NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State women's basketball head coach Kristen Gillespie added four players on National Signing Day Wednesday, as Danyella Mporokoso (Aurora, Ill.), Christina Köppel (Wolfsberg, Austria), Kennedy Stowers (St. Peters, Mo.) and Madison Young (Crestwood, Ky.) all signed with Illinois State.
"This class brings incredible balance, talent, and competitiveness," Gillespie said. "Each of them fits who we are and what Redbird Basketball stands for. They'll make an immediate and lasting impact on our program."
Mporokoso, a 5-7 guard out of Waubonsie Valley High School, is ranked No. 66 in the ESPN Top 100 players in the Class of 2026. The 2024-25 Beacon-News/Courier-News/Naperville Sun Girls Basketball Player of the Year was also an IHSA Class 4A All-State selection while helping guide the Warriors (31-2) to the Class 4A supersectional for the second-straight season. As a junior, Mporokoso averaged 22.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 3.0 steals per contest and she ranks second on Waubonsie Valley's career scoring list with 1,972 points.
"Danyella is a gifted three-level scorer who brings an elite competitive edge on both ends of the floor," Gillespie said. "Being our first four-star, nationally ranked recruit, she's a tremendous addition to our program and has a chance to make an immediate impact in the Valley."
Köppel, a 6-2 wing from Wolfsberg, Austria, has most recently played overseas for UBSC-DBBC Graz. In seven games so far during the 2025-26 season, she is averaging 11.6 points and 5.7 rebounds per game in nearly 30 minutes of action per contest. Last season, she averaged 9.8 points and 5.8 boards per game in 13 contests, and during the 2023-34 campaign she scored 6.5 points and grabbed 5.4 rebounds per game.
"Christina brings a wealth of international experience from both the professional and national levels," Gillespie said. "At 6-2, she's a skilled wing who can impact the game with her scoring, vision, and ability to make others better. She's a tremendous addition to our program and brings a global perspective that will elevate our team."
Stowers, a 6-2 forward from Lutheran High School, averaged 11.3 points and 7.4 rebounds per game last season for the Cougars on the way to helping the team earn a second-place finish at the Class 5A state tournament. An All-District player at Lutheran, Stowers is the tenth-ranked player in the Class of 2026 in the state of Missouri. As a freshman, Stowers pitched in eight points and six rebounds in the title contest to help Lutheran win the Class 5 state championship.
"Kennedy is an athletic post player who can impact the game on both ends of the floor," Gillespie said. "Her versatility and skill set give her the opportunity to develop into another outstanding post in our program."
Young, a 5-10 guard out of South Oldham High School, was a Lexington Herald-Leader and Louisville Courier Journal All-State honorable mention selection following her junior season, as she helped Oldham County to a 29th district championship recording a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds in the title game. She was also selected as the 29th District Female Athlete of the Year, after she eclipsed 1,500 career points during the 2024-25 season including a 32 point and 11 rebound effort in a win over Oldham County.
"Madison brings elite competitiveness and athleticism to our program," Gillespie said. "She's driven to excel in every area, on the floor and in the classroom. She represents exactly what we mean when we say student-athlete."
GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App: Your sources for Illinois State tickets, Weisbecker Athletic Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
