SIU Women's Basketball Adds Former JUCO Star Fredriecka Wallace

Veteran forward brings scoring punch and rebounding prowess to Saluki roster.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 4:46pm

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Southern Illinois women's basketball head coach Kelly Bond-White announced the addition of Fredriecka Wallace, a 6-foot-2 forward and two-time junior college All-American, on Wednesday. Wallace previously played at the University of Kansas and Butler Community College, where she established herself as one of the top junior college players in the country.

Why it matters

The addition of Wallace, a dynamic and versatile forward, bolsters the Saluki roster with a veteran presence and scoring punch. Her ability to play multiple positions and rebound at a high level will be a valuable asset as SIU looks to build on its recent success.

The details

Wallace spent the 2024-25 season at the University of Kansas but did not compete due to medical reasons. Prior to that, she played two years at Butler Community College, where she earned NJCAA All-American honors twice and became the Grizzlies' all-time leading scorer with 1,138 career points. During her sophomore season, she averaged 18.4 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, and, as a freshman, she was named the Jayhawk Conference Freshman of the Year.

  • Wallace is currently enrolled at SIU and taking classes in the School of Justice & Public Safety, pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Criminology & Criminal Justice.

The players

Kelly Bond-White

Southern Illinois women's basketball head coach.

Fredriecka Wallace

A 6-foot-2 forward and two-time junior college All-American who previously played at the University of Kansas and Butler Community College.

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What they’re saying

“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.”

— Kelly Bond-White, Southern Illinois women's basketball head coach

The takeaway

The addition of Fredriecka Wallace, a proven scorer and rebounder at the junior college level, provides a significant boost to the Southern Illinois women's basketball team as they look to build on their recent success and compete for a conference championship in the 2026 season.