Illinois guards Makira Cook and Gretchen Dolan will not be returning at any point in the 2024-25 season. Cook’s playing eligibility at Illinois ends with this latest news. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

January 8, 2025

Illini guard Gretchen Dolan (4) averaged 10.5 points per game during her shortened sophomore season. (Photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The injury news on two highly contributing guards that Illinois head coach Shauna Green hinted was coming sooner rather than later is now official.

Neither Makira Cook and Gretchen Dolan will be returning to the playing court for the 2024-25 season. The University of Illinois athletics department sent out media releases confirming both guards are out with medical issues. Dolan is being shut down with a knee injury that the sophomore guard attempted to play through in the course of eight games this season. The Illini women’s basketball program personnel are classifying Cook’s absence as “a medical condition” that will end her collegiate eligibility.

Green suggested to local reporters on Saturday morning during her media session inside the Ubben Basketball Complex that the two guards, who average a combined 22.4 points per game, the coaching staff and players weren’t expecting a quick return for either player this season.

Cook started in all eight games she played this season as the All-Big Ten combo guard was averaging 11.9 points while shooting 34.8 percent from the field, 27.6 percent shooting from three-point range and 3.6 assists. Cook has been out of the lineup since scoring just eight points in a 83-74 loss at No. 9 Ohio State in the conference opener on Dec. 8.

In her time at Illinois, Cook tallied 1,152 points, 289 assists, 213 rebounds and 76 steals (1.1/game) across 69 games. Throughout her three seasons with the Illini, Cook shot 40.3 percent (417-of-1036) from the field, 34.1 percent (104-of-305) from three-point range, and 85.3 percent (214-of-251) from the charity stripe. She finished with 56 games scoring 10+ points, 26 with 20+ points, one 30-point effort, and two double-doubles while at Illinois.

After spending the first two seasons of her career at Dayton, Cook followed Green to Illinois as a transfer ahead of the 2022-23 season. She competed in the WNIT as a freshman, the NCAA Tournament her sophomore and junior campaigns, and the WBIT her senior season.

Cook racked up accolades across her career, earning AP honorable mention All-America status (2023), WBIT Most Outstanding Player (2024), two-time First Team All-Big Ten (Coaches and Media, 2023), two-time Second Team All-Big Ten (Coaches and Media, 2024), Second Team All-Atlantic 10 (2022), Atlantic 10 Most Improved Player (2022), Atlantic 10 All-Tournament Team (2022), two-time Preseason All-Big Ten (2023, ’24), two-time Naismith Trophy Player of the Year Watch List (2023, ’24), and two-time Nancy Lieberman Award Watch List (2023, ’24).

Green said Wednesday afternoon, after the injury releases were sent out by university officials, that she and the coaching staff would have to discuss the situation with Cook before filing paperwork with the NCAA Eligibility Center to request Cook receive a sixth year of eligibility via a medical waiver.

After Dolan turned in a Big Ten Conference All-Freshman Team campaign during the 2023-24 season, the Buffalo, N.Y. native was averaging 10.5 points, 2.6 rebounds, two assists, and 0.9 steals while playing 24.3 minutes per game in eight games this season. Dolan, who was serving as a premier reserve wing off the bench and a starting guard in Cook’s absence this season, shot 43.7 percent (31-of-71) from the field, 35.5 percent (11-of-31) from three-point range, and 68.8 percent (11-of-16) at the free throw line.

Dolan was last on the floor during the most recent win by the Illini (11-4, 1-3 in Big Ten Conference) as she scored 13 points in 24 minutes during a 64-59 home win over Oregon on Dec. 28.

Illinois will next play on Thursday night inside State Farm Center (6 p.m. CST, Big Ten Network-Plus) as they host No. 23 Iowa (12-3, 2-2 in Big Ten).