1998. The Illini hold a dominant 16-10-3 record over the Boilermakers and have won five of the last six meetings. “We’re pretty familiar with how they play,” said head coach Katie Hultin. “We’ve watched a lot of their games. They’re in a different formation, so we will manage through that.” Purdue has struggled to consistently handle the conference pressure.
Illinois hammers home win against Rutgers in 2-0 shutout
Starting games with a strong tempo is an issue that has followed Illinois (11-2-1, 4-2-1) all season. The few times that the Illini have managed to do so, they still struggled to capitalize on opportunities and to remain intense through the second half. Thursday night was different. The Illini set a speedy tone offensively and defensively. They applied relentless pressure to the Scarlet Knights (3-5-4, 1-5-1) defense, forcing them to keep the ball moving.
Buckeyes overwhelm exhausted Illini in 3-0 shutout
Illinois (9-2-1, 2-2-1) and No. 23 Ohio State (5-1-5, 1-0-4) entered Sunday’s match with two of the Big Ten’s top defenses. The Buckeyes allowed only three goals all season, never giving up more than one a match. The Illini had eight shutouts themselves, but recently suffered consecutive multi-goal matches. Coming off a win against another run-heavy team, Penn State (6-4-2, 2-2-1), Illinois needed to establish a fast pace early. The 92-degree heat slowed the team down.
Washington hands Illinois first loss of season
Categories: Miscommunication, slow pace cause Illinois to fall 2-1 on west coast Before kickoff, head coach Katie Hultin laid out what Illinois (8-1-1) needed to do to take the bark out of the Washington Huskies’ (5-1-4): settle into the game early and disrupt their offensive plays. But those simple directives proved hard to execute. The Huskies broke through with a solid run game. Their midfielders were vicious at forcing turnovers.
No. 16 Illinois extends undefeated streak with conference-opening draw
Categories: Illini run unbeaten streak to eight games with hard-fought draw against Hoosiers in Big Ten opener. In Friday’s conference-opener, both No. 16 Illinois (7-0-1) and Indiana (3-2-2) had a lot to fight for. The Illini played to preserve their now eight-game undefeated streak, while the Hoosiers aimed to turn around their luck on the road, which had been all losses going into Friday.
Foley’s hat trick powers Illinois to senior day win
Illinois (7-0-0), back in Champaign after three road games, hosted Valparaiso (2-4-1) for its Senior Day. The Illini celebrated with a dominant 6-0 win, highlighted by senior forward Sarah Foley’s hat trick. The shutout victory gave redshirt junior goalkeeper Izzy Lee another clean sheet on her record. Senior forward Lia Howard was also a force to be reckoned with in the midfield, playing a role in multiple scoring plays and restricting Valparaiso’s possessions.
Illinois shows depth, leadership in Missouri shutout
Illinois (6-0) and Missouri (2-2-1) played a fairly balanced opening half on Thursday, with both teams scoreless at halftime. After the break, the Illini turned the game around. Senior forward Lia Howard and sophomore forward Emma Yee each scored in the 2-0 shutout win. It was redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Izzy Lee’s fifth shutout of the season — a new career high. Foley leads attack Senior forward Sarah Foley was a true offensive leader early in the win.
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