Driven by daughter, Sharnecce Currie-Jelks fuels Murray State women's basketball
Currie-Jelks, who gave birth to her daughter in May of 2024, has a unique perspective as her team chases its first ever NCAA Tournament victory.
As the Murray State Racers prepare for their first round matchup in the NCAA Tournament against the Maryland Terrapins, they are led by Sharnecce Currie-Jelks , the Division I leader in double-doubles this season. Currie-Jelks, who gave birth to her daughter, Key’lani, in May of 2024, has a unique perspective as her team chases its first NCAA Tournament victory. “She [Kay’lani] has motivated me to get up and go hard everyday,” Currie-Jelks said.
“Having somebody that small, that’s mine, looking up to me. I want to be the best example that I can be for her. ” In addition to posting 26 double-doubles, Currie-Jelks also broke the single-season rebounding record in Murray State women’s basketball history with 386 total rebounds in her first season with the team.
A Jackson, Tennessee native, Currie-Jelks spent her first collegiate season at UT Martin before transferring to Indiana. Her daughter was born while Currie-Jelks was at Indiana. The junior forward transferred to Murray State before this season.
Along with the support she has received from within the Murray State basketball program, Currie-Jelks has also been helped by her family. “They’ve played a huge role,” Currie-Jelks said of her parents. “Whether it’s late night calls to check in on me, or coming up the next morning to give me breaks, or simply traveling to games to make sure she’s [Kay’lani] taken care of.