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Illinois basketball sharpshooter avoids the transfer portal, returns for 2026-27

Shauna Green and the Illinois basketball team continues to make waves this offseason with their veteran sharpshooter announcing her intentions to return to the program.
ByKellen Sherman|
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Illinois guard Maddie Webber (34) and guard Destiny Jackson (2) celebrate defeating Colorado in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament at Memorial Gym in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, March 21, 2026.
Illinois guard Maddie Webber (34) and guard Destiny Jackson (2) celebrate defeating Colorado in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament at Memorial Gym in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, March 21, 2026. | ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The women's Illinois basketball team made a huge splash in the transfer portal this past week with the signing of former LSU Tiger Divine Bourrage.

The Illini were able to add even more firepower to an up-and-coming squad that made it to the second round of the NCAA tournament with a 22-12 record. It was a headline-worthy event for Shauna Green and Co., with Bourrage joining a stacked roster that includes Berry Wallace and Destiny Jackson.

On Sunday, another major component of Green's offense made a major announcement regarding her future with the program. After finishing her first full season with the Illini, junior Maddie Webber has officially decided to "run it back."

Webber, a junior guard from Bridgeville, Pennsylvania, was Illinois' long-guard last season, who helped to extend games off the bench. In 34 games for the Illini last season, she averaged the fourth most points on the team at 10.8 points per game, while shooting 45.4% from the field.

The former Villanova Wildcat has shown to be an efficient scorer at all three levels on the floor, but she made the most of her money last season as the three-point specialist, shooting 39.7% from long range.

Maddie Webber will continue to play a key role on a very young Illinois basketball squad

The Illini will have a bevy of guards at their disposal next season, with the aforementioned Bourrage and Jackson leading the charge. Green will have plenty of options to turn to in the backcourt, especially with Gretchen Dolan returning from injury.

But when it comes to Webber, we should expect her to continue her role as the key scorer off the bench. She has proven to be the most efficient member of this roster to turn to if a starter needs to sit for a spell. It would be a bit of a surprise if Green turned away from that plan.

Webber will certainly be the offensive spark that Illinois can turn to in a pinch. But don't be surprised if Green does a lot of mixing and matching with her rotations, especially with Jasmine Brown-Hagger and Aaliyah Guyton still needing minutes.

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