Oklahoma State’s momentum on the women’s basketball trail is rolling right into the fall.
On Sunday, On3’s Talia Goodman reported that guard Payton Caudle has committed to the Cowgirls. Caudle, a Fayetteville, Ark., native, is ranked by On3/Rivals as a Top 25 player in the Class of 2028. She also made the announcement on social media, writing: “found my people 🤠🧡 #Committed #GoPokes @OSUWBB pic.twitter.com/94RskUppVa”
The commitment is non-binding, and the earliest Caudle can sign with Oklahoma State is next month, when the early signing period opens.
For Jacie Hoyt and her staff, landing Caudle is another strong move in a recruiting stretch that has already changed the look of the program. Caudle was also being recruited by Tulsa, Oklahoma, Missouri and BYU, among others, so beating out those schools - including in-state competition - is a meaningful win for the Cowgirls.
There’s also a bigger roster picture forming around this class. With the new age-based eligibility rules in place, Oklahoma State has to plan carefully for 2028.
Incoming freshmen now get five years of eligibility, while current players received additional eligibility depending on what benefits them more in their college careers. That could eventually create a roster crunch Hoyt will need to manage as she keeps adding pieces.
At the moment, only one player on the roster is a fifth-year player: Callin Hake, who joined the team last month after receiving a temporary restraining order and signing with the program. The other 11 players listed on the electronic roster will have at least one more year of eligibility after this season.
The Cowgirls’ summer work is already showing up in the recruiting results. Oklahoma State built the No. 1 transfer class in the country, headlined by the No. 1 and No. 2 transfers, center Audi Crooks and guard Liv McGill. Crooks, who came from Iowa State, was named the Big 12 preseason player of the year, and McGill earned Big 12 newcomer of the year honors.
Oklahoma State was also picked as the Big 12 preseason favorite for the first time in program history. The Cowgirls will have 10 of their 18 league games shown on national broadcasts, and they’re set to face South Carolina in December in a game scheduled for ABC.
Hoyt, Crooks, McGill and guard Stailee Heard - the only holdover from last year’s NCAA Tournament team - will be in Kansas City on Wednesday for Big 12 media days.
In Other News...
Oklahoma State Let A Winnable Game Slip Away In Houston
Oklahoma State had enough offense to make things interesting at TDECU Stadium, but the early mistakes proved costly in a 35-32 loss to Houston. The Cowboys got behind 14-3 at halftime, then spent the second half trying to dig out of the hole while Drew Mestemaker threw for 365 yards and three touchdowns.
Even with 29 points after intermission, Oklahoma State never fully erased the damage from a sloppy opening stretch against a Houston team that was sharp enough to capitalize. The defeat leaves the Cowboys at 4-2 overall and 2-1 in Big 12 play, with plenty to unpack after a game that was there to be won. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma State Faces A Colorado Team Still Searching For Answers
Colorado heads to Boone Pickens Stadium on Saturday still trying to steady an offense that has not found its footing in Big 12 play. The Buffaloes are 2-4 overall and 0-3 in the league, and the trip to Stillwater comes with a new look at quarterback as Isaac Wilson takes over for Julian Lewis.
The switch adds another layer of uncertainty for a Colorado team that has struggled to put points on the board, averaging just 19.5 per game and sitting last in the Big 12. For Oklahoma State, it means facing an opponent searching for answers on the road, with the Cowboys getting a front-row seat to a lineup in flux and an offense that has yet to show it can keep pace. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma State's Big 12 Margin For Error Just Got Smaller
A three-point loss to Houston left Oklahoma State in a tougher spot in the Big 12 race, and the timing only sharpens the pressure with Colorado coming to Stillwater next. The conference picture is already tilted by undefeated Texas Tech, BYU and Utah, which means the Cowboys no longer have much room for another slip if they want to stay relevant in the title chase.
The remaining path is not just narrow, it is the kind of route that demands help from around the league while Oklahoma State takes care of its own business. With so many contenders still standing and the margin for error shrinking by the week, every game from here carries the feel of a must-have for a team trying to keep its Big 12 hopes alive. [Read more 🡒]