CHAMPAIGN, Illinois — When Illinois Director of Athletics Josh Whitman made a change in the direction of the women’s basketball program, he found one of the best in the business. From a local standpoint, it’s a great story— Because Shauna Green hails from nearby Clinton, Iowa, in the Quad Cities area.
Green is the 10th basketball coach in the program’s history, and she told the media early on that the road ahead would be tough. Before her arrival, let’s face it, Illinois appeared to be a gimme game on paper.
In recent memory, Theresa Grentz left the program with a winning record (101-91) from 1997-2007. No disrespect to Jolette Law (27-59), Matt Bollant (22-62), and Nancy Fahey (7-77), but the program has been struggling since then and that's being nice.
Why does all this matter? Last Friday, Green addressed the media during the annual event. Green took the opportunity to reflect on what’s happened since she took over. She made it clear she appreciates the fans who have shown up. "I'm appreciative of our fans, and all those who support us," she said. But she emphasized that more would help in multiple ways.
In her third year at Illinois, Green holds an overall record of 41-25, including a 19-17 mark in Big Ten play. What’s missing is you, the fans. The men’s basketball program, even in the lean years, drew 14,000 fans to the State Farm Center. The football program, known for one-year wonders under new coaches, has struggled to maintain long-term success. One reason Whitman hired Bret Bielema was his ability to build a program over time, something we're seeing in progress now.
Green isn’t asking for the 16,000 fans that the men’s team draws. But, she noted, it would be nice to see 8,000-10,000 fans like other Big Ten arenas. She pointed out that even after Caitlin Clark’s departure from Iowa, all of their home games are still sold out. Illinois has made progress, increasing season ticket sales by 2,000 this year, which is a start.
In March 2022, Green told reporters, "I'm not naive. No one wants to watch teams that aren't fun to watch. No one wants to watch teams lose—I wouldn’t. My staff and I are going to work tirelessly to put a product on the court that people are excited about. You can't have championship-level programs with empty arenas, but they go hand in hand with winning. I'm going to work my butt off on what we need to do to get that done on the court, and I need you guys to hold up your end—bring people out and come support our women."
Recruiting is the key to success in college athletics, and Green has wasted no time in that department. In just three years, she’s brought in standout players. Current sophomore Gretchen Dolan is one of New York’s all-time leading scorers. Berry Wallace, a McDonald’s All-American in 2024, is another big name.
The 2025 class includes guard Destiny Jackson, the nation’s 26th-ranked player, and last Saturday, the Illini secured a commitment from Cearah Parchment, the nation’s 39th-ranked prospect, a 6-foot-3 wing who can score at all three levels.
Lifelong Illinois fan Greg Thompson of Moline weighed in on the situation. “I’ve been orange and blue my whole life. Win or lose, I’m not going to jump ship. It’s easy to love a winner. A real fan stands true no matter the sport or the win-loss record.”
Green understands that building a program takes time. "I wish I had a magic switch I could turn on and off and say, ‘Now we can compete for Big Ten championships,’" she said. "No one here wants that more than me."
In just two years, Green has managed to defeat in-state rival Iowa, a perennial powerhouse in women’s basketball. The team also upset Indiana, which was ranked 12th in the country at the time. In her first season, the Illini went 22-10 and earned an NCAA Tournament berth. Last year, they finished 19-15 and won the WNIT.
The women’s basketball program is clearly on the rise. Now it’s up to the fans to get behind the team and help fuel the momentum.
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