The women's Illinois basketball program has a special group of players on their roster, and is prepared to make a deep run this upcoming season.
From top to bottom, Shauna Green's bunch is stacked, with an elite starting five that includes junior Berry Wallace and sophomore Destiny Jackson. The Illini have a roster that makes other coaches envious, especially with players like guard Aaliyah Guyton coming off the bench.
Guyton, a product of Peoria, Illinois, has been a major contributor for Brazil, averaging 12.0 points and 3.3 assists through her first three games with the program. She is quickly becoming one of the top scoring options for her squad, recording a 14.3 efficiency rating in a team-leading 27.1 minutes per game.
Baila, Aaliyah! BAILA!
BRA x PAR ao vivo no YouTube da FIBA pic.twitter.com/ADTqqZ2KDR
– Basquete Brasil – CBB (@basquetebrasil) August 8, 2026
The former Iowa Hawkeye will continue to help lead Brazil's senior women's national team in the AmeriCup qualifiers, as they are looking to win their seventh title in tournament history. Guyton will also be alongside fellow Illini Lety Vasconcelos, who is averaging 4.7 points and 5.7 rebounds in 15.5 minutes per game.
Illinois basketball has all of the talent in the world, and can make a deep run in this year's NCAA tournament
If Guyton's performance in the AmeriCup qualifiers tells us anything, it's that she is built for the bright lights. She has what it takes to take over a game at a moment's notice, regardless of whether she's in the starting lineup or coming off the bench.
This season, with the addition of transfer guard Divine Bourrage to the roster, Guyton will most likely be seen as a key rotational piece off the bench to fill in at the point or as one of the wings. She is the perfect change-of-pace guard with an elite mix of shooting and speed that can extend games when Jackson and Bourrage need a spell.
When Guyton is in the game, she changes the complexities for the better, and Green couldn't be more thrilled to have her. She is proving to be a game-changer against some of the best teams in the world, and Illini fans can't wait for her to bring that same spirit back to Champaign.
This season is going to be a special one for Illinois. Don't sleep on the Illini, or else you are going to regret it.
Today's best reads
- Illinois basketball star has ice in veins, as numbers show clutch gene
- AmeriCup qualifiers enabling Illinois basketball stars to shine brighter
- 5 Illinois basketball players who would have changed everything with a 5th year of eligibility
- First look at Illinois basketball freshman could put the Flyin' back in the Illini
- 5-star Illinois basketball recruiting target gives NBA All-Star an earful
This article was originally published on www.writingillini.com as Illinois basketball guard is putting on a show during FIBA AmeriCup qualifiers.