The women’s Illinois basketball team had a magical run this past season, but the good feels took a hit on Monday.
Coming off a 22-10 season where the Illini made the NCAA tournament for the second time in three seasons and advanced to the second round for the first time in a quarter-century, the hope was to rebuild this offseason.
Illinois is losing a ton of talent led by Kendall Bostic. She is one of the greatest players to ever suit up for the Orange and Blue, and now she is gone. Aging out was going to take our top players off the team, and now the transfer portal is starting to rear its ugly head.
On Monday afternoon, Talia Goodman of On3.com reported that Illinois forward Shay Bollin has entered the transfer portal. She ends her time in Champaign after two disappointing seasons.
BREAKING: Illinois’ Shay Bollin has entered the transfer portal, sources told @On3sports.
— Talia Goodman (@TaliaGoodmanWBB) April 7, 2025
The 6-3 forward was previously the No. 33-ranked recruit in the country and has entered as a grad transfer.
TRACKER: https://t.co/StsxDxjTNT pic.twitter.com/qnFUsGXRgW
Bollin entered the college ranks back in 2022 with the Duke Blue Devils. She was a four-star recruit and the No. 33 player in the country. After one season of averaging 2.4 points and 1.0 rebounds in just eight games, Bollin bolted the Blue Devils program.
Shauna Green was able to land Bollin in 2023. With Bostic and other pieces to the puzzle in place, Bollin only averaged 8.0 minutes in year one and played in 29 games. She put up 2.1 points and 1.3 rebounds per game that season.
This past season, Bollin didn’t get a chance to suit up. She missed her junior year with an injury and didn’t play a single second for the Illini. Now she is on the move.
Illinois basketball should be fine in the paint after losing Shay Bollin in the transfer portal
Bollin entering the transfer portal isn’t a huge deal when it is all said and done. While it would have been nice to have her as a depth piece moving forward, Illinois should be okay.
Bostic is gone, and that is a big hit. But I love the way freshman Hayven Smith was developing toward the end of last season. I think there is a strong possibility she enters next season as the starter at the No. 5 spot as a sophomore.
Lety Vasconcelos is another nice piece for the Illini. She missed last season with an injury, but the 6-foot-7 paint player will hold her own. And then you have a budding superstar in Berry Wallace. She played so well and was a huge part of this Round of 32 run.
Even though Illinois lost a frontcourt piece, we still have some great talent ready to go for next season. This program is poised to have a big year.