Manuella Alves joins Illinois women's basketball for 2026-27 season
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 26, 2026, 2:47 PM
Last updated Jun 26, 2026
College SportsManuella Alves, a forward from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is set to join the Illinois women's basketball team for the 2026-27 season. After an injury sidelined her during her freshman year, Alves aims to contribute to a roster that includes all nine top scorers from the previous season. The Illini finished the 2025-26 season with 22 wins, reaching the NCAA tournament before being eliminated in the second round. The team's expectations remain high as they enter the upcoming season. Alves's role in the lineup is anticipated, although the coaching staff plans to proceed cautiously following her recovery from the torn ACL.
- •Manuella Alves is a 6-foot-3 forward, ranked No. 61 by ESPN.
- •Alves suffered a torn ACL before her freshman debut.
- •Illinois won 22 games in the 2025-26 season, reaching the NCAA tournament.
- •All top nine scorers from last season are returning.
- •Coaching staff is cautious about Alves's integration into the team.
- 2:47 PMYahoo Sports — Green Street 2026-27 player profiles -- Manuella Alves
"Jun. 26—The 2026-27 roster is all but set for Shauna Green's Illinois women's basketball program. So, over the next few weeks, we'll take a closer look at each of the 14 players on Green's fifth Illini team. ➜ 11 ➜ F ➜ R-Fr. ➜ 6-foot-3 ➜ Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ➜ Alves didn't get a chance to play for the Illini as a freshman. Her debut season ended before it even began as the highly-touted ...
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