Bulldogs add JUCO All-American Awa Fane to women's hoops roster
Mississippi State added another player to its roster for the 2025-26 women’s basketball season.
The school announced that Panola College (Texas) standout guard Awa Fane would be joining the roster after two great seasons with the Fillies. Her sophomore season finished with her being named the Region XIV Player of the Year with a NJCAA first-team All-American honor after averaging 19.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 3.0 steals in Region XIV games.
A native of Thies, Senegal, the 5’8 Fane played in 55 games over the last two seasons and averaged 16.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.8 steals. Her senior season was a good one as she shot 83% from the foul line and scored a career-high 16.8 points with her best games coming against Region competition.
Coach Sam Purcell is hoping to strike gold with another JUCO All-American like he did a season ago when guard Destiney McPhaul landed with the Bulldogs. McPhaul is one of just three returning players from this past season’s roster but averaged 8.1 points off the bench while shooting 38% from three-point range and making 82% of her free throws.
McPhaul will be a critical piece to a massive rebuilding year for Purcell and company. The coach led the Bulldogs to a third-straight season of 20 or more wins in as many chances and he got State to a second NCAA Tournament in those three years.
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Following the season, the Bulldogs lost seniors Jerkaila Jordan and Eniya Russell from the core of the team after the duo graduated. State also lost a large chunk of the roster to the transfer portal with Madina Okot, Debreasha Powe and Denim Deshields transferring out of the starting lineup and Quanirah Montague from the bench. All four left for SEC teams.
Purcell has since landed transfer portal talent PF Kharyssa Richardson from Auburn/Ole Miss, SG Trayanna Crisp from Arizona State/North Carolina and PG Saniyah King from Howard. The Bulldogs are also bringing in a top 10 recruiting class with four-star players Jaylah Lampley, Madison Francis and Nataliyah Gray.
MSU has 10 scholarships filled at this point with the possibility of five more if they choose.
