The women’s Illinois basketball team had its season upended by the Texas Longhorns on Monday afternoon.
In the first round of the NCAA tournament, the Illini advanced past No. 9 seed Creighton in a 66-57 victory. The second round was always going to be a massive test. Going up against No. 1 seed Texas was not going to be easy by any means.
Illinois hung with Texas in the first quarter and a half, but the Longhorns had too much firepower. They played with great energy and aggression, and Texas just had more talent on the floor from top to bottom.
The Illini still fought, only losing the game 65-48. A loss is always sad, but I would argue the saddest part about Monday’s defeat was the end of an era. It was the end of one of the most special groups Illinois has ever had come through the program.
In tears as she walked off the court wearing the Illinois jersey one last time, Kendall Bostic will always be remembered as one of the greats. Alongside Bostic, players like Genesis Bryant, Makira Cook, Brynn Shoup-Hill, and Adalia McKenzie will depart the program as well.
Led by these specific players, Illinois donned a near era of basketball in Champaign. The men’s team had been dominating the scene for decades, while the women’s program had a total of 12 Big Ten victories in a stretch of seven seasons.
This group of departing players changed the course of history. Illinois hadn’t made the NCAA tournament since 2003, and we hadn’t won a game in the Big Dance since 2000. The drought was way too long.
In a span of three seasons with this group, Illinois made two NCAA tournament appearances and just got to the Round of 32 this past season. The success of the program has been evident, but I believe this group of players has enabled Illinois to enter the golden era of the program.
Shauna Green is about to load this Illinois basketball program up with so much talent
Illinois is just dabbling in the potential waters. Shauna Green came into the program and helped develop the talent. Bostic and McKenzie were on the roster when Green entered, but that Illinois team went 7-20 overall and 1-13 in the Big Ten the year before Green took over.
Green’s entrance into the program immediately gave us an influx of talent. Bostic and McKenzie stayed with the Illini, both of whom were top 100 recruits. Green then brought in Bryant and Cook from the transfer portal. They were also top 100 players in their respective recruiting classes.
You have already seen Green be able to use the transfer portal as a strength. She can recruit too. Berry Wallace played big-time minutes as a freshman this season, and she was a McDonald’s All-American. Gretchen Dolan would have been big for the Illini as a sophomore if she didn’t get injured too.
Coming in next season is a haul of impressive talent for the Illini. We are getting a great point guard in Destiny Jackson. She is the No. 25 player in the class of 2025. Green also landed Cearah Parchment (No. 40), Manuella Alves-Fernandez (No. 61), and Naomi Benson (No. 98) from the 2025 class.
While the current campaign has come to a conclusion, the story of Illinois basketball is far from over. The group of players who are departing the program gave this hungry fanbase a taste of what could be. Now we want seconds. Illinois basketball is entering a golden era.
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