Oklahoma State

2024-25 Record: 25-7 (14-4)

Head Coach: Jacie Hoyt’s (5th season) Cowgirls enter this season with serious momentum and considerable Top 25 depth on their side. Not many can say that in the NIL era, but it’s a testament to the culture on campus. Leadership from Stailee Heard and Micah Gray provides the foundation; adding Favour Onoh and Amari Whiting means OSU now expects to compete with anyone in the Big 12. Expect another strong, high-energy season in Stillwater, and perhaps even a Big 12 title for Bedlam’s Best.

1. Experience and Leadership with the Guards

At the heart of Oklahoma State's success is a battle-tested backcourt led by Stailee Heard and Micah Gray. It would be hard to find a more experienced and productive backcourt in the Big 12 to start the season. They may have a claim for the nation’s most dynamic duo in just a few months. Heard’s versatility (16.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 1.8 steals) and Gray’s perimeter shooting (13.7 points) will be hard to slow down.

Gray has been in the gym all summer trying to improve upon last year's 32.6% mark from beyond the arc. It was the sixth-best success rate in the Big 12; she made the third-most three-pointers in total. The Oklahoma City native even broke the school’s single-season mark (83) in the process. Hitting 100 beyond-the-arc bombs is possible, with a 35% accuracy rate from long range. Gray will not be shy about getting up shots. Expect that confidence to creep into the rest of the offense.

Heard (41.3% 3PA) was invited to the 2025 USA Basketball Women's AmeriCup Team Trials for a reason. The 2025 Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) All-American was on the USBWA Ann Meyers Drysdale National Player of the Year Midseason Watch List…until a late swoon. First, it was a seven-point no-show against a ranked West Virginia (54-37). Then came five points at BYU, four points at Utah, nine points at Kansas, fouling out early against Baylor, and those three turnovers while getting eliminated from the NCAA tournament by South Dakota State…

Buckets win ballgames. A lack of buckets builds character. Gray and Heard have, well, heard the noise all summer. Now it’s time to quiet a few rowdy road crowds. That first road trip to Queens, NYC (@ St. John’s) will be a great barometer on how close OSU is to competing for a title.

2. Offensive Efficiency and Scoring

Oklahoma State's offense is a well-oiled machine, built on balanced scoring that exploits mismatches and keeps defenses guessing. The Cowgirls' efficiency shines through in their shot selection and execution, with Heard's 47.7% field goal percentage and impressive 41.3% from deep exemplifying their inside-out attack. Gray wrangles the misses and cleans up on second-chance opportunities. If they sustain their smart decision-making and high-percentage looks, the Cowgirls could average over 70 points per game again, overwhelming opponents and fueling runs that turn games in their favor. With such scoring depth, championship-caliber offenses often emerge, and OSU has the pieces to join that elite group.

3. Improved Inside Presence and Rebounding

Adding sophomore center Favour Onoh has transformed Oklahoma State's interior game. The Enugu, Nigeria native provides the size (6-foot-5), rebounding (13.9), and rim protection 3.2 blocks) to give Gray some help. Those 1.3 steals and 1.2 assists per game suggest the kind of all-around game that elevates a good team to a great one. The Philippines National Team is very actively recruiting Onoh to represent them after posting those numbers for the University of the Philippines. Whether all that production translates to the Big 12 is Oklahoma State’s biggest question mark.

4. Bench Depth and Versatility

Keeping fresh feet on the floor will be a big reason OSU will succeed. Thankfully, one of Oklahoma State’s biggest strengths is a robust bench. Hoyt has a 12-deep which offers a mix of size, speed, and scoring that keeps the Cowgirls fresh and opponents guessing throughout games. Post players Achol Akot (6.5 PPG, 3.5 APG), Faith Acker (6.4 PPG, 3.5 RPG), and Praise Egharevba (4.2 RPG, 56.9% FGA) add bruising physicality when they come on the floor.

Jadyn Wooten led OSU with 104 assists and averaged 3.5 assists per game as a freshman. Tyla Heard (47 assists, 24 steals as a freshman) and Macey Huard (5.9 PPG, 3.7 RPG) are jolts of speed and instant energy. Their playmaking and being able to score efficiently determine how much Stailee Heard and Micah Gray can rest.

Hoyt was not complacent in the transfer portal despite the returning depth. Amari Whiting averaged 10.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.8 assists for BYU last season (30 starts). Haleigh Timmer posted 6.6 points and 6.8 rebounds per game at South Dakota State. Wilnie Joseph (6-foot-5) was a useful bench piece for McNesse State.

5. Defensive Intensity and Transition Play

Hoyt has been known for aggressive and high-effort defense. Last year’s squad finished fifth-best in points scored (76.4) and points allowed (60.4). This year's roster fits that identity perfectly. Heard (1.8 steals per game) and Gray (1.0 steals) applying ball pressure should help Onoh (2.5 blocks) protect the paint. Okie State was second in rebounding and the Big 12’s best at guarding the three-point line. Opponents shot 26% from beyond the arc. Really, last season was undone by turnovers (477 total versus 442 assists) and a lack of good free-throw shooting (13th in the Big 12). It’s hard to win when you share the ball more with the other team than with your teammates. All that nonsense stops this season.

Four-star freshman Lena Girardi (42% 3PA) should be able to step right into the rotation if any upperclassmen slip up. With athletic guards capable of pressuring the ball and forwards and centers who can switch effectively, OSU’s ability to turn defense into offense will help their success. Quick transitions and aggressive play will keep their opponents on their heels.

Teams facing Oklahoma State know they'll have to earn every possession, battle for every rebound, and withstand constant defensive pressure. That mental and physical toll accumulates.

All that in mind, it’s hard to argue with Hoyt: “There are a million reasons to be excited about Oklahoma State.”

However, we cannot list them all. Just stay tuned for the Final Four run. Championship expectations are no longer a rare burden in Stillwater, but rather a badge of honor this team is ready to embrace.