CHAMPAIGN, IL (Chambana Today) – The Illinois Fighting Illini women’s basketball program is set to gain serious firepower for the 2025-26 season with the addition of two highly touted guards: Aaliyah Guyton and Maddie Webber. Head coach Shauna Green announced the signings as part of the program’s ongoing efforts to elevate its presence in the Big Ten.
Aaliyah Guyton, a 5-foot-7 guard from Peoria joins the Illini after spending her freshman season at Iowa. Guyton appeared in 29 games, starting one, and averaged 4.7 points and 1.2 rebounds while playing 473 minutes for the Hawkeyes. During her time at Iowa, the team posted a 23-11 record and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Guyton was a standout at Peoria High School, where she was ranked the No. 57 overall prospect in the Class of 2024 by ESPN HoopGurlz and the top player in Illinois by PrepGirlsHoops.com. Her junior year saw her average 21.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.8 assists, earning her Big 12 Conference Player of the Year honors for a second straight year. She played AAU ball for the Mac Irvin Fire and is the daughter of Adriana Mafra and former Indiana star AJ Guyton.
Also joining the program is Villanova transfer Maddie Webber, a 5-foot-11 guard from Bridgeville, Pennsylvania. Webber is a rising junior who started all 36 games last season for the Wildcats, averaging 13.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.2 assists. She led the team in three-pointers made with 57 and was named to the All-BIG EAST Second Team.
As a freshman, Webber earned BIG EAST All-Rookie Team honors despite a season-ending injury. Over two seasons at Villanova, she played in 65 games (47 starts) and accumulated 702 points, 182 rebounds, and 109 assists, shooting 38.3% from the field and nearly 76% from the free-throw line.
A standout at South Fayette High School, Webber scored 1,387 career points and led her team to back-to-back WPIAL Championships. She was a McDonald’s All-American nominee and collected numerous all-state and all-region honors.