{
  "id": 6142155,
  "title": "Green Street Upgrading the talent in C-U",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/07/green-street-upgrading-the-talent-in-c-u",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-07T14:47:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/green-street-upgrading-talent-c-144700493.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "It has been 16 years since the Illinois women's basketball team has had a player selected in the WNBA draft. Illinois Hall of Famer, a former Illini center, was the 14th overall pick of the Washington Mystics in the 2010 WNBA draft, ending that drought. Head coach Green has significantly upgraded the talent at the University of Illinois (C-U) in recent years. The current roster ahead of the 2026-27 season includes three former five-star recruits in sophomore guards and forward, and they also signed a top 10 recruiting class in 2025. Green focuses on getting one of her players drafted into the WNBA. The Illini won 22 games last season and reached the second round of the NCAA tournament, showcasing their growth and confidence. They faced a UCLA team, considered the top pick in the 2027 WNBA draft, and managed to compete against them. Green emphasizes the importance of preparation and professionalism for her players, hoping they learn from the pros and aim for high-level performance in the WNBA.",
  "summary": "Sep. 7—It's been 16 years since the Illinois women's basketball team has had a player hear her name called as a WNBA draft pick. You have to go all the way back to Illinois Hall of Famer and former Illini center , who was the 14th overall pick (second round) of the Washington Mystics in the 2010 WNBA draft. The task of ending that drought falls on . There's no doubt the progress Illinois has ...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}