Illinois State sophomore forward Doneelah Washington was named to the 2026 All-Missouri Valley Conference Women’s Basketball First Team, according to a March 11 announcement. Washington also received recognition as the league’s Most Improved Player and earned a spot on the MVC Defensive Team for her performance this season. Freshman Kya Hurt joined her in receiving conference honors, landing a place on the MVC All-Freshman team.
These recognitions highlight individual achievements within Illinois State’s women’s basketball program and reflect ongoing efforts to develop student-athletes. According to the official website, Illinois State Redbirds benefits from the Redbird Athletics Excellence Fund for competitiveness and recruitment.
Washington is the first Redbird since 2023 to earn a spot on the All-MVC First Team and becomes only the second Illinois State University student-athlete to be named MVC Most Improved Player. She led her team in points per game (16.5), rebounds per game (8.7), steals (60), and blocked shots (52) while starting all 31 games this season. Washington recorded 11 double-doubles, including a career-high 31-point, 12-rebound performance against Belmont. She ranks among the top ten in several Missouri Valley Conference statistical categories.
Hurt is now the 14th Redbird selected for the MVC All-Freshman Team, marking three consecutive seasons with an Illinois State freshman earning this honor. The Indianapolis native started in 20 of her 30 games played, averaging 8.1 points and 2.4 assists per contest while splitting time at point guard.
Illinois State has secured the No. 3 seed in the upcoming Credit Union 1 MVC Women’s Basketball Tournament at Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa, where they will play their quarterfinal match on March 13 against either Drake or Valparaiso.
The Illinois State Redbirds are linked to Illinois State University and compete in NCAA Division I events across various regions according to their official website. The athletics department utilizes resources such as the OSF HealthCare Athletics Training Center for student-athlete preparation and offers news, schedules, rosters, and fan resources through its online platforms.
