Illinois is officially down one of its newest players for the entire 2026-27 season, and it’s a gut punch for the freshman. Forward Lana Brenjo tore her ACL during preseason workouts and won’t hit the court for her debut with the Fighting Illini. Surgery is expected later this month, putting her on the sidelines for what should have been her first taste of college ball.
A Cruel Twist for a Promising Talent
This is just brutal news for Brenjo, a 6-foot-4 freshman who was poised to bring some serious international flavor to the Illini. She wasn’t just some raw recruit, either. Brenjo played professionally with ŽKK Mega Superbet in Serbia, putting up solid numbers like 7.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.5 assists across 27.8 minutes per game during the 2025-26 season. She even repped Serbia in the FIBA U18 Women’s EuroBasket in both 2024 and 2025, not to mention her U16 experience. Illinois head coach Shauna Green brought her into the program back in May, specifically highlighting her “great international experience” and the “size at the center position” she’d add. Talk about a tough break when you’re hyped to make that kind of impact.
Looking Ahead Amidst the Setback
Brenjo took to Instagram right after the announcement, and her words really hit home. “I won’t get the chance to experience this season on the court with this incredible team,” she said, summing up the raw disappointment perfectly. But she’s already looking past the immediate pain, focusing all her energy on what’s next. “I will put all my energy into my recovery and everything it takes to come back stronger in every way,” she vowed. That’s the kind of fighting spirit you want to see. For Illinois, losing Brenjo means taking a “potential piece” out of their frontcourt rotation, even if she wasn’t expected to be a primary option right away. Good thing they’ve still got plenty of size with Cearah Parchment, Lety Vasconcelos, and Manuella Alves all returning. Remember Alves? She missed all of last season with her *own* ACL injury, so the team knows this recovery road all too well.
The Illini are otherwise rolling into this season with a roster that’s pretty much intact, coming off a 22-win year and a trip to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. They’re bringing back most of their production, so while Brenjo’s absence stings, they’ve got depth. For Lana, though, her season is now 100% about that recovery journey. We’ll be watching to see how she attacks rehab and comes back even stronger next year. It’s a rough start for sure, but her future is still bright.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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