It is a weird time to be a Mizzou fan. If you walked into Mizzou Arena right now, you’d see a program that looks completely different from the one that sputtered to the finish line just a year ago. Honestly, the Missouri Tigers women's basketball team has been through the wringer. After fifteen years of Robin Pingeton, a coach who was basically synonymous with the program, the school finally pulled the trigger on a massive change.
Enter Kellie Harper.
She isn't just a new face. She’s a three-time national champion as a player at Tennessee and a coach who has been to the mountain top. But let’s be real for a second: taking over a team that went 11-19 and winless in the SEC for a stretch isn't a "plug and play" situation. It's a renovation. A messy, loud, and sometimes frustrating rebuild that is currently playing out on Norm Stewart Court.
The Grace Slaughter Factor
If you want to know why there's actually hope in Columbia, you have to talk about Grace Slaughter. The junior guard is the heart of this roster. Seriously. While the portal era has made it so players jump ship the moment a coach leaves—and Mizzou lost some big names like Ashton Judd to Texas—Slaughter stayed.
She's currently averaging over 21 points per game. That’s not just "good for Mizzou" numbers; that’s elite, top-of-the-SEC production. She was recently named to the Cheryl Miller Award watch list, which honors the best small forward in the country. Watching her play is different this year. There’s a level of aggression in her mid-range game that we didn't see as much in the previous system. She’s taking 20 shots a night because she has to.
But she isn't alone. Jordana Reisma has stepped up in a way that’s caught a lot of people off guard. The 6-foot-3 senior forward has been a double-double machine lately. She’s currently sitting in the top five of the conference for rebounding, pulling down nearly 11 boards a game.
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The Record vs. The Reality
Looking at the standings can be a bit depressing if you don't have context. As of mid-January 2026, the Tigers are sitting at 12-7 overall but have struggled to find that first signature SEC win under Harper, starting 0-4 in conference play.
Wait. Don't close the tab yet.
The non-conference slate was actually solid. They beat Central Arkansas, handled Tulane on the road, and showed some real grit against mid-majors. The problem is the SEC is a buzzsaw. When you're playing Top-10 teams like Texas and Oklahoma every other week, the margin for error is basically zero.
The roster is thin. After the coaching change, the team saw a mass exodus. Names like Tilda Sjökvist, Hilke Feldrappe, and Lucija Milkovic all hit the portal. That left Kellie Harper with a "Frankenstein" roster of remaining veterans and a handful of transfers like Shannon Dowell (from Illinois State) and Saniah Tyler (from Kentucky).
Why Recruiting is the Real Story
You can't judge a coach by their first six months with someone else's players. Well, you can, but it’s not the whole picture. The reason Mizzou fans are still showing up—attendance at Mizzou Arena is actually holding steady at a couple thousand per game—is because of what’s coming next.
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Harper is killing it on the recruiting trail. She’s shifted the focus from just surviving in the transfer portal to building a high school powerhouse. In November 2025, she signed three Top-100 prospects.
- Natalya Hodge: A four-star point guard from Tennessee. She’s lightning fast and exactly the kind of floor general Mizzou hasn't had since the Sophie Cunningham era.
- Khloe Ford: A 6-foot-4 forward from Alabama who has won three straight state titles. She’s a winner. Period.
- Jada Maples: A dynamic shooting guard who chose Mizzou over a bunch of other SEC schools.
This 2026 class is arguably the best Mizzou has seen in a decade. It shows that despite the current record, players want to play for Harper. They see the vision. They see the "Mizzou Made" brand being rebuilt from the ground up.
What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest misconception about Missouri Tigers women's basketball right now is that the program is in a "downward spiral." It’s actually the opposite. It’s an upward climb that started from a very deep hole.
The defense is already better. Statistically, they are contested more shots and playing a much more physical brand of basketball than they did in the late-Pingeton years. They aren't getting blown out by 30 points; they’re losing tight games because they lack the depth to finish the fourth quarter.
The Road Ahead
So, what should you actually look for during the rest of the 2026 season?
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First, watch the development of the younger players like sophomore Sydney Mains and redshirt freshman Ma'Riya Vincent. These are the bridge players. If they can provide 10-15 minutes of solid production off the bench, it takes the weight off Slaughter’s shoulders.
Second, the home schedule is key. Mizzou Arena is a legit advantage when it’s loud. Upcoming games against Arkansas and Ole Miss are "must-wins" if this team wants to make a push for a WNIT bid or a surprise run in the SEC Tournament.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're following the team this season, keep these things in mind to stay ahead of the curve:
- Check the box scores for "Bench Points." If Mizzou is getting 15+ from the reserves, they usually win. If it’s just the Slaughter and Reisma show, they’ll struggle late in games.
- Watch the 2026 commits. Follow Natalya Hodge and Khloe Ford’s high school seasons. Their success is a direct preview of Mizzou’s 2027 season.
- Go to a game. Honestly, tickets are affordable and the atmosphere under Harper has a different energy. Being there in person lets you see the defensive rotations that don't always show up on the TV broadcast.
The "New Era" isn't a finished product. It’s a work in progress, but for the first time in a long time, the Missouri Tigers women's basketball program feels like it has a specific, high-level destination in mind.