This game was a full-circle moment for me. Bellarmine came into Champaign with their new head coach — my friend and former overseas teammate, Mo Reid. Just two years ago she was still playing, then jumped to assistant, and now she’s running her own Division I program. Seeing her on the sideline honestly made me proud.

Before the game, we talked a little. She told me she didn’t expect to become a head coach this fast, but she felt ready for the challenge. And watching her coach, you could tell. She stayed calm, kept teaching, and never let her team lose their focus.

Illinois handled business, but for me the story wasn’t the score. It was watching someone I’ve grown with step into something huge. It also reminded me how personal covering sports can feel when your real life overlaps with your beat.

Illinois Is Starting Form Their Identity

With the last win over Bellamarine, Illinois is seemingly figuring out who they are. Their roster screams youth but I noticed a confidence building game by game. Obviously, Berry Wallace has become the steady piece they lean on but Freshman such asDestiny Jackson is settling in. She just plays with a calmness you don’t usually see this early. I’m curious how this will translate in Big 10 Play.

What I like most is how connected they look. They’re playing faster, defending harder, and trusting each other more. You can tell Shauna Green is shaping them into something. They’re not perfect, but the foundation is there, and that’s all you can ask for this early.

December 1, 2025