The Pac-12 has stood out as one of the best women’s basketball leagues in the nation over the last two decades. This being the league’s final season, each month the Star is sharing Pac-12-centered stories of former Arizona players, as well as former and current league coaches. Up this week: Legendary Wildcat Ify Ibekwe.
Ibekwe, whose name is in the McKale Center Ring of Honor, played at Arizona from 2007-11. She received numerous accolades, including Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year, 3-time All-Pac 10 and two-time All-American honorable mention. She holds UA records for rebounding in a season (352) and career (1,194), career double-doubles (55) and so many others. She played professionally for more than a decade before retiring and turning to the broadcast booth for Nike and FIBA women’s basketball.
Special moments: “There are two special moments that I hold dear while playing at Arizona. First, my freshman year! Scoring the game-winning point against Boise State will be a game I never forget. The excitement of my teammates, the coaching staff and fans always gives me chills every time I remember that moment. I remember after that game, my 18-year-old self knew I was going to do amazing things at Arizona!
Arizona basketball great Ify Ibekwe had her name placed into the McKale Center Ring of Honor during a ceremony on Nov. 23, 2018. That day, the Wildcats defeated South Carolina State, 73-32.
“My next favorite moment would be beating ASU in front of our fans at McKale Center. The UA-ASU rivalry is unmatched! It was my senior year and we just got smacked by ASU (in Tempe) and we had a little less than a month until we played them again, but at home. We had other conference games in between that time, so every practice and every game, I made sure I was efficient, getting stronger in the weight room, being intentional on improving my mistakes and staying focused. Because I knew I had less than a month to run it back against ASU. I just knew I was not leaving Arizona, my senior year, without beating ASU! 22 points, 22 rebounds and the WIN. That was definitely a special game.”
The pride of the Pac: “My era was the Pac-10, just a season shy away from the conversion to the Pac-12. My freshmen year I remember thinking, ‘I’m playing against the big (dogs).’ I wasn’t the tallest anymore or the fastest and I wasn’t the only athletic (one) playing in the conference. It was a wake up call that, one, I needed to improve my game if I want to stand out and make a difference at Arizona and, two, that I was in one of the best conferences in the nation. The Pac is a legacy conference that birthed a lot of extremely talented players that have done tremendous things for their schools! I am honored and proud to have played in the Pac.”
Arizona basketball legend Ify Ibekwe met with the current Wildcat team recently as the 2023-24 UA women's basketball team visited the Nike campus in Beaverton, Oregon.
Foundation for the future — a long professional career: “Arizona was my home for four wonderful years. Improving and expanding my game during that time helped elevate the longevity of my professional career. Being in the Pac and playing against other talented women prepared me for my future. I came in as a 6-foot, 2-inch forward who couldn’t shoot to retiring as a versatile player who can play multiple positions, handle the ball, defend guards and posts and extended my shooting range to be a consistent 3-point shooter. All of this started at Arizona! I took extreme pride playing at the University of Arizona and in that moment, I didn’t even understand all the accolades I was racking up. I was just happy to be in an Arizona jersey, playing the sport that I love and in a conference that brought competitive edge.”
Family, team and (Ring of) honor: “The day I went on my recruiting visit, one of the assistant coaches took me on a tour of McKale Center. We stopped at the (basketball) office first, then made our way down to the locker room. Then, at last, the arena. I looked up at the rafters and saw the likes of Shawntinice Polk, Dee Dee Wheeler and Adia Barnes. I stood there looking up, and I told the assistant coach that my name will be up there. It was a such a surreal full-circle moment when I was told my banner would be hanging in the rafters at McKale Center.
“Having coach (Joan) Bonvicini believe in me wholeheartedly and guide me through moments in my basketball career, not only at Arizona but in life, meant everything! She’s truly a second Mom to me.
“Meeting one of my best friends (Soana Lucet) and being able to play with her for two years at Arizona and against her professionally in France, is another reason why I was able to play as successfully as I did.”
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Arizona Women's Basketball Press Conference | Adia Barnes | Jan. 24, 2024 (Arizona Wildcats YouTube)
