The women's Illinois basketball program will have plenty of international representation this upcoming season, with six of the fourteen players currently rostered hailing from outside the United States.
The Illini, who finished 22-12 last season, are stacked from top to bottom with talent from other parts of the world, including center Lety Vasconcelos from Brazil and Cearah Parchment from Canada.
This team is special and has plenty of tools to get to the next level in the Big Ten and the NCAA. But just recently, a beloved member of their 'famILLy' made some big news of her own, as forward Irene Noya Catoria was named to the national team for her home country.
Huge congrats to Irene Noya Catoira for making Spains' U20 roster for the upcoming FIBA Eurobasket Championships! Good luck 🔶🔷
— Illinois Women's Basketball (@IlliniWBB) July 2, 2026
📝 - https://t.co/nBCLFmZiKu pic.twitter.com/shW0u4uEkd
Catoira, a product of Spain, is a proud member of Illinois' class of 2024. In two years with the program, the 6-foot-3 forward has seen the floor sparingly, averaging one point and one rebound in 4.7 minutes per game.
This summer, Catoira will have the honor of competing for her homeland once again, as she was selected to be a part of Spain's U20 roster for the FIBA Eurobasket Championships. This comes one year after she competed in the FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup, where Spain took third place in the tournament.
Illinois basketball continues to land major names from overseas to join their rising program
Shauna Green knows how to recruit. It doesn't matter what part of the world her players are from, the fifth-year coach is quickly proving that she can construct a roster that will compete with the best in the country.
Catoira is a perfect example of that, as she continues to be a major part of Spain's international presence. When you have someone who can make prestigious rosters like this one on a yearly basis, it can only be seen as an advantage for a program like Illinois.
This is a special moment for everyone involved, and Illinois fans couldn't be more excited for Catoira. She deserves every bit of this prestigious honor, and we can't wait to see what she brings to the table this summer.
Best of luck to her in the FIBA Eurobasket Championships, Champaign is cheering for you!
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