Stailee Heard, Oklahoma State Already Putting Big 12 on Alert

STILLWATER — Last season, Oklahoma State played its way onto the map.

This year, the Cowgirls will start there.

“Really embracing that target that’s on our back for the first time in a while. … We want to prove the people who count us out wrong,” OSU coach Jacie Hoyt said. “But more importantly, we want to prove ourselves right.”

Last season, Hoyt used her platform to address the disrespect she felt the Cowgirls received throughout the year. She won’t have quite as much room for those comments when the season begins on Nov. 3 at home vs New Orleans.

AP Poll voters ranked OSU 22nd to begin the year. Last season’s group peaked at 17th in the poll before finishing 24th.

The Cowgirls haven’t been ranked in the preseason AP Poll since 2008, when they started 14th. In fact, OSU’s highest-ever pre-December ranking is only 18th so this group is already well-positioned to push for history.

Poll voters aren’t the only ones paying attention. The Cowgirls will appear on national television four times during the regular season (after only getting picked for two such games last year).

Bring on the spotlight! #GoPokes pic.twitter.com/40kNEPHaQB

— OSU Cowgirl Basketball (@OSUWBB) October 13, 2025

The rest of the conference also took note of the Cowgirls’ push for a regular-season conference title when they finished third in the Big 12.

Last year Big 12 coaches ranked OSU 11th to begin the season, but this time around OSU was picked fourth and even received 2-of-15 possible first-place votes.

“We earned that but, we’re not satisfied,” Stailee Heard said. “I mean, I’m sure not satisfied. It’s just like, we know we could be the best team in Big 12. We know we possibly are the best team in the Big 12, and we just have to prove that. … We’re still probably underestimated, but honestly, the rankings don’t matter to me.”

Heard also received some love from conference coaches, who voted her to be a unanimous member on the 10-woman preseason All-Big 12 Team.

She was one of six athletes to receive every available vote. Quite the leap, considering this time last year no Cowgirl received recognition, making OSU one of seven conference teams to miss out on any individual preseason honors.

“I wasn’t surprised by Stailee,” Hoyt said of the list. “I think she’s definitely earned that.”

Heard averaged a team-high 16.8 points (11th in Big 12) and team-high 8.2 rebounds (fourth in Big 12) per game last season for the Cowgirls. She also shot 48% from the floor (10th in Big 12) and averaged 1.8 steals per game (eighth in Big 12).

“I could care less about it honestly,” Heard said of the preseason shoutout. “I mean, it’s cool to be recognized. But you know that is not, that’s not my goal here. My goal is to win a Big 12 championship, and that takes all of us. And so, you know, I’m just doing my part, and I’m doing what I can for this team.”

Heard was one of the conference’s breakout stars last season, and quickly began earning additional attention in games from opponents. Both Heard and her head coach agree she won’t have the benefit of surprising anyone this time around.

“I feel I’ve earned that (attention),” Heard said. “I’ve earned that right. And, you know, it’s not all me, it’s not all me. It was my teammates last year putting me, setting me up for those positions, and doing everything they could, and my coaches preparing me, and just, you know, all the work that I put in is just like it just showed.”