NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State women's basketball head coach Kristen Gillespie has announced the addition of former Indiana Ms. Basketball Chloe Spreen (Bedford, Indiana) for the 2026-27 campaign.
"We're thrilled to welcome Chloe to Illinois State," Gillespie said. "She's a dynamic combo guard with a high basketball IQ, relentless work ethic, and a competitive drive. Beyond her talent on the court, Chloe brings leadership and character that align perfectly with what we're building in our program. We believe she has the potential to make an immediate impact."
Spreen comes to Illinois State from Indiana, where she spent her sophomore season in 2025-26. With the Hoosiers, she played in 11 games off the bench and averaged 4.7 minutes per game, with a season-high 15 minutes against Western Carolina. As a freshman during the 2024-25 season, Spreen played at Alabama in 20 games, averaging 6.5 minutes per contest. She scored five points and collected two rebounds in Alabama's win against Georgia State and played a season-high 18 minutes in the Crimson Tide's victory over Alabama State.
After the completion of her prep career, Spreen was named 2024 Indiana Ms. Basketball and was rated as an espnW 4-star recruit at Bedford North Lawrence High School. She was ranked as the No. 46 overall prospect and 4-star recruit by ProspectsNation.com and was a Jr. All-Star Girls Basketball 4-star and No. 76 ranked overall prospect.
During her career at Bedford North Lawrence, Spreen scored 1,869 points and was four-time first team All-Hoosier Hills Conference selection. A 2024 Indiana All-Star, Spreen was also an IHSAA All-State First Team selection and was named to the IBCA All-State Supreme 15 (2022, 2023). She participated nationally in the 2023 Overtime Elite WBB Takeover, the 2023 Nike World Basketball Festival and the 2023 SLAM Summer Classic Vol. 5 at Rucker Park. During her junior season, she was named the 2022-23 Indiana MaxPreps Girls Basketball Indiana Player of the Year and earned a spot on the 2023 MaxPreps Girls Basketball Junior All-American team.
Spreen will be joined on the Redbird roster by another 4-star national recruit in incoming freshman Danyella Mporokoso, who was named the 2025-26 Gatorade Illinois Girls Basketball Player of the Year. She also joins an exciting group of returners for Illinois State next season, including MVC assists leader Trista Fayta and Nevaeh Thomas, who returns for her senior campaign. Illinois State tallied a 24-14 record and advanced to the WNIT Championship game, earning a postseason bid for the sixth consecutive season and a 20-win campaign for the fourth straight year.
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