The University of Mississippi Athletics
Thursday, November 5
Oxford, Miss.
6 PM
Ole Miss
vs
North Alabama
11/4/2026 | Women's Basketball
OXFORD, Miss. – After coming off a season-opening victory, the Ole Miss Rebels will turn their attention to North Alabama as they prepare to host the Lions Thursday, November 5 at the SJB Pavilion. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. CT, airing on SEC Network+.
TEAM FACTS
No. 19/23 Ole Miss Rebels (1-0, 0-0 SEC)
Head Coach: Yolett McPhee-McCuin • Ninth Season at Ole Miss (150-107) • 14th Season in Career (244-170)
North Alabama Lions (0-1, 0-0 UAC)
Head Coach: Anna Nimz • First Season at North Alabama (0-1) • 6th Season in Career (69-100)
ON THE AIR
Television: SEC Network+
Play-by-Play: Jake Hromada
Color: Lindsay King
Reporter: Keiran Lencheski
OLE MISS RADIO
Radio: Ole Miss Radio Network
Play-by-Play: Graham Doty
SERIES HISTORY
Thursday's contest will mark the first-ever meeting between Ole Miss and North Alabama. The Rebels enter the matchup riding the momentum of a dominant 80-38 victory against Alcorn State, headlined by Jaida Civil's 17 points and five assists. North Alabama enters Thursday's contest dropping a road matchup in Starkville to MSU, 68-27.
SCOUTING THE LIONS
North Alabama is coming off a 17-14 season last year, which saw the Lions fall short in the second round of the ASUN tournament. North Alabama has a new face leading the charge in Anna Nimz. Nimz was named head coach, after spending six seasons with the Northwestern State Demons. In the season of changes for the Lions, North Alabama will also be competing in the newly formed United Athletic Conference (UAC), previously known as the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) after spending seven seasons in the ASUN Conference.
The Lions return three student-athletes from the 2025-26 season, which includes sophomore guard Greta Ramon who appeared in all 31 games for the Lions last season and averaged 2.1 points per game. Nimz added 12 newcomers to the roster, including nine transfers and three freshmen.
GAMES AGAINST THE UAC
Ole Miss has historically dominated UAC opponents, holding a combined record of 18-3 against all members of the conference. The last time the Rebels faced off against the UAC, was November 25, 2023, when Ole Miss took down the Little Rock Trojans, 58-45.
A LONG-AWAITED MEETING
This will mark the first meeting between Ole Miss and North Alabama on the hardwood. However, for head coaches Yolett McPhee-McCuin and Anna Nimz, the matchup has been a long time coming. The two were originally scheduled to face off in 2020, when Nimz was at Northwestern State, but the game was canceled due to Covid.
THE EXPECTATION, NOT THE EXCEPTION
Entering year nine of the Yolett McPhee-McCuin era in Oxford, the standard has been set. Two Sweet 16s, five NCAA Tournaments in a row, five consecutive 20+ win seasons, multiple All-SEC selections and five WNBA Draft picks, the Rebels have re-asserted themselves as a top program in women's college basketball.
TELL A FRIEND TO TELL A FRIEND, WE'RE BACK!
Entering the 2026-27 season, two key players from last year's squad are poised to provide leadership for the ten newcomers. Returning reserves in Lauren Jacobs and Desrae Kyles are primed to showcase their development from the offseason.
PORTAL POWERHOUSE
Branding herself as the portal queen, when players decide to transfer, Coach Yo loves to prove that a home for them is available in Oxford. Preaching the importance of development, players who decide to come to Ole Miss can see their game taken to a new level. Bringing in nine players from the transfer portal this off-season, the Rebels have been recognized as having one of the best transfer classes by multiple outlets.
ESPN and USA TODAY had Ole Miss as the No. 3 best transfer class and first in the SEC for the second consecutive year. On3.com had the Rebels at No. 4 nationally saying, "Another year, another transfer portal cycle that head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin dominated early."
FRESH FACES
Along with bringing in ten transfers, Coach Yo and her staff secured one of the best young talents in Charleen Hudson to make up this season's newcomer class.
STAR STUDDED STAFF
While being known as the transfer portal queen has its pros, Coach Yo has the challenge of teaching new players the culture at Ole Miss every season. She has stated multiple times that she always relies on her coaches and staff, who have stayed consistent through the years, to help show the way for newcomers.
All five of Coach Yo's elite coaching staff has NCAA Tournament experience, whether as a player or on staff. Additionally, Ole Miss is one of only three schools in the nation to have two former WNBA draft picks on its staff, as Associate Coach Joy Smith was picked in 2010 and Assistant Coach Adrienne Motley in 2017.
CONFERENCE RECOGNITION
In both the preseason SEC coaches and media polls, Ole Miss was picked seventh in the projected order of finish. Individually, Cooper was named to the preseason All-SEC first team by the conference's coaches and the preseason All-SEC second team in the media poll. In the coaches' poll, Richard also earned honors, earning a spot on the All-SEC second team.
It marks Cooper's fourth instance earning preseason All-SEC honors, after being named to the end of year All-SEC second team for two consecutive seasons. Richard has earned her first preseason All-SEC recognition as a junior.
HOOPIN' COOP
Talaysia Cooper adds another preseason accolade to her resume, as she was named one of 20 watch-list candidates for the 2027 Ann Meyers Drysdale Award. This marks Cooper's third time on this prestigious preseason list, earning top 10 finalist honors in 2024-25. Additionally, it's the seventh consecutive year at least one Rebel has been named to a preseason Naismith award watch list.
POY WATCH LIST
Talaysia Cooper has been named to the 2026-27 Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy Player of the Year Watch List. This marks Cooper's third time on this prestigious preseason list, earning a spot on the late midseason watch list in 2024-25. Additionally, it's the third consecutive year a Rebel has been named to this player of the year watch list, as Cotie McMahon and Madison Scott were each recognized.
Get ready for the next chapter of Ole Miss Women's Basketball by getting season tickets for the 2026-27 season here. Your Rebels have made the tournament five years straight and continue to trend upwards.
Follow the Rebels on X at @OleMissWBB, Facebook at Ole Miss WBB and on Instagram at Ole MissWBB. You can also follow head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin on X at @YolettMcCuin.
TEAM FACTS
No. 19/23 Ole Miss Rebels (1-0, 0-0 SEC)
Head Coach: Yolett McPhee-McCuin • Ninth Season at Ole Miss (150-107) • 14th Season in Career (244-170)
North Alabama Lions (0-1, 0-0 UAC)
Head Coach: Anna Nimz • First Season at North Alabama (0-1) • 6th Season in Career (69-100)
ON THE AIR
Television: SEC Network+
Play-by-Play: Jake Hromada
Color: Lindsay King
Reporter: Keiran Lencheski
OLE MISS RADIO
Radio: Ole Miss Radio Network
Play-by-Play: Graham Doty
SERIES HISTORY
Thursday's contest will mark the first-ever meeting between Ole Miss and North Alabama. The Rebels enter the matchup riding the momentum of a dominant 80-38 victory against Alcorn State, headlined by Jaida Civil's 17 points and five assists. North Alabama enters Thursday's contest dropping a road matchup in Starkville to MSU, 68-27.
SCOUTING THE LIONS
North Alabama is coming off a 17-14 season last year, which saw the Lions fall short in the second round of the ASUN tournament. North Alabama has a new face leading the charge in Anna Nimz. Nimz was named head coach, after spending six seasons with the Northwestern State Demons. In the season of changes for the Lions, North Alabama will also be competing in the newly formed United Athletic Conference (UAC), previously known as the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) after spending seven seasons in the ASUN Conference.
The Lions return three student-athletes from the 2025-26 season, which includes sophomore guard Greta Ramon who appeared in all 31 games for the Lions last season and averaged 2.1 points per game. Nimz added 12 newcomers to the roster, including nine transfers and three freshmen.
GAMES AGAINST THE UAC
Ole Miss has historically dominated UAC opponents, holding a combined record of 18-3 against all members of the conference. The last time the Rebels faced off against the UAC, was November 25, 2023, when Ole Miss took down the Little Rock Trojans, 58-45.
A LONG-AWAITED MEETING
This will mark the first meeting between Ole Miss and North Alabama on the hardwood. However, for head coaches Yolett McPhee-McCuin and Anna Nimz, the matchup has been a long time coming. The two were originally scheduled to face off in 2020, when Nimz was at Northwestern State, but the game was canceled due to Covid.
THE EXPECTATION, NOT THE EXCEPTION
Entering year nine of the Yolett McPhee-McCuin era in Oxford, the standard has been set. Two Sweet 16s, five NCAA Tournaments in a row, five consecutive 20+ win seasons, multiple All-SEC selections and five WNBA Draft picks, the Rebels have re-asserted themselves as a top program in women's college basketball.
TELL A FRIEND TO TELL A FRIEND, WE'RE BACK!
Entering the 2026-27 season, two key players from last year's squad are poised to provide leadership for the ten newcomers. Returning reserves in Lauren Jacobs and Desrae Kyles are primed to showcase their development from the offseason.
PORTAL POWERHOUSE
Branding herself as the portal queen, when players decide to transfer, Coach Yo loves to prove that a home for them is available in Oxford. Preaching the importance of development, players who decide to come to Ole Miss can see their game taken to a new level. Bringing in nine players from the transfer portal this off-season, the Rebels have been recognized as having one of the best transfer classes by multiple outlets.
ESPN and USA TODAY had Ole Miss as the No. 3 best transfer class and first in the SEC for the second consecutive year. On3.com had the Rebels at No. 4 nationally saying, "Another year, another transfer portal cycle that head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin dominated early."
FRESH FACES
Along with bringing in ten transfers, Coach Yo and her staff secured one of the best young talents in Charleen Hudson to make up this season's newcomer class.
STAR STUDDED STAFF
While being known as the transfer portal queen has its pros, Coach Yo has the challenge of teaching new players the culture at Ole Miss every season. She has stated multiple times that she always relies on her coaches and staff, who have stayed consistent through the years, to help show the way for newcomers.
All five of Coach Yo's elite coaching staff has NCAA Tournament experience, whether as a player or on staff. Additionally, Ole Miss is one of only three schools in the nation to have two former WNBA draft picks on its staff, as Associate Coach Joy Smith was picked in 2010 and Assistant Coach Adrienne Motley in 2017.
CONFERENCE RECOGNITION
In both the preseason SEC coaches and media polls, Ole Miss was picked seventh in the projected order of finish. Individually, Cooper was named to the preseason All-SEC first team by the conference's coaches and the preseason All-SEC second team in the media poll. In the coaches' poll, Richard also earned honors, earning a spot on the All-SEC second team.
It marks Cooper's fourth instance earning preseason All-SEC honors, after being named to the end of year All-SEC second team for two consecutive seasons. Richard has earned her first preseason All-SEC recognition as a junior.
HOOPIN' COOP
Talaysia Cooper adds another preseason accolade to her resume, as she was named one of 20 watch-list candidates for the 2027 Ann Meyers Drysdale Award. This marks Cooper's third time on this prestigious preseason list, earning top 10 finalist honors in 2024-25. Additionally, it's the seventh consecutive year at least one Rebel has been named to a preseason Naismith award watch list.
POY WATCH LIST
Talaysia Cooper has been named to the 2026-27 Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy Player of the Year Watch List. This marks Cooper's third time on this prestigious preseason list, earning a spot on the late midseason watch list in 2024-25. Additionally, it's the third consecutive year a Rebel has been named to this player of the year watch list, as Cotie McMahon and Madison Scott were each recognized.
Get ready for the next chapter of Ole Miss Women's Basketball by getting season tickets for the 2026-27 season here. Your Rebels have made the tournament five years straight and continue to trend upwards.
Follow the Rebels on X at @OleMissWBB, Facebook at Ole Miss WBB and on Instagram at Ole MissWBB. You can also follow head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin on X at @YolettMcCuin.
Players Mentioned
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