Last Updated on May 30, 2026 by Mat Diekhake
Illinois women’s basketball does not have the same volume of national hardware as some of the sport’s bluebloods, but the program has still produced a strong line of standout players across different eras. The 1980s gave the Illini one of their first real runs of relevance, the late 1990s delivered the program’s biggest team highs, and later generations kept adding individual stars even when team success was harder to sustain. That mix matters here, because this list is not only about raw numbers. It is about who defined Illinois women’s basketball the most. (University of Illinois Athletics)
1. Ashley Berggren
- Years with Illinois: 1994–1998
- Position: Guard
- Notable achievements:
- 1997 Big Ten Player of the Year
- Third-team All-American in 1998
- Three-time First-Team All-Big Ten
- Led Illinois to its first Big Ten title and back-to-back Sweet 16 runs
Ashley Berggren gets the top spot because she was the centerpiece of the best sustained stretch in Illinois women’s basketball history. She helped drive the Illini to the 1997 Big Ten championship and was the leading scorer on the only two Illinois teams that reached the Sweet 16. On top of that, she finished her career with 2,089 points, which long stood as the program standard, and her Hall of Fame résumé is still the clearest symbol of the program’s peak years. (University of Illinois Athletics)
2. Jenna Smith
- Years with Illinois: 2006–2010
- Position: Center
- Notable achievements:
- Honorable Mention All-American
- Three-time First-Team All-Big Ten
- Illinois career leader in points, rebounds and blocks
- 14th overall pick in the 2010 WNBA Draft
Jenna Smith has a real argument for No. 1 on individual production alone. She finished her Illinois career with 2,160 points and 1,217 rebounds, making her one of the rare Big Ten players to clear both 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. The team results were not as strong as they were in Berggren’s era, which is why she lands second here, but purely as a dominant interior force, few players in program history can match her. (University of Illinois Athletics)
3. Jonelle Polk
- Years with Illinois: 1983–1987
- Position: Forward/Center
- Notable achievements:
- Three-time All-Big Ten selection
- Two-time First-Team All-Big Ten
- 1,984 career points
- Key figure in back-to-back NCAA tournament teams
Jonelle Polk belongs this high because she was one of the first truly major stars Illinois had. She left as the program’s all-time leading scorer and helped lead the Illini into consecutive NCAA tournaments in the 1980s, which mattered enormously for the growth of the program. Her production was big, her rebounding was strong, and her impact on one of Illinois’ earliest successful eras gives her a secure place near the top. (The Daily Illini)
4. Karisma Penn
- Years with Illinois: 2009–2013
- Position: Forward
- Notable achievements:
- First-Team All-Big Ten in 2013
- Honorable Mention All-American
- 1,965 career points
- Illinois co-leader in career blocks
Karisma Penn was one of the most complete frontcourt players Illinois has had. She scored at a high level, defended, rebounded, got to the foul line constantly and finished as one of the top shot blockers in school history. By the end of her career she ranked among Illinois’ best ever in points, rebounds, steals and blocks, and that kind of all-around footprint is hard to ignore. (University of Illinois Athletics)
5. Allison Curtin
- Years with Illinois: 1998–2001
- Position: Guard/Forward
- Notable achievements:
- First-Team All-Big Ten in 1999
- Fastest Illinois player to 1,000 career points at the time
- One of the best scorers and thieves in program history
- Important part of four straight NCAA tournament teams
Allison Curtin’s case is stronger than people sometimes remember. She stepped into the post-Berggren years and still helped keep Illinois relevant nationally, which is not easy when a program is coming down from its peak. Her scoring came quickly, her efficiency was excellent, and her defensive playmaking was elite enough that she still sits near the top of the Illinois steals lists. (University of Illinois Athletics)
6. Jenny Johnson
- Years with Illinois: 1984–1988
- Position: Guard
- Notable achievements:
- One of the best passers in program history
- Second in Illinois career assists per game
- 1,000-point scorer
- Lead guard on back-to-back NCAA tournament teams
Jenny Johnson was not the biggest scorer on those 1980s Illinois teams, but she was one of the main engines that made them work. She gave the Illini steady playmaking, strong ball control and real defensive activity from the backcourt. When you are the lead guard on one of the first successful stretches in program history and still rank near the top of the school’s passing records, that is a legends-list résumé. (The Daily Illini)
7. Susan Blauser
- Years with Illinois: 1998–2000
- Position: Forward
- Notable achievements:
- First-Team All-Big Ten in 1999
- Second-Team All-Big Ten in 2000
- Helped Illinois reach the NCAA tournament in both of her seasons
- Hit the game-winner against Louisville in the 1999 NCAA tournament
Susan Blauser only spent two seasons at Illinois, but her impact was big enough to merit a spot here. She helped bridge the Berggren era into the next phase of winning, gave Illinois immediate scoring and came up with one of the more memorable tournament moments in school history. She did not have the four-year résumé of some others, but her peak value was absolutely legends-worthy. (The Daily Illini)
8. Lacey Simpson
- Years with Illinois: 2005–2010
- Position: Forward
- Notable achievements:
- Two-time Big Ten All-Defensive Team
- Two-time Big Ten steals champion
- Illinois career leader in steals
- One of the most versatile defenders in school history
Lacey Simpson makes the list because few players in Illinois history filled the box score the way she did on the defensive end. She finished with 368 career steals, shattered the school record and also ranked high in rebounds, assists and blocks. She was not the marquee scorer that some other names were, but as a disruptive, multi-category player, she was one of the most distinctive Illini the program has produced. (University of Illinois Athletics)
9. Kendall Bostic
- Years with Illinois: 2021–2025
- Position: Forward
- Notable achievements:
- First-Team All-Big Ten in 2025
- Four-time All-Big Ten selection
- 1,000-point, 1,000-rebound player
- Led the Big Ten in rebounds per game in all four Illinois seasons
Kendall Bostic already belongs in this conversation because she became one of the best rebounders the program has ever had and a major face of Illinois’ recent resurgence. Her numbers on the glass were elite, and she built a rare career profile by piling up points, rebounds and recognition over four seasons. She may still feel recent, but the résumé is there already. (University of Illinois Athletics)
10. Alex Wittinger
- Years with Illinois: 2015–2019
- Position: Forward
- Notable achievements:
- Second-Team All-Big Ten in 2018
- All-Big Ten Honorable Mention in 2017
- Big Ten All-Freshman Team in 2016
- Tied for Illinois career blocks lead
Alex Wittinger rounds out the top 10 because she gave Illinois a very productive four-year frontcourt presence and finished tied for the program lead in career blocks. She was efficient, reliable and developed into one of the better post players Illinois had in the 2010s. She does not have the same team peaks as the players higher on this list, but as a sustained contributor with major statistical value, she has earned her place. (University of Illinois Athletics)
Honorable mentions
- Angelina Williams
- Tauja Catchings
- Cindy Dallas
- Makira Cook
Angelina Williams was one of Illinois’ most productive scorers of the early 2000s and earned major conference recognition, Tauja Catchings was part of the late-1990s tournament teams, Cindy Dallas gave the program a long and productive run across multiple categories, and Makira Cook played a major role in the Shauna Green era while becoming one of the few recent Illini guards to stack up major all-conference honors. (University of Illinois Athletics)
Sources:
University of Illinois Athletics — Ashley Berggren Hall of Fame profile. (University of Illinois Athletics)
The Daily Illini — All-time starting five honors women’s hoops stars of past. (The Daily Illini)
Sports-Reference — Illinois Women’s Basketball Leaders & Records – Career. (sports-reference.com)
University of Illinois Athletics — Jenna Smith roster bio. (University of Illinois Athletics)
University of Illinois Athletics — A look Back at 2009-10. (University of Illinois Athletics)
University of Illinois Athletics — GodBold Named Defensive POY, Penn a First-Team Pick. (University of Illinois Athletics)
University of Illinois Athletics — Penn Named Honorable Mention All-American. (University of Illinois Athletics)
University of Illinois Athletics — Lacey Simpson roster bio. (University of Illinois Athletics)
University of Illinois Athletics — Simpson Gets WNBA Shot. (University of Illinois Athletics)
University of Illinois Athletics — Kendall Bostic roster bio / staff profile / awards coverage. (University of Illinois Athletics)
University of Illinois Athletics — Alex Wittinger roster bio. (University of Illinois Athletics)
University of Illinois Athletics — Williams Named First Team All-Big Ten by Media (fightingillini.com)