Cowgirls are Ushering in a New Era in Stillwater

Amari Whiting is a 5-foot-10 guard from Boise, Idaho, and arrived via the transfer portal from BYU. She started all 63 games over two seasons, averaging 10.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.8 assists. Whiting is a coach’s daughter with a knack for reading the game and is a perfect fit in Hoyt’s up-tempo, ballscreen-motion offense. Her near triple-double (14 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists) at BYU shows what her play in Stillwater could possibly look like.

Stailee Heard, a Sapulpa native with superstar ability, is the heartbeat of the team. The 5-foot-11 guard led the Cowgirls in scoring and rebounding last season, despite playing through injuries and heavy minutes. She will likely enter the season as a Big 12 Player of the Year contender. Heard's pride in her Native American heritage was recently on showcased in OSU’s N7 games.

Lena Girardi, a four-star freshman from Purchase, New York, adds another dimension. The 6-foot guard is the daughter of Yankees legend Joe Girardi and brings a fierce competitive edge to the Pokes' roster. At Westminster Academy, she averaged 23.3 points and 12.8 rebounds as a sophomore. Her choice of Oklahoma State over powerhouses like Arizona and North Carolina showed her trust in the Cowgirls’ family-like culture. Her work ethic has already turned some heads in early practices.

Anchoring the squad is senior guard Micah Gray, an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection who started all 32 games last season, sinking 83 3-pointers. Her clutch performance against Utah, in which she scored 14 of her 18 points in the second half, included four 3-pointers. Gray’s leadership steadies the young roster, especially as OSU integrates numerous transfers and incoming freshmen.

After a 2024-25 season that saw OSU finish third in the Big 12 and earn a No. 7 NCAA Tournament seed, expectations are sky-high. The Cowgirls aren't just dreaming of March Madness, but gunning for a deep run. With the magic worked by the Oklahoma State coaching staff, these Cowgirls are ready to ride.