By Shane Donaldson
Associate Athletic Director, Communication and New Media

KINGSTON, R.I. - Basketball has taken Queen Ikhiuwu on quite the journey.

Since taking up the sport at 11 years old, she has played throughout Europe for multiple Spanish national teams, competing for her country's U16, U17 and U18 programs. Heading into her fourth season of college basketball, Ikhiuwu is with her third school. She began at Tulsa in 2023-24 before spending the last two seasons at Wofford.

Along the way, the 6-1 center just keeps getting better.

After getting her feet wet with 10 games as a freshman at Tulsa, Ikhiuwu averaged 4.5 points and 3.0 rebounds in her sophomore season at Wofford. Last year, she truly emerged, earning All Southern Conference First-Team honors. Ikhiuwu averaged 13.2 points and 7.6 rebounds per game while also blocking 24 shots.

But that was last year, and Ikhiuwu is focused on getting ready for 2026-27 with her new teammates.

"Whatever I did last year, I don't really remember and I'm not too worried about it," Ikhiuwu said. "This is a different conference and a different team with different expectations. I need to earn everything again. (The Atlantic 10) is a great conference. I need to put in the work to make sure I get myself prepared for the level of competition we will face. What I did last year, it boosts your confidence individually, but at the same time I know that nothing here is earned yet."

A physically strong player who loves to rebound, Ikhiuwu's love for the sport blossomed with her time in Spain's national team program. A native of Madrid, she helped Spain reach the third-place game of the 2023 FIBA U18 Women's EuroBasket Championship in Turkey. A year earlier, she was part of the U17 squad that reached the title game of the FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup in Hungary.   

"Representing my country was a feeling of great pride," Ikhiuwu said. "Spain is great in a lot of different sports, so you feel a lot of pride just knowing that I could represent Spain in different games. When you get wins while wearing your country on the uniform, that is a different feeling."

It is a feeling Ikhiuwu and her cousin Usman Garuba are able to share together. Garuba, who played in 105 NBA games with the Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors who is still actively playing for Real Madrid of the Spanish Liga ACB. He is a two-time Liga ACB champion who played for the Spanish national team before Ikhiuwu.

"Seeing all the things he was achieving, playing for the Spanish national team and then later playing for the professional team in our hometown all made my passion for basketball grow," Ikhiuwu said. "We were able to talk about the game and he could share his experiences with me. It showed me the value of the relationships that I was building while I was putting my time into the game. That made me love the game in general.

"Usman has been in the United States too, so we are able to talk through all of that as well. Whenever I am having a down moment in the season, I can go to him. He cheers me up and encourages me push hard and keep working."

This year's Rhode Island roster also offers Ikhiuwu a taste of home. UAlbany transfer Martina Borrellas (Barcelona) and incoming freshman Naiara Quintana (Vigo) are also from Spain. Ikhiuwu and Borrellas have been on campus together all summer, while Quintana has been playing for the national team and will join URI at the start of the school year.

"Being with people who are from Spain creates a natural bond," Ikhiuwu said. "I met Martina a month ago, and immediately we felt like we were so tight. She helped me a lot with feeling at home, even though we are so far from our home. Whenever Martina is around, it gives me a piece of home that I can keep with me. It really makes this special."

Ikhiuwu likes what she sees from all of her new teammates this summer. While she says it may not be the tallest Rhody team ever assembled, this year's collection of Rams will be dangerous in other ways.

"We are really fast and really athletic," Ikhiuwu said. "Our athleticism is really going to carry us through the season. These girls are the hardest working girls I've ever been around. That work ethic is really going to take us places. Everyone on this team can really shoot it.

"I've been part of three teams in my college career, and this team is where I feel the most comfortable. We really focus on individual relationships with each other. That pays off so much on the court, but we really understand each other. We are there for each other at all moments. We have only been together for two weeks, and I already feel like these are my sisters."

Shortly after Ikhiuwu arrived in Rhode Island, the NCAA announced a new five-year eligibility model, which would potentially give her two more seasons of college basketball. That possibility excites her.

"Hearing about the five-year model was great because it kind of changes the focus for what I can work on on the court," Ikhiuwu said. "It gives more time for the coaches to learn my game and help me work on the areas of my game that I need to improve. When you have one year remaining, you feel the need to rush to improve at specific things. With two years, you can really work things out in more detail."

Whatever the future holds, Ikhiuwu is enjoying the journey as she goes.

"I think I am going to remember my college years as the best years of my life," Ikhiuwu said. "I'd love to be at home with my family and see them every day, but these last four years have been such an important experience for me. I've been out discovering different worlds and learning about other people, as well as about myself. That has developed my character so much. It has made me be the person I am right now, so I am really grateful to have this opportunity."