Squaring up the SWAC’s women's basketball championship race
The competition in the SWAC is stronger than ever for the regular season championship
Black History Month offers a time to reflect on the achievements of Black athletes and the broader impact of HBCUs in the landscape of college sports. Well, Jackson State’s swagger has held sway over the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) since the pandemic-shortened season. Their renaissance not only elevated the profile of the conference but has also had a significant impact in the amount of talent being attracted to the most prominent HBCU hooping platform.
Now JSU is fighting for survival in the most hard-to-call SWAC Women's Basketball Conference race since 2018-19.
In a bit of a surprise, the 2025 SWAC Regular Season Title is still up for grabs going into February. Texas Southern, Jackson State, Alabama A&M, and Southern University are neck and neck, a stark contrast to years. Jackson State’s rising tide has lifted all boats. However, they can no longer afford the luxury of pulling ahead early and merely maintaining a lead in the SWAC..
2020-21: Jackson State (14-1 SWAC, 18-6 overall)
JSU beat (2) Alabama State by one point in the SWAC Conference Tournament championship but lost to (2) Baylor 101-52 in the NCAA’s first round, ending the season as another also-ran that top seeds barely scouted.
2021-22: Jackson St. (18-0 SWAC, 23-7 overall)
A close loss to Miami (72-67) to open the season set a tone. JSU then destroyed Southland Conference (SLC) foe Nichols State (75-59) then gave Ole Miss (79-66) and Texas (78-64) a good 35-minute scare. Arkansas (66-62) barely survived to start the season. After a 21-point blowout over (3) Alabama State to earn a bid, JSU almost pulled off an NCAA upset for the ages against LSU (83-77).
2022-23: Jackson St. (17-1 SWAC, 21-10 overall)
Everyone was on notice after JSU beat Texas Tech (69-63) in Lubbock, then bullied Louisiana (70-41). A four-point regular season conference loss hurt, but they’d again run away from the pack in the standings. Four 12-6 teams were bunched for second place. The one-point loss to secure the SWAC’s guaranteed NCAA bid was fatal and JSU bowed out respectably in a Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) loss to Memphis (79-68) in Memphis.
2023-24: Jackson St. (18-0 SWAC, 26-7 overall)
Jackson State had more close calls and upset wins over Power Five schools and swept through the SWAC undefeated. The season came to an end with a loss against (3) UConn in an 86-64 NCAA Tournament, much to betters’ frustration. As a result, scouts with transfer portal tendencies were eyeing the SWAC every night.
2024-25: (????)
This season's race has been characterized by several key factors: First, forget the blowouts of old; only three teams are still fighting for a third win. The middle class can steal a win regardless of game location. More contests are coming down to the wire; the standings are extremely close, with any given game potentially shifting the balance of power within the conference.
Texas Southern (10-0)
Alabama A&M (8-2)
Southern (8-2)
Jackson State (8-2)
Only Texas Southern has any margin of error. Alabama A&M, Southern, and Jackson State are trying to hang on. However, the JSU juggernaut has reason to believe they can hang another regular season conference banner.
Sweating out the SWAC
Jackson State lost to Southern (64-47) and Texas Southern (69-54) on the road but beat Alabama A&M at home. In a bit of fortune, JSU’s next two games and the last two of the season are against the two worst teams, Mississippi Valley State (1-8) and Arkansas-Pine Bluff (1-7). The unbalanced schedule also provides one shot at revenge at home against Texas Southern.
Win out and get one game's worth of help from anyone else against Texas Southern and JSU are likely getting adjusted for championship rings. TSU also has Arkansas- Pine Bluff twice, home and away. They also face Southern and Grambling State (5-4) on the road over Valentine’s Day Weekend, with an early 2 p.m. Sunday tip in Grambling, LA. Five of TSU’s last seven games require a bus ride. That’s tough.
Alabama A&M also plays five of the last seven games on the road. At least they get the two cupcakes (Mississippi Valley State and Arkansas- Pine Bluff) on Valentine’s Weekend. It should be noted: The Bulldogs are the only SWAC team with a winning record overall. Winning habits will be huge in two battles against Southern as Alabama A&M avoids the other SWAC title contenders.
Southern is stuck playing the middle class, plus Alabama A&M and Texas Southern. With no Mississippi Valley State or Arkansas—Pine Bluff dates and a trip to hated rivals Grambling remaining, the ballers from Baton Rouge have the toughest road to the title.
So who will soldier through the schedule and wind up with the SWAC’s 2024-25 Regular Season Champs banner in their building? Let us know on the 5wins social media channels!