Ole Miss’ Marquesha Davis wins first WNBA championship to cap rookie Liberty season
Marquesha Davis in April became the second Ole Miss Rebel in three years selected in the first round of the WNBA Draft.
She’s a first-time WNBA champion six months later.
Davis was along for the ride as the New York Liberty secured their first-ever championship on Sunday. The Liberty needed overtime but finally did away with the Minnesota Lynx (in five games) with a 67-62 win.
Yolanda Moore is the only other Rebel in school history to win a WNBA title. Moore was a member of back-to-back championship teams in 1997 and 1998.
Legendary Ole Miss coach Van Chancellor secured four WNBA championships, while one-time Rebel Lin Dunn contributed to a 2012 win.
“The conversation with Que was, ‘When you leave Ole Miss, you’re gonna leave with a bang,’” now-seventh-year Ole Miss head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin previously said of Davis. “I said, ‘Go out with a bang.’
“Well, Marquesha’s a first-round draft pick.”
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— WNBA (@WNBA) October 21, 2024
The @nyliberty secure their first title in franchise history!#WelcometotheW | WNBA Finals @YouTubeTV pic.twitter.com/4GSpHZ4oW0
Davis — at No. 11 overall — became the seventh Rebel drafted in history. She was the fifth first-rounder.
“Dream big,” Davis said at the time. “To actually make it is not always easy. I would just say to those young girls to dream big if they’re from a small town.
“Always believe and just keep going.”
Davis appeared in five games for the Liberty this season.
Her best outing was against the Atlanta Dream in September. Davis contributed four points, two rebounds, a block and an assist.
Davis was one of three players drafted by the Liberty. The others were Arizona’s Esmery Martinez and Mississippi State’s Jessika Carter.
“I would say what excites me the most about coming into this Liberty team is learning from the vets that are there and just going in and continuing to grow,” Davis said. “Something that stood out to me was them looking for a two-way player, and me being just that.”
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HIGHLIGHTS: Breakout Ole Miss season sends ‘bucket’ Marquesha Davis to WNBA
Davis played three years at Arkansas before transferring to Ole Miss.
She put up 10.5 points and 4.8 rebounds as a senior. Davis was named All-SEC first team a season later and as a fifth-year COVID senior. Davis paced Ole Miss in scoring (14 points per game).
The 24-9 Rebels reached the the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive season. Ole Miss won a school-record 12 SEC games.
“(Davis) is a bucket,” McPhee-McCuin said. “I remember when she went into the portal, I saw her film, and I was unsure. She didn’t have a motor. I sent it to one of my former assistant coaches and he said, ‘If you don’t get that girl, you’re crazy.’
“It was one of the best decisions I’ve made since being here.”
Davis scored double-digit points 44 times in her Ole Miss career. She was an All-SEC selection and eclipsed 1,000 career points — just the 36th Rebel in history to do so.
Davis played in 67 games (59 starts) during her two Ole Miss seasons. She started one of 51 games at Arkansas. Her career (and Ole Miss’ season) ended in a loss to Notre Dame in March. The Irish held Davis to six points and three rebounds in 26 minutes.
The final play of Game 5 🚨 @nyliberty are your 2024 WNBA CHAMPS! pic.twitter.com/sGTMBVNKkQ
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 21, 2024
