Mississippi State Women's Basketball Makes Their Mark in NCAA Tournament As Underdogs

The Bulldogs continued to advance and break brackets in the tournament as the underdogs with plenty to be excited about for the future.

For first-year head coach Sam Purcell and his squad, Mississippi State women's basketball has exceeded people's expectations.

After hearing their name called on Selection Sunday, the No. 11-seeded Bulldogs defeated Illinois in the First Four, marking the Bulldogs' 12th NCAA Tournament appearance, as well as their first since 2019.

After beating Illinois in the First Four, the Bulldogs proceeded to upset the six seeded Creighton to advance to the second round, forcing the dark horse Bluejays team to pack their bags on day one.

The Bulldogs have become the only First Four team in tournament history to advance to the second round, fueling the team with an underdog mentality prior to their matchup against the three seeded Notre Dame.

"We don't mind being the underdog," Bulldog guard Ahlana Smith said. "I think it makes us work harder and understand that there is a lot at stake."

Sam Purcell also cited the team's mentality as well as the comradery within the locker room as they make their way through the tournament.

“You know what the best part was? Those young women in that locker room, they believed in each other. That's all you can ask for,” coach Purcell said. “We’re having a ball with people not believing in us, but again, it comes down to those young women in that locker room believing in each other.”

While the Bulldogs still have work to do, their mentality was to do what keeps them going as they faced Notre Dame, with an opportunity to reach the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2019.

"I told them if you want to try to knock off a heavyweight, you have to have a look," Purcell said.

The Bulldogs' big run ultimately came to a close with a 53-48 loss to the Fighting Irish, but there's no question that there is plenty of optimism for the future moving forward.

And the message remains the same.

“When we got this job, the narrative was, ‘Mississippi State women’s basketball is done. Its glory days are done,’” Purcell said. 

“I told (players) if we get the same amount of days as everybody in the country and we wake up every single day and we think we outwork our opponent, then why not us? Why can’t we be one of the better programs in the country? No matter who writes about us or who doesn’t write about us, go get what’s yours.”