CHICAGO – The UIC women's basketball team were fired up on National Signing Day, as three new faces are set to join the Flames next season. Danielle Brooks, Mecca Crawford and Aniyah McKenzie will suit up for UIC beginning in the 2026-27 season.
Danielle Brooks
Guard | 5'7" | Chicago, Ill. | Kenwood Academy
The four-year varsity starter made history as a freshman during the 2022–23 season, breaking the program record with 100 made three-pointers. She finished her junior year averaging 20.3 points per game—sixth best in the state—and surpassed 1,000 career points while helping lead the Broncos to the 2024–25 Illinois Class 4A State Championship and a 35–3 overall record. Brooks was named the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) State Finals Most Valuable Player and earned First Team All-Tournament honors. She was also selected to the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association (IBCA) Second Team All-State.
Brooks has played in over 107 games for Kenwood Academy, averaging 13.0 points, 2.9 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. Outside of high school competition, Brooks plays for the Chicago Express travel team, led by coach Jerald Davis, as Bracey had before her collegiate career.
"We are thrilled to keep Danielle Brooks home in the city of Chicago and officially welcome her to our flames family," head coach Ashleen Bracey said. "Danielle is a proven winner, and an up-and-coming leader. She is a dynamic scoring guard that could play on both ends of the floor. She is gym rat, loves the game and is passionate about the city of Chicago and UIC. She is committed to our culture and working to and elevate UIC women's basketball to new heights."
Mecca Crawford
Forward | 6'3" | Fort Worth, Texas | North Crowley
A powerful forward and dominant presence in the paint, she is regarded as one of the top forward-center prospects in this recruiting class. She set the school record for career rebounds and earned All-Region honors from the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches this past season. She helped lead North Crowley to a 27-9 overall record, including a 9-3 mark in district play and a trip to the regional finals.
"Mecca is a force on both ends of the court," Bracey said. "We are thrilled to welcome Mecca to the city of Chicago and to our UIC basketball family. She impacts the game in so many ways and Mecca's best basketball is ahead of her. She is a dynamic athlete with great touch around the basket and a defensive presence that is both disruptive and dominant. Mecca aligns with the culture we are building and is committed to helping to elevate our program to new heights."
Aniyah McKenzie
Forward | 5'11" | Indianapolis, Ind. | Lawrence Central
One of the stars of Lawrence Central, McKenzie was the focal point of the team. Ranked the No. 12 player in Indiana, she has received national recognition for her ability to create and shift momentum in any matchup, earning two selections as an Indiana Future All-Star. A four-year varsity starter for the Bears, she helped lead multiple sectional, regional, and state championship runs, including the 2023-24 Indiana High School Athletic Association state championship — the first in school history — as the team finished 30-1 overall. That season, she set a career high in scoring, averaging 11.4 points along with 6.1 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game.
For her career, McKenzie has averaged 9.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.9 steals per game in more than 77 appearances, disrupting opponents' rhythm and creating opportunities for her teammates.
"We are so excited to welcome Aniyah to our Flames family," Bracey said. "Aniyah is a dynamic forward that can guard all five positions. She has an inside-outside presence offensively that will be a match-up nightmare in The Valley. Aniyah comes to us as proven winner, leader, and has a work ethic that is unmatched. Aniyah is excited to join our culture and is committed to our standards and working to elevate UIC women's basketball."
The Flames return to Credit Union 1 Arena tonight to take on Northern Illinois (0-2, 0-0 MAC) at 7 p.m. (CT). The game will be streamed live on ESPN+, available to listen to for free on the Flames Network, or with live stats available at
UICFlames.com. Fans can purchase tickets
here, and students with a valid school ID receive free admission.
Today's game will also be Latin X night, celebrating the rich culture, pride, and contributions of the Latino community at UIC and throughout Chicago. Fans are invited to join the Flames for an evening of music, color, and community spirit honoring Latino heritage and excellence.
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