Chambana Sun

Fighting Illini women's basketball team has announced the signing of Irene Noya Catoira, a promising forward from Spain. Noya Catoira, standing at 6-foot-3 inches, will join the University of Illinois for the 2024-25 season after signing a Big Ten Tender of Financial Aid.

The athlete hails from Vilagarcía de Arousa in Pontevedra, Spain, and attended Institut Joaquim Blume. She has represented her country on an international level since age 15, debuting at the Ciudad de Toledo International Tournament. Her notable achievements include helping Spain secure second place at both the 2023 FIBA 3x3 U17 Europe Cup and its qualifier.

Noya Catoira played for Segle XXI in the Spain-LF2 league from 2022 to 2024. During this period, her team won the Group B regular season championship twice. In the recent season, she played in 22 games with averages of 19 minutes, 6.5 points, and 4.8 rebounds per game as her team achieved a record of 25-1.

Head Coach Shauna Green expressed enthusiasm about Noya Catoira's addition: "I am super excited to have Irene join our FamILLy! Irene brings size, length, and a versatile skillset to our program. She is someone who can play multiple positions and stretches the floor. I believe her best basketball is ahead of her and we can't wait to get her here to get to work!"

Noya Catoira shared her excitement about joining Illinois: "I am absolutely thrilled to dive into this new chapter of my life in Illinois. It's a dream come true to go study there, and I can't wait to arrive, meet everyone in person, and get to know the team. I-L-L!"