The women's Illinois basketball program made a lot of waves last season with their run to the NCAA tournament as the youngest team in the field of 68.
Shauna Green and Co. proved a lot of doubters wrong with a 22-12 record after losing roughly 80% of their scoring from the season prior. It was a campaign full of firsts for the Illini, especially with freshmen Destiny Jackson and Cearah Parchment dominating in their first year with the team.
Illinois has a lot of promise as they head into the fifth year of the Green era with a majority of their team still intact. But just recently, the Illini were able to add a bit more firepower to their roster with the addition of transfer guard Divine Bourrage.
🚨 BREAKING NEWS 🚨
— Kedric Prince (@KedPrince4) April 9, 2026
Divine Bourrage has committed to Illinois! 🔶🔷
The former ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ standout was a high-priority target for the #Illini coming out of high school, and now she’s headed to Champaign.
Bourrage, a transfer from LSU, brings elite size on the perimeter, along… pic.twitter.com/CopPWr2kVi
Bourrage officially announced her decision to come to Champaign this past Thursday after spending her freshman season with the LSU Tigers. The former five-star was a top 10 recruit out of high school and the No. 1 player in Iowa according to 247sports.
The Davenport, Iowa, product had all of the promise in the world heading to Baton Rouge, but it sadly fell by the wayside when she only averaged 10 minutes per game through 24 games played. Bourrage will look to show the world what she's truly made of with the Illini, where she will be paired with the likes of wing Berry Wallace and Jackson in the backcourt.
Divine Bourrage will certainly elevate the Illinois basketball backcourt
The 2025-26 squad was special, as it was led by the dynamic scoring of Wallace on the wing. They had a special bond within their group and helped turn the trajectory of the women's basketball program in the right direction.
The Illini are quickly becoming a premier destination for top talent, and Bourrage is just another example of why that's the case. The former LSU Tiger has all of the makings of being a top player in the Big Ten next season, with an insane ability to score at all three levels on the floor.
Bourrage has been known to "be impactful at either guard position," as stated by 247Sports Director of Scouting Brandon Clay. This is a great attribute to have in case Jackson needs to sit for a spell, but we will most likely see Bouragge play shooting guard based solely on Jackson's elite ability to distribute the ball.
This is an absolutely surreal signing for Green and her coaching staff, as she now has a superior mix of speed, scoring, and defensive prowess manning her backcourt. If you thought Illinois being ranked No. 16 in ESPN's way-too-early rankings was exciting, imagine what they're going to be like with Bourrage in the mix.