STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State women’s basketball season is approaching.
Year 4 of the coach Sam Purcell era tips off when the Bulldogs host Davidson at Humphrey Coliseum on Nov. 3 (6:30 p.m., SEC Network+).
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MSU returned to the NCAA tournament last season, advancing to the second round before losing to Southern Cal. Much of MSU’s roster is overturned with the top four scorers from last season gone, including Jerkaila Jordan.
Here’s what to know about Mississippi State ahead of the season opener.
Mississippi State women’s basketball schedule top games
Mississippi State has two marquee nonconference games, one at home and one on the road. The Bulldogs play at Texas Tech on Nov. 20 and host Pittsburgh in the ACC/SEC Challenge on Dec. 4.
There are also three nonconference games against in-state opponents at Humphrey Coliseum: Mississippi Valley State on Nov. 9, Jackson State on Nov. 13 and Southern Miss on Dec. 14.
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A lot of Mississippi State’s top SEC games are on the road like No. 7 Oklahoma on Jan. 4, No. 14 Ole Miss on Jan. 11, No. 2 South Carolina Feb. 5 and No. 3 Texas Feb. 22.
The notable home opponents are No. 21 Vanderbilt with star Mikayla Blakes on Jan. 15 and the regular-season finale against No. 5 LSU on March 1. MSU plays No. 9 Tennessee at home on Jan. 8 and on the road on Jan. 29.
Mississippi State women’s basketball roster top transfers
Mississippi State added four transfers in the offseason. The top two to watch are guards Trayanna Crisp from North Carolina and Saniyah King from Howard. King was the MEAC Rookie of the Year last season, averaging 11.5 points per game in 31 starts.
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Forward Favour Nwaedozi is another intriguing player who joined MSU after playing two seasons in Japan.
Evaluating Sam Purcell’s Mississippi State 2025 recruiting class
The Bulldogs signed the No. 11 recruiting class, according to ESPN. It consists of three top-100 recruits: Jaylah Lampley, Madison Francis and Nataliyah Gray.
Biggest unanswered question for Mississippi State women’s basketball
Who emerges as a star, and does Mississippi State need one?
Mississippi State had a star last season in Jordan, who averaged 16.0 points per game. Center Madina Okot emerged as an elite post player, but she transferred to South Carolina. Only two players who played in the rotation returned: guard Destiney McPhaul and guard/forward Chandler Prater.
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Madison Francis could bring dunks to Mississippi State women’s basketball
Francis, although not the highest-ranked player in MSU’s recruiting class at No. 38 behind Lampley, has gotten the most buzz because of her dunking ability. The 6-foot-2 forward from New York dunked multiple times in games during her senior season.
MORE: Jeff Lebby’s advice to Blake Shapen after Mississippi State QB booed by Bulldogs fans
Will Mississippi State women’s basketball make 2026 NCAA Tournament?
Mississippi State has made the NCAA tournament in two of Purcell’s three seasons. However, it will miss the tournament this season.
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The Bulldogs should have a high enough floor to be in the bubble conversation for the NCAA tournament, but their lack of a proven star player will hold them back. This could be somewhat of a rebuild season for the Bulldogs centered around their nucleus of freshmen.
Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for The Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@gannett.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Mississippi State women’s basketball predictions for 2025-26 season
