Bourrage finally finding her comfort level with new team
- Story byThe News-Gazette, Champaign-Urbana, Ill.
- Bourrage finally finding her comfort level with new team
Oct. 17—CHAMPAIGN — Divine Bourrage hasn't had the easiest time adjusting to her new surroundings with the Illinois women's basketball team.
The LSU transfer guard would be the first to admit as much.
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Difficult days have ensued for the 5-foot-11 Davenport, Iowa, native the last four-plus months. It's been a tough process as one of the few newcomers on an Illini roster that brought back the top nine players in the rotation and 11 players in total from last season's 22-win NCAA tournament team.
Still, through it all, what Bourrage has found along the way in this journey is a group of Illinois teammates willing to help make her transition smoother in year one with coach Shauna Green's Illini.
To encourage her. To make her feel welcomed. To be her support system. All in an effort to unlock what made Bourrage such a highly sought after recruit as a five-star shooting guard in the Class of 2025.
That Bourrage never really got the chance to show that with Kim Mulkey's Tigers has added to the challenge. Still, when Bourrage entered the transfer portal shortly after the end of the 2025-26 season, she circled back to an Illinois coaching staff that also recruited her heavily as an Iowa preps standout.
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"Mentally, in the summer, I would say I was out of it," Bourrage told The News-Gazette on Tuesday. "And now, mentally, I am a lot better. I used to cry almost after every practice or every day after practice and now I am like, 'Dang, I had a really good practice. I'm psyched.' Just being able to listen to my coaches and them telling me I am doing good. I'm growing. The growth is there. I just need to get out of my own head. I have to tell myself I belong here. I am good enough. I am not doing anything wrong. It's OK to mess up."
What Bourrage, now a sophomore, had to endure to get to a point where she felt like she stacked five good days of practice together last week, with the Illini currently going through official preseason practices at Ubben Basketball Complex, was far from straightforward.
That's where Bourrage has leaned on her friendship with sophomore point guard Destiny Jackson as the two high-level recruits were once AAU teammates with Example Sports. And established a bond with senior guard Jasmine Brown-Hagger, as well.
But there was still that internal struggle that Bourrage had to overcome. Of feeling like an outsider as one of the few additions Green made this offseason to her 2026-27 roster. In addition to Bourrage, the Illini signed a pair of freshman in forwards Lana Brenjo and Morgan Baptist alongside junior college transfer guard Ona Riopedre.
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"It's been a roller-coaster," Bourrage said, who added she meets twice a week with team sport psychologist Becky Cook.
"I mean, some days I will have a really good day and some days, I will just start overthinking because sometimes I used to pick up on things a lot faster, and when I am not able to pick up on things fast, it irritates me," Bourrage continued. "I used to think I was less than because they all know everything. But now, I know that I am not less than. I am not alone here. The coaches helped me. When I am saying, 'I don't know what I'm doing. I don't need to be here. I suck.' They are like, 'No, you don't suck. You are just overthinking.' I feel like Jas has picked up on that and she's also been through the transfer process. She asks me questions. She asks me if I am doing OK. I feel like all of my teammates do that, and it helps."
Bourrage played sparingly last season at LSU as a freshman. Finding herself mired in a experienced, talented and deep backcourt led by MiLaysia Fulwiley, Flau'jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams, Bourrage still played in 24 games with the Tigers and averaged 2.1 points, 1.7 rebounds and 0.7 assists while on the floor.
But she didn't travel with LSU for its Sweet 16 game in Sacramento, Calif., while in concussion protocol, as the Tigers saw their season come to an end after an 87-85 regional semifinal loss to Duke on March 27 at the Golden 1 Center.
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Two months after her time in Baton Rouge, La., came to a close, as Bourrage made the move to east central Illinois and arrived on the Illinois campus in early June, it quickly became apparent to Brown-Hagger that she was in the unique position to step in and help her new teammate out.
Brown-Hagger, after all, had been in a similar spot before the 2024-25 season. A single season at Mississippi State didn't go well for the Shorewood native. That Brown-Hagger had navigated that transition in joining the Illini as a transfer and has thrived during the last two seasons with Green's program made Brown-Hagger a valuable resource for Bourrage to go to throughout the summer and early fall.
"Kind of to not make her feel alone," Brown-Hagger said of the impetus behind seeking out Bourrage. "I was in that exact position coming from the SEC to the Big Ten into the same type of program. The rules don't change in the program. There's a certain standard that's set here.
"Letting her know that she's actually more ahead than I was coming into this position. I just think for her settling into this position and being more confident in a lot of things. In this program, that's all it takes. Go on the court and play hard every single possession. Just certain things that Coach Green prides herself on, which is defense, rebounding and running. Trying to instill that in her, especially when you come from environments that don't have that type of standards at all. ... Her summer to now has been amazing. The growth she's made, I can't wait to see during the season how she picks up on things and how she puts herself into the offense and into the defense."
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Brown-Hagger isn't alone in seeing that progression from Bourrage. Green is also pleased with the steps Bourrage has taken. The Illinois coach spent some one-on-one time with Bourrage while the two were on baseline during Tuesday's open practice.
"She's come so far," Green said of Bourrage. "That's part of the growth and the process. She's much more understanding of what we want in all areas. She's just come a long, long ways. It's fun to watch her growth, too, and I'm excited about where she's going to go. Because with every day, she's getting a little bit better and a little bit more comfortable, little bit more confident. Really happy with her."
All of that represents progress for Bourrage. What her role will look like on the Illini this upcoming season is a key question.
And one that might not be answered right away when Illinois tips off the new season on Nov. 4 against Detroit Mercy at State Farm Center.
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It's clear the Illini value what Bourrage could bring as a longer guard. But the path to playing time for Bourrage is more in line with what Brown-Hagger said earlier.
Rebound. Defend. Play hard.
That would see Bourrage become a regular part of the rotation.
"Coming from a team that I didn't play at all to now probably going to be in (the rotation)," Bourrage said. "You never know. Being able to re-learn everything, I feel like it's a fresh start. They just coach me through everything, even when sometimes I don't want to hear it. I know it's for my best. So, sometimes, I need to get out of my own head and listen to them. They're right. Being able to trust them has helped me a lot.
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"It's coming to me a lot faster. I feel like the coaches are doing really well just being patient with me. I would also say my teammates are helping me. Talking me through it and being patient with me. They know I am new. But they also know I pick up things a lot faster."
