The 'Canadian Icon' Cearah Parchment painted a masterpiece in her first year with the Illinois basketball team and is about to run it back for her sophomore season.
It was a season for the ages for the young forward, as she set records in almost every major statistical category for an Illini freshman. Parchment proved to be an elite talent on both sides of the court, showing her ability to score at all three levels while also locking down the opposition on defense.
Cearah Parchment delivered a rookie season for the record books 🔶🔷 pic.twitter.com/7AN9oZn93w
— Illinois Women's Basketball (@IlliniWBB) May 2, 2026
Parchment showed the world that she means business in her first year with the Illini, as she became the perfect running mate in the frontcourt with superstar Berry Wallace. But as she makes her way into her sophomore campaign, what are some major predictions that we should expect as an encore?
Cearah Parchment will lock up a spot on an All-Big Ten team
Last season, Parchment was voted as an honorable mention for the All-Big Ten teams by the coaches and the media. For some, they believed that she was snubbed for this award after posting a very impressive freshman season. But in 2026, this will all change for the Whitby, Ontario, product.
Cearah Parchment was double the trouble for Le Moyne today!
— Illinois Women's Basketball (@IlliniWBB) December 1, 2025
17 points / 10 steals / 7 rebounds pic.twitter.com/JIs2m5cITw
Parchment is going to be in an envious position in her sophomore campaign, as she will remain in a familiar system with almost all of her teammates returning. Not only that, but Parchment will also have the benefit of having another elite scorer in Divine Bourrage on the floor with her.
Simply put, opposing defenses are going to need to gameplan for a lot more than just a few players, which will certainly take some of the attention away from Parchment in the post. Expect the second-year phenom to take advantage of a more spacious floor in 2026, resulting in serious talks regarding her being a first or second-team honoree.
Cearah Parchment will continue to rack up the double-doubles in year two
One of the biggest parts of Parchment's game in 2025-26 was her ability to be effective in many facets of the game, racking up a record-breaking 12 double-doubles in her first year with the Illini. She became one of the most dominating forces in the country under Shauna Green, even recording the first points-steals double-double for the program since Shavonna Hunter in 1999.
In 2026, Parchment is poised to continue her meteoric rise to stardom, especially with Bourrage patrolling the backcourt with Destiny Jackson. Granted, her touches could go down with the addition of Bourrage, as she has the ability to go off on a moment's notice.
But with Parchment's nose for the basketball and her ability to score from all three levels, it would be silly to say that her production will decrease. Expect the sophomore to continue to excel, with the possibility of reaching her double-double mark from a year ago.
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