Green Street: More complete player

Welcome to "Green Street," your dose of women's college basketball news from Illini beat writer and AP Top 25 voter Joe Vozzelli. He'll offer up insight on Shauna Green's Illini team and the women's game at large every week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Adalia McKenzie went into the offseason with a clear plan to grow into more of a leadership role on the Illinois women's basketball team ahead of her senior season.

It's a role that isn't foreign to the Illini guard, considering she's been on the team's leadership council. But the Brooklyn Park, Minn., native wanted to show more from a leadership perspective. That wasn't necessarily something that comes naturally to McKenzie.

"(The hardest part) was not being afraid to speak up," McKenzie said. "You don't want to feel like you're stepping on other people's toes, but we have a team where we understand each other, and we have relationships, so we know we want the best (for each other). I feel like having that comfortability with my teammates has been able just to take that step forward."

McKenzie developing as a leader this summer is something third-year Illinois coach Shauna Green has pointed to, but has also been noticed by her teammates. The intangibles the Illini have benefited from as it relates McKenzie's presence on the court the past two seasons have led to her getting labeled as the team's X factor. That McKenzie hasn't stopped there has been significant this offseason.

"First come here, Dal's a sophomore coming off her freshman year, and you could tell it was like progression every single year," said fifth-year senior guard Genesis Bryant , who joined Illinois before the 2022-23 season as a North Carolina State transfer — McKenzie's second one in C-U. "I feel like this year, Dal will give you what she's going to give you on the court, but just from a leadership perspective, just about how she's commanding the floor a little bit better, using her voice more. I mean it's a joy to watch from the outside looking in. Sometimes she'll get in her leadership mode and we're like, 'Nah, that was like a good talk,' you know just encouraging her and things like that. But that's definitely the next step for Dal, just being a leader."

On the court, McKenzie has tried to add a more consistent three-point shot to her bag. The 5-foot-10 guard is one of Illinois' best on-ball defenders. Just look at the Illini's run to a WBIT title when McKenzie held her opponent to 4-for-29 shooting from three-point range (13.8 percent) and 27 of 78 from the field overall (34.6 percent) in five games. That defensive skill set alongside McKenzie averaging 11.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.4 steals per game as a junior was a clear sign of progress.

But her three-point shooting has lagged behind with McKenzie 11 for 51 (21.6 percent) from beyond the arc the last two seasons.

"I'm not going to try to be like ( Stephen ) Curry and be a three-point shooter," McKenzie quipped.

But ...

"Just when I have the opportunity to shoot a three, just take it," the Illinois guard continued. "Take it with confidence. I know I can shoot the three now. It's just continuing up with those reps and being comfortable for the game."