When you’re an all-conference player in a strong league and have multiple years of eligibility remaining, there’s a very good chance you’ll be in high demand when you hit the transfer portal.
Maddie Webber knows all about that.
A former all-state player at South Fayette, Webber decided to enter the portal earlier this month following two strong seasons playing in the Big East at Villanova. Within 10 minutes, schools were already contacting her. And within 10 days, more than 20 schools had reached out, each hoping they could land a visit and commitment.
“It was so stressful,” Webber said. “I thought I had it down to a few top schools. And then by the next week, there were 10 new schools and I had to open up my list again.”
But consider it list closed, as Webber decided on her landing spot on Sunday. The Land of Lincoln will now be the “Land of Webber.”
Webber, a 5-foot-11 guard, signed with Illinois while on an official visit to the school Sunday. Webber said she chose the Fighting Illini over Indiana, Virginia Tech, West Virginia, Utah, Colorado, Iowa State and Arizona. Illinois was the only school that Webber visited.
“I committed literally right before I went up to the airport,” Webber said. “I was in the meeting room watching some video, and the coaches were talking about how I would fit into the program. I was about to leave when I told my parents, ‘This is the place I want to go.’ So, they said, ‘Let’s do it.’”
A second-team all-Big East honoree this past season, Webber is a big get for Illinois. Webber started all 36 games for Villanova her sophomore season, ranking second on the team in scoring with 13.3 points per game while helping the Wildcats go 21-15 and reach the WBIT semifinals for the second year in a row. She was also second on the team in 3-pointers made (57) and assists (80). Webber scored a career-high 30 points in a win against DePaul on Feb. 12. Webber was selected to the Big East All-Rookie Team her freshman year when she played in 29 games, including 11 starts, and averaged 7.7 points a game.
“I am so happy to have Maddie join our family,” Illinois coach Shauna Green said in a release. “She has length, versatility and the ability to score at all three levels. Maddie brings college experience to us and is someone who can play multiple positions. I can’t wait to get Maddie to campus and get to work!”
Green, who was previously the coach at Dayton, has guided Illinois to the postseason in each of her first three seasons, including the NCAA tournament in 2023 and 2025. Illinois won a first-round game this season, its first NCAA tournament victory since 2000. The Fighting Illini beat Villanova to win the WBIT championship in 2024. Webber did not play due to an injury.
“They’re just getting better every year, and that’s something I want to be a part of,” Webber said. “[Transferring] gives me a better opportunity to play professionally and develop my game more. And playing on national TV all the time is something I’m looking forward to.”
Webber will be the first WPIAL alum to play at Illinois since Moon graduate Erin Wigley played there from 2003-07.
Webber had a terrific career at South Fayette, leading the Lions to WPIAL titles her final two seasons and to their first PIAA championship appearance her senior season. Webber averaged 17.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals on her way to Pittsburgh Union Progress Player of the Year honors.
WPIAL to RMU
There are a lot of uncertainties when it comes to the transfer portal, but one thing is for sure. RMU is all about landing players from the WPIAL. The Robert Morris women’s basketball team picked up a commitment from Seton LaSalle graduate and Buffalo transfer Mallory Daly last week. Daly is a 5-8 guard who played in 22 games, averaging 7.4 minutes and 1.2 points, as a freshman at Buffalo last season. Daly became the fourth former WPIAL player to be reeled in by Robert Morris via the portal in the last month, joining Bailey Kuhns (Greensburg Central Catholic/Mercyhurst), Aislin Malcolm (Chartiers Valley/Pitt) and Ava Leroux (South Fayette/Elon). The Colonials, who reached the Horizon League tournament semifinals in Chandler McCabe’s first season as coach, will feature at least one additional WPIAL alum next season as Oakland Catholic star London Creach signed with the Colonials.
Star QBs headed to the Ivy League
Mt. Lebanon’s Patrick Smith and Trinity’s Jonah Williamson are standout junior quarterbacks with big arms who are also dual threats, and the two have some big brains, too, evidenced by them both committing to Ivy League schools this month. Smith (6-2, 220) committed to Penn and Williamson (6-2, 200) to Harvard. As a junior, Smith passed for 1,610 yards and 12 touchdowns while ranking second in WPIAL Class 6A in rushing with 1,091 yards and 15 touchdowns. Williamson threw for 1,059 yards and six touchdowns while tacking on 814 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns. Smith said in November that playing in the Ivy League is a big goal of his. It runs in the family. His sister, Patrice, runs track at Columbia, and his brother, Jack, plays baseball at Harvard. Williamson is the second quarterback from the WPIAL to commit to Harvard in recent years. Central Valley graduate Ameer Dudley played four seasons there before entering the transfer portal following last season.
Baseball commitments
Butler’s Kyle Casteel (West Virginia); Our Lady of the Sacred Heart’s Iseia Schulz (Point Park).
Basketball commitments
Mars’ Carmella McDole (Saint Vincent); North Catholic’s Sarah Loughry (Cedarville); North Hills’ Zach Pollaro (Franciscan).
Football commitment
Peters Township’s Nick McCullough (Carnegie Mellon).
Lacrosse commitment
Chartiers Valley’s Kylie Miller (Bloomsburg).
Brad is a sports writer at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at beverett@unionprogress.com.