The women's Illinois basketball program started their 2025-26 season on a rather sour note, with one of their top incoming freshmen suffering a season-ending injury before playing her first game.
Manuella Alves, a member of Illinois' No. 7-ranked class of 2025, was poised to be a major contributor for Shauna Green's team last season. But sadly, that did not come to fruition, and she ended up missing her first year with the Illini due to a torn ACL.
It was a tough start to a bright career for Alves, as she had to battle back from one of the most gruesome injuries in basketball. But thankfully, it looks like the Rio de Janeiro product's rehab has been going swimmingly, and she is ready to return to Champaign in 2026.
Big news for Illinois Fighting #Illini women’s basketball‼️🔥
— Kedric Prince (@KedPrince4) April 21, 2026
Former ESPN Top 50 recruit, 6-foot-3 Manuella Alves is BACK 💪🏽🔷🔶
She brings an aggressive post presence, size, and the ability to stretch the floor with a smooth touch from three 🎯🏀
This is a HUGE boost for… pic.twitter.com/9nemtFoDRZ
Alves, as stated by analyst Kedric Prince on IlliniGuys.com, brings an "aggressive post presence" with the ability to stretch the floor. The former four-star recruit is the perfect complement to an already stellar Illinois frontcourt, led by Berry Wallace and Cearah Parchment.
Manuella Alves is the rotational piece that Illinois basketball longed for last season
The Illinois frontcourt proved to be an immense strength for Green and Co., with the aforementioned Wallace and Parchment averaging a combined 32 of the team's 77 points per game last season.
They were the catalyst of the Illini offense that will only continue to get better with the addition of Alves, whose similar skillset will allow Green to be a little more creative with her lineups.
It will be a three-pronged attack underneath the basket, with Wallace and Parchment continuing to take the lion's share of the minutes. But as they work Alves into the program, expect the 2025 McDonald's All-American nominee to make a splash off the bench early.
Alves will become a key interchangeable piece of Illinois' roster who can give Wallace and Parchment rest in a pinch. The IMG Academy graduate's intensity and nose for the basketball will give the Illini a great change of pace and will allow their starters to not be overworked throughout the season.
Granted, Alves will need to work her way into the rotations. But overall, expect Alves to turn some heads this season and give Illinois a big boost in their quest for March.
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