March 27, 2026
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – On Friday morning, the Illinois women’s basketball team lost its first player to the transfer portal following a back-to-back 20-win seasons and NCAA Tournament appearances.
Sophomore center Hayven Smith announced her intentions to enter the transfer portal via social media following two seasons in Champaign. The Frankfort, Illinois, native, who graduated from Lincoln-Way East High School, arrived as part of the 2024 recruiting class, signing alongside Berry Wallace in a two-player class for the team.
The 6-foot-6 center appeared in 36 games across two seasons for the Illini, totaling 156 minutes, 16 points, and 33 rebounds. She saw the court in limited minutes last year as center Kendall Bostic averaged over 35 minutes per game on the court. This season, with center Lety Vasconcelos returning from a torn ACL and freshman Cearah Parchment enjoying a breakout campaign, Smith fell in head coach Shauna Green’s depth chart.
What Smith’s Departure Means
Smith entering the transfer portal opens up the opportunity for a returning player to climb the depth chart and also lets the Illini add a center of their own through the portal, which could add some flexibility for other players.
The aforementioned Parchment, standing at 6-foot-3, primarily played as the center throughout the course of her freshman season. A center addition in the transfer portal could see Parchment’s position shift to the four or even the three. Conversely, adding a wing or guard through the portal could, in turn, lock down Parchment’s place as the team’s center.
The coaching staff is also looking forward to the delayed debut of Brazilian National Team star Manuella Alves The 6-foot-3 center showed well in an exhibition against the WNBA's Chicago Sky and their All-Star forward Angel Reese. Alves suffered a season-ending knee injury just prior to the regular season, but she figures to play a prominent role in the Illini frontcourt as a redshirt freshman next season.
