HISTORY MADE: Texas Tech Women’s Basketball Makes Historic Leap as Krista Gerlich Named National Coach of the Year, Bailey Maupin Crowned MVP — A Red Raider Era Begins

 

LUBBOCK, TX — The winds of change are roaring through West Texas as Texas Tech Women’s Basketball cements its place in the national spotlight. In a stunning, record-breaking season, Head Coach Krista Gerlich has been named National Coach of the Year, while star guard Bailey Maupin earned Most Valuable Player honors — a double victory that signals the dawn of a new era of dominance, empowerment, and legacy in Lubbock.

 

Gerlich, a former Lady Raider herself, returned to her alma mater with a mission: restore pride, purpose, and power to Texas Tech women’s hoops. That mission has been spectacularly fulfilled. Under her leadership, the Red Raiders soared to their best season in two decades — rewriting the program’s trajectory with a blend of toughness, togetherness, and tactical brilliance. Texas Tech not only clinched the Big 12 regular-season title but also made a deep postseason run that captivated the nation.

 

“This honor is for our girls, our fans, and every little girl in West Texas dreaming big,” Gerlich said through tears. “We built this with heart. We’re not done.”

 

At the core of that heart? Bailey Maupin, the electrifying hometown hero who lit up courts coast to coast. The sophomore sensation averaged 21.4 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists per game, delivering clutch moment after clutch moment — none bigger than her buzzer-beating three to upset the reigning champs in the Sweet 16. Maupin’s fierce leadership and relentless energy have redefined what it means to wear the scarlet and black.

 

“This isn’t just about stats — it’s about belief,” Maupin said after receiving her MVP award. “Coach G believed in me. This team believed in each other. Now the world believes in Texas Tech.”

 

Fans are already calling this season the beginning of a “Lady Raider Renaissance”, drawing comparisons to the program’s 1993 national championship run. But this version is uniquely Gerlich’s — deeply rooted in grit, community, and a vision that extends far beyond the court.

 

With national accolades pouring in and a recruiting pipeline that’s suddenly red hot, Texas Tech isn’t just back — they’re here to stay. The Red Raiders have sparked something bigger than wins: a cultural shift, a revival, and a new standard of excellence in women’s sports.

 

A new chapter has begun in Lubbock — and it’s being written in bold, fearless Red Raider red.