Missouri State Women’s Basketball Is Making Moves in a New Conference
A Deep-Rooted History in the Missouri Valley Conference
Missouri State University joined the Missouri Valley Conference in 1907, starting a century-long athletics run. The women’s basketball team claimed 13 conference titles and participated in 17 NCAA Tournaments, including two Final Four appearances. In the MVC, they faced tough opponents like Drake, UNI, and Illinois State University. The fierce competition in the MVC gave them the experience and confidence needed to level up in a new conference.
A New Era For The Bears
Missouri State announced its departure from the MVC on May 10, 2024. Their transition to Conference USA marked a new beginning for the University, with a goal of raising their reputation and expanding their athletics program for more opportunities. Upon entering CUSA on July 1, 2025, the football program moved up from the FCS to the FBS, making them eligible for Bowl games. The Bears were also provided 11 new opponents to face off against. This was the perfect opportunity for Missouri State to prove themselves and put their names on a map. In women’s basketball, the Lady Bears had a disadvantage having never played any of the talented CUSA teams before. Louisiana Tech currently sits at the top of the Conference with Middle Tennessee State University following closely behind. Can Missouri State keep up in this new territory? Only time will tell.
The Lady Bears Sit at 5-2 in Conference USA, Ranked Fourth Overall
Despite being newcomers in the conference, the Lady Bears are making a statement on the court. Their season started off on an impressive non-conference run where they went 7-2. At the start of December, they ran into Arkansas, Kansas, and Gonzaga, hitting a tough 3-game losing streak. From there, it’s been smooth sailing for the Lady Bears, their only losses coming from New Mexico State and Louisiana Tech. The Bears are led by Junior Kaemyn Bekemeier who averages 17.5 points per game. Bekemeier is a phenomenal shooter from beyond the arc and has a quick release that makes her hard to guard. The Bears heavily rely on Bekemeier’s outside shooting, along with the post presence of Lainie Douglas, a Sophomore averaging 13.3 points per game. The strong leadership of head coach Beth Cunningham has been critical for the Lady Bears’ transition to a new conference. Hired in 2022, Cunningham has a 69-31 overall record and led her team to the Missouri Valley Conference title in 2025. She also coached her team through the 2025 WBIT tournament, landing them a spot in the championship game against Minnesota. Missouri State women’s basketball continues to be an intimidating program, even through a major change of scenery. It would be a huge statement for the Bears to finish their first season in CUSA with a title and an NCAA Tournament bid. At a little over halfway through the season, they have a lot of work to do, but nothing is impossible for a program as special as this.
