The Mississippi State Bulldogs women's basketball program represents Mississippi State University in Starkville, Mississippi, in women's NCAA Division I basketball. The Bulldogs play in the Southeastern Conference. The program is notable for ending the UConn Huskies record 111-game winning streak by beating them 66-64 in overtime in the Final Four of the 2017 NCAA tournament. The buzzer beater shot that put the Bulldogs in front of the Huskies came from the smallest player on the court, the 5-foot-5 inch junior, Morgan William.
Head coaches Name Years Record Libba Birmingham 1974–1977 29–38 Peggy Collins 1977–1984 91–103 Eddie Vaughn 1984–1985 8–19 Brenda Paul 1985–1989 52–56 Jerry Henderson 1989–1995 62–101 Sharon Fanning-Otis 1995–2012 281–232 Vic Schaefer 2012–2020 221–62 Nikki McCray-Penson 2020–2021 10–9 Doug Novak (Interim) 2021–2022 15–14 Sam Purcell 2022–present 67–35
Roster
Player awards
National awards
Players USBWA Freshman of the Year LaToya Thomas – 2000 Senior CLASS Award LaToya Thomas – 2003 Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award Tan White – 2005 Ann Meyers Drysdale Award Victoria Vivians – 2018 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Teaira McCowan – 2018 Elite 90 Award (top GPA among upperclass players at the Final Four) Jordan Danberry – 2018
Coaches Naismith Award Vic Schaefer – 2018 WBCA National Coach of the Year Vic Schaefer – 2018
SEC awards Player of the Year LaToya Thomas – 2002, 2003 Teaira McCowan – 2019 Freshman of the Year LaToya Thomas – 2000 Defensive Player of the Year Armelie Lumanu – 2010 Martha Alwal – 2014 Teaira McCowan – 2018, 2019 6th Woman of the Year Teaira McCowan – 2017
Gillom Trophy PlayerWinning year(s)Alexis Rack2009, 2010Martha Alwal2013Victoria Vivians2015, 2016, 2017, 2018Teaira McCowan2019Jessika Carter2024
All-Americans LaToya Thomas Guard 1999–2003 Tan White Guard 2001–2005 Alexis Rack Guard 2006–2010 Victoria Vivians Guard 2014–2018 Morgan William Guard 2014–2018Teaira McCowan Center 2015–2019 Source: Mississippi State Media Guide CBS SportsespnW
Postseason NCAAW tournament results The Bulldogs have appeared in the NCAA tournament 13 times. Their combined record is 25–13.
1999 #7 Round of 64 #10 NC State L 57-76 2000 #3 Round of 64Round of 32 #14 St. Peter's#11 UAB W 94-60L 72-78 2002 #12 Round of 64Round of 32 #5 Boston College#4 Texas Tech W 65-59L 55-77 2003 #3 Round of 64Round of 32 #14 Manhattan#6 New Mexico W 73-47L 61-73 2009 #11 Round of 64Round of 32 #6 Texas#3 Ohio State W 71-63L 58-64 2010 #7 Round of 64Round of 32Sweet Sixteen #10 Middle Tennessee#2 Ohio State#3 Florida State W 68-64W 87-67L 71-74 2015 #5 Round of 64Round of 32 #12 Tulane#4 Duke W 57-47L 56-64 2016 #5 Round of 64Round of 32Sweet Sixteen #12 Chattanooga#4 Michigan State#1 Connecticut W 60-50W 74-72L 38-98 2017 #2 Round of 64Round of 32Sweet SixteenElite EightFinal FourNational Championship #15 Troy#7 DePaul#3 Washington#1 Baylor #1 Connecticut #1 South Carolina W 110-69W 92-71W 75-64W 94-85OTW 66-64OTL 55-67 2018 #1 Round of 64Round of 32Sweet SixteenElite EightFinal FourNational Championship #16 Nicholls State#9 Oklahoma State#4 NC State#3 UCLA #1 Louisville #1 Notre Dame W 95-50W 71-56W 71-57W 89-73W 73-63OTL 58-61 2019 #1 Round of 64Round of 32Sweet SixteenElite Eight #16 Southern#9 Clemson#5 Arizona State#3 Oregon W 103-46W 85-61W 76-53L 84-88 2023 #11 First FourRound of 64Round of 32 #11 Illinois #6 Creighton #3 Notre Dame W 70-56 W 81-66 L 48–53 2025 #9 Round of 64Round of 32 #8 California#1 USC W 59-46 L 59-96
WBIT tournament results The Bulldogs have appeared in the WBIT 1 times. Their combined record is 2–1.
2024 #2 First RoundSecond RoundQuarterfinals Georgia Tech #3 TCUat #1 Penn State W 84–47W 68–61L 87–92
WNIT / NWIT tournament results The Bulldogs have appeared in the WNIT and its predecessor the NWIT 7 times with a combined record of 6-8. 1988 NWIT Third Round 1-2 1998 WNIT First Round 0-1 2001 WNIT Third Round 2-1 2005 WNIT First Round 0-1 2007 WNIT Third Round 1-1 2008 WNIT Second Round 0-1 2014 WNIT Third Round 2-1
See also Mississippi State Bulldogs women's basketball statistical leaders
References
External links