Southern Illinois women’s basketball head coach Kelly Bond-White announced on Apr. 1 the addition of Fredriecka Wallace, a forward and two-time junior college All-American, to the team’s 2026-27 recruiting class.
The recruitment of Wallace is significant for the Salukis as they continue to strengthen their roster with experienced players. The Southern Illinois Salukis women’s basketball team competes at the NCAA Division I level, according to the official website.
Bond-White said, “Our staff’s relationships brought Freddie back to Carbondale. We had her on campus out of junior college but lost her at the last minute to Kansas. We are excited; she could see the development of Laniah [Randle], portal transfers Gift [Uchenna], Jeniah [Thompson], and now Indy [Green] consistently excel at her positions in our system. As a veteran, who is already enrolled and taking classes at SIU, she will be able to learn our system this off season and help anchor our 2026 recruiting class.” Prior to joining Southern Illinois University (SIU), Wallace attended Arizona after spending a season at Kansas where she did not compete due to medical reasons. During her time at Butler Community College, she became one of the top junior college players in the country by earning NJCAA All-American honors twice and setting a school record with 1,138 career points.
Wallace averaged 18.4 points and 6.8 rebounds per game as a sophomore and was named Jayhawk Conference Freshman of the Year during her first year at Butler Community College. She brings versatility as a forward capable of playing multiple positions and is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Criminology & Criminal Justice within SIU’s School of Justice & Public Safety.
The Southern Illinois Salukis women’s basketball program operates from Carbondale, Illinois and hosts home games at Banterra Center in Carbondale, according to the official website. The team maintains membership in the Missouri Valley Conference as reported by its official site.
The broader impact for Southern Illinois includes reinforcing its position within NCAA Division I competitions through targeted recruitment efforts such as adding experienced athletes like Wallace, according to information from their official website.
