Two words. That's all head coach Shauna Green needed to create a phrase that has since become the new-look Illini's identity and culture and big piece in the team's resurgence this season: #OneWay.

Green does not remember the origins of the mantra, but she knew it encapsulated everything her program was about when she came up with it while coaching at Dayton.

"I just wanted to really put everything together in terms of what we wanted our program to be about, and that was a word that came to my mind," Green said. "It's everything we do: doing it the right way, as hard as we can, as disciplined as we can, as passionately as we can, as together as we can. That's the #OneWay, and the only way we're gonna do it is that way."

After six successful seasons in Dayton, Green has brought the same identity to Champaign in her first year with the Orange and Blue. The Illini have bought into the coaching staff, and the team is reaping the rewards of that culture shift.

Toughness, both on and off the court, is at the forefront of the #OneWay identity, Green says, and she has turned to both players and coaches to implement and embrace that philosophy.

"It takes everyone," Green said. "We have the vision. I, as the leader, have the vision, and I have to get that vision across to our team so they understand what it means. I gotta help them, too, understand how to go about building it, but then I put some ownership on our team, especially this past year. It's a brand-new team. 

"I gave them some ideas of things they needed to do to come together as a team and a family and build those relationships. I give them credit, because they took that ownership, and they put a lot of time into getting close off the floor."

Green also turned to players and staff she coached at Dayton, including current Illinois director of scouting and player development Jenna Giacone. Giacone competed at Dayton from 2016-22 and helped lead the Flyers to five regular-season Atlantic 10 conference titles, two A-10 tournament championships, and four NCAA tournament appearances.

In her first season in a coaching position, Giacone puts the #OneWay approach into her daily life, even if she can no longer play.

"I can't necessarily approach practice with the mindset to make shots and play my best defense because I'm no longer doing that," Giacone said. "Whether it's helping on a scouting report, or having a meeting, watching film, I still just attack it with the same type of mentality. I like to do it with the best of my ability to make sure I'm getting the most out of myself and to make sure the job is done the best it can be done."

Transitioning from competing collegiately in 2022, to participating in preseason training camp with the Seattle Storm, to joining Green's inaugural staff at Illinois, Giacone has not had much time to process everything she has experienced over the last year. She has been key in demonstrating and sharing the #OneWay mindset, and players have looked up to her leadership and guidance, both on and off the floor.

"It's changed pretty quickly for me, just being a player last season for Coach Green, but I'm still involving the #OneWay mindset mentality in my everyday life," Giacone said. "Now that I'm on staff, still showing up every single day, doing what's asked of me, going the extra mile, bringing energy. 

"That's kind of something that correlates back and forth as a player and now on the other side of things as a staff member. It's the energy. It was something I always focus on as a player, bringing energy for teammates, practice, whatever it is. I still try to bring that same level of energy to practice for our girls every single day."

Brynn Shoup-Hill played under Green and alongside Giacone at Dayton last season, albeit in a much different role than she has taken on this year. After averaging six minutes, 1.8 points, and 1.3 rebounds as a freshman, Shoup-Hill has emerged as a leader for the Illini despite still being a sophomore.

Starting every game for the Orange and Blue this season, Shoup-Hill had to emerge from her quiet, reserved personality and become a leader among the team's post players.

"I kind of had to get out of my comfort zone and try to bring the posts along and implement the culture," Shoup-Hill said. "They really have a lot of trust in me, and they take what I'm saying and try to implement it. Since everyone was so new, they were kind of looking for a person to tell them what to do in certain situations. It was kind of easy in that sense, and my teammates really trusted me."

The Illini are extra aware of ways to stay connected, including locking arms during breaks at practice and finding opportunities to bond outside of basketball. Through team cookouts or game nights, Illinois has quickly developed chemistry, which has translated into results on the court.

"We just hold each other accountable but also give people praise when they need praise and stuff like that," Shoup-Hill said. "We kind of look at everyone individually, not just everyone as a unit. It's just knowing what each person needs, and I think that's kind of what keeps us connected."

Defining #OneWay

Shauna Green

"It's all about toughness. I think that that's at our core, just being a tough, gritty, disciplined team in every single thing that we do. I'm talking basketball, and I'm talking off the court. That's the biggest compliment for me, when someone says, 'Hey, you guys are just so tough, you're just gritty, and you play the game the right way.'"

Jenna Giacone

"#OneWay, to me, is just being the best version of yourself. I know Coach Green alludes to it pretty much on a daily basis, but in whatever you're doing, obviously on the court, but also in life, whether it's at practice, in the weight room, in class, at your job. Obviously now, adding that perspective for myself, just being the best version of yourself with every task you're doing, every job you're doing."

Adalia McKenzie

"#OneWay is the mentality that influences your actions and influences it in a way where you're doing consistent, hard work every single day. It's in all you do, not just on the court but in life, like going to class on time, doing your work, turning it in on time. It's kind of like staying on the path and not being wavered by anything else."

Brynn Shoup-Hill

"I would just describe #OneWay as everyone being on the same page and working toward the some goal. I think we made it very clear, our goal at the beginning of season was just to be the best versions of ourselves. I think that since everyone's buying into that, that's what kind of makes us click. I think having #OneWay is a way for us to all be bought in on the same thing."