Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Salukis Announced Signing of DePaul Transfer, McCline
04/24/2026 | 4:00:00 | Women's Basketball
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Southern Illinois women's basketball has announced the signing of guard Shakara McCline, a native of East St. Louis, to its 2026 roster.
"Shakara is a competitor plain and simple," says head coach Kelly Bond-White. "She's been tested at a high level and knows what it takes to show up every day and produce. She's a true three-level scorer who can impact the game on both ends disrupting ball handlers, jumping passing lanes, and creating offense. What excites me most is her growth, her hunger, and how 'LIVE', her nickname, she is she wants to push tempo and play with pace. Bringing someone home who understands this region and takes pride in it adds a different level of toughness to our program. Her familiarity with competing against and alongside some of our players will allow her to mesh right away, and I believe we're going to have a fun crowd coming down I-57 to support her."
McCline brings high-major experience back to southern Illinois after competing with the DePaul Blue Demons, where she developed into a versatile and reliable backcourt contributor in the Big East Conference.
"Shakara is a competitor plain and simple," says head coach Kelly Bond-White. "She's been tested at a high level and knows what it takes to show up every day and produce. She's a true three-level scorer who can impact the game on both ends disrupting ball handlers, jumping passing lanes, and creating offense. What excites me most is her growth, her hunger, and how 'LIVE', her nickname, she is she wants to push tempo and play with pace. Bringing someone home who understands this region and takes pride in it adds a different level of toughness to our program. Her familiarity with competing against and alongside some of our players will allow her to mesh right away, and I believe we're going to have a fun crowd coming down I-57 to support her."
McCline brings high-major experience back to southern Illinois after competing with the DePaul Blue Demons, where she developed into a versatile and reliable backcourt contributor in the Big East Conference.
Throughout her collegiate career, McCline has been a consistent presence on the floor, appearing in over 70 games with multiple starts while shooting a team-leading 36 percent from three-point range and 80 percent from the free throw line. One of the highlights of this past season came against Missouri Valley Conference opponent UIC where she delivered a 25-point performance, showcasing her scoring ability along with her impact as a playmaker and perimeter defender.
Before her collegiate career, McCline was a standout at East St. Louis, where she scored over 1,500 career points and averaged 26 points per game as a senior. Known for her ability to score at all three levels, she recorded multiple 40-point performances and established herself as one of the top guards in the region.
Her return to Southern Illinois adds a strong local presence to the Salukis' roster and brings valuable experience to the backcourt heading into the upcoming season, giving fans across the region another hometown talent to rally behind.
Follow the Salukis
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Salukis by following the team on Twitter at @SIU_WBasketball, on Instagram at @SIU_WBasketball, and on Facebook at Facebook.com/SalukiAthletics. Fans can also download the "Salukis" Mobile App on the App Store or Google Play Store.
Follow the Salukis
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Salukis by following the team on Twitter at @SIU_WBasketball, on Instagram at @SIU_WBasketball, and on Facebook at Facebook.com/SalukiAthletics. Fans can also download the "Salukis" Mobile App on the App Store or Google Play Store.
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