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Illinois basketball has a sharpshooting luxury most teams are void of in 2026-27

The Illinois basketball team made the right move when they brought in transfer Maddie Webber, and the senior guard will continue to prove that in her second year with the program.
ByKellen Sherman|
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Illinois guard Maddie Webber (34) looks for a path past Vanderbilt guard Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda (15) during the first half of a second round NCAA college basketball tournament game at Memorial Gym in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, March 23, 2026.
Illinois guard Maddie Webber (34) looks for a path past Vanderbilt guard Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda (15) during the first half of a second round NCAA college basketball tournament game at Memorial Gym in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, March 23, 2026. | ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The women's Illinois basketball team is going to be loaded in the backcourt for the 2026-27 season, with six of their wings from last year making a return to the program.

The Illini will be led by a bevy of high-caliber guards, which includes starting point guard Destiny Jackson, as well as incoming transfer Divine Bourrage, adding extra firepower to the offense.

Shauna Green has a chance to make a deep run in next year's NCAA tournament with this group, and is poised to do so with a unit that includes sharpshooting veteran wing Maddie Webber coming off the bench.

Webber, a product of Bridgeville, Pennsylvania, first came to the Illini as a transfer from Villanova before the 2025-26 season. In 34 games, the dynamic guard averaged 10.8 points per game on 38.7% shooting from three-point range.

Webber was one of Illinois' most efficient players last season, ranking No. 4 on the team in points and No. 2 in three-point percentage coming off the bench. She became a special contributor for the Illini and is expected to continue that this upcoming season.

Illinois' offense doesn't stop when the starters come out, especially when Maddie Webber is on the floor

As Green's go-to weapon off the bench, Webber gave Illinois a starting-caliber talent as the sixth-woman in the rotation. She became the perfect player to turn to in a pinch when the starters needed a rest, and when Illinois' offense needed a spark.

This season, Webber will continue to be looked upon as that veteran presence on a very young Illinois squad. She has an uncanny ability to score at all three levels on the floor, including from long range, and Green is going to use that to her advantage whenever she needs points in a hurry.

The best part about Webber's game has to be her patience and her willingness to find the right shot. As someone who has been around the game for quite some time, she has shown a knack for letting the game come to her and not trying to force a shot when she doesn't need it.

Simply put, Webber is a special talent and someone who is going to be a game-changer for the Illini during the 2026-27 season. She is going to provide a long-range presence that opponents need to respect, which should open the floor up for the rest of her teammates.

Expect Webber to continue her dominance in the coming year and for her to be a pivotal part of Illinois' run towards March.

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