There’s nothing quite like a Cinderella story, and if you’re searching for one with a sassy Southern twist, look no further than the 2018–19 McNeese State Cowgirls basketball team. Hailing from the heart of Louisiana, in Lake Charles, the Cowgirls are a formidable force in women’s college basketball. Armed with grit and a steady dose of determination, the squad set out to make waves in the Southland Conference by getting back to their roots - hard work, discipline, and team spirit.
The roster that season was filled with an eclectic mix of players, featuring keen rookies eager to prove their mettle alongside seasoned veterans ready to guide their squad to victory. With a head coach like Kacie Cryer helming the ship, it was expected and demanded that the women give their all. Cryer’s methodology was straightforward—play hard and for the love of the game—and her expectations were for the women to rise to meet adversity head on. Any sports devotee will tell you that’s a far cry from the coddled attitude preferred by others. Ultimately, this team wasn’t one to bow out easily.
When pundits speak about women’s sports, they tend to overlook the underdog tales emanating from teams like the Cowgirls. Not flashy, not in the media’s limelight, but undeniably vital to the integrity of competition. The 2018-2019 season was one where the Cowgirls proved their relevance time and time again through sheer persistence and tenacity on the court.
Sure, flashy headlines often ignore the ‘little’ teams in favor of media darlings, but anybody who overlooks the Cowgirls’ zest for basketball has another thing coming. The season was particularly perplexing in many ways, but utterly satisfying in the resilience department. The team took on challenging opponents with courage and showed an impressive defensive forte, leaving some of their adversaries bewildered. They didn’t end the season with a championship trophy—no Disney fairy tale ending here—but what they did accomplish was rallying a closer-knit team spirit, enhancing their skills, and providing valuable lessons for future seasons. Anyone who thinks a season can only be measured by wins and losses, frankly, misses the point.
Young players like sophomore forward Rehema Franklin added depth to the roster by not only stepping up as scorers but also bringing innovation to their game strategies. Franklin’s approach was never about hogging the spotlight but rather making sure the team functioned as a unified organism. This ethos bled into team practices and games, manifesting in better-organized plays and solid tactical executions on the court.
It’s simply characteristic of the Cowgirls’ tenacity to confront unfavorable odds with unparalleled vigour. Season highlights included showcasing their talents at significant road games within the conference and stealing a few memorable victories against teams that, on paper, had them outmatched. A tenacity that would be derided by others for being too ‘rugged’ or ‘rough-around-the-edges’, but it’s that very ruggedness that bestowed upon them their character.
Of course, let’s not avoid tackling the reality that funding for programs like the Cowgirls often leaves more to be desired. The disparity is glaringly large, with enormous budgets and press coverage for other sports leaving teams like McNeese State often struggling for financial support and attention. Yet, if there’s one thing the Cowgirls never lacked, it was heart. The support from their fan base, while perhaps smaller in number compared to larger schools, was mighty in spirit—propelling them onward through thick and thin.
The 2018-19 season illustrated that McNeese State Cowgirls not only possess the fortitude to hold their ground against more touted programs but also the know-how to earn respect where it truly counts—on the court. The kind of respect built from a relentless work ethic, and an unwavering belief in their potential.
As we witness women’s sports steadily climb up the ladder of recognition, the narratives of teams like the Cowgirls should never be overshadowed. Here’s a challenge: find a McNeese alum or just any honest college basketball aficionado, and they’ll confirm that the Cowgirls’ story isn’t just about basketball—it's about the life lessons that come with the sport.
For those holding their breath for a bombastic, dramatic finish, remind yourself that sports have a poetic way of revealing truths unmistakably fundamental to success and adversity alike. This group from Louisiana may have already moved on from the 2018-2019 season, but what they accomplished, particularly in building a cultural foundation for future Cowgirls to uphold and enhance, is what might become the heart of yet another legendary underdog story—destined never to be kept in silence.