CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois Women’s Basketball Head Coach Shauna Green has announced the signing of Erica Finney to the Fighting Illini program. A native of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, Finney will enroll at the University of Illinois in January but will not compete until the 2025-26 season. Finney made her commitment official by completing a Big Ten Athletics Scholarship Agreement during the National Signing Period.
FINNEY’S HIGHLIGHTS
Finney on why she chose Illinois: “I really liked the family feel of the team and coaches, which was important to me with moving to the other side of the world. I also love the team’s style of play along with Coach Green's competitive nature and clear plan for the program's future.”
Coach Green on Finney: “Erica Finney comes to us from Australia. She’s an elite shooter with deep, deep range. Erica can shoot it from the logo, so when you have an ability like that, she can really stretch the floor and has an endless range. She is someone that’s going to really help us, especially with a lot of fours and fives that we’ve added in this class, now defense is going to have to go out and guard her. Erica is a really tough kid and competitor who brings a lot of grit to us. With her enrolling early, we’ll have some extra months with Erica in our strength and conditioning program, nutrition, and on the court, that she will benefit from and be a big impact player for us next season.”
FINNEY’S HIGHLIGHTS
- 6’0” guard
- Attends Cammeraygal H.S.
- Averaged 8.0 points and 2.4 rebounds and shot 35.9% from deep in the FIBA U17 2024 World Cup while representing Team Australia at the event in Mexico
- Represented New South Wales at the 2024 Australian National Championships, averaging 12.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and shot 41.1% from 3-point range
- 2023 NBL1 East Defensive Player of the Year
- 2024 NBL1 East Most Improved Player
- 2024 State Champion with Norths Bears
- Won 2022 and 2024 Australian National Championships with New South Wales
- 2024 Metro Junior Female Player of the Year with New South Wales
- Named to the Combined High Schools State Team in 2023 and 2024
- Honored to the All-Australian Schools Team
- Earned Excellence in History, Creative Arts Award, and Spirit of Collaboration honors in 2023
- Born Jan. 22, 2007
- Parents are Angus Finney and Diane Jackson
- Older brother, Cole
- Played for the Norths Bears in Australia’s NBL1 League
Finney on why she chose Illinois: “I really liked the family feel of the team and coaches, which was important to me with moving to the other side of the world. I also love the team’s style of play along with Coach Green's competitive nature and clear plan for the program's future.”
Coach Green on Finney: “Erica Finney comes to us from Australia. She’s an elite shooter with deep, deep range. Erica can shoot it from the logo, so when you have an ability like that, she can really stretch the floor and has an endless range. She is someone that’s going to really help us, especially with a lot of fours and fives that we’ve added in this class, now defense is going to have to go out and guard her. Erica is a really tough kid and competitor who brings a lot of grit to us. With her enrolling early, we’ll have some extra months with Erica in our strength and conditioning program, nutrition, and on the court, that she will benefit from and be a big impact player for us next season.”
