How WNIT is fresh start for MTSU women's basketball in season of adversity
Middle Tennessee State women's basketball defeated St. Bonaventure in the second round and will host a WNIT Super 16 game on March 26.
MURFREESBORO — It would be an understatement to say it has been a difficult season for the Middle Tennessee State women's basketball team. The team has gone through emotional hurdles throughout the season. Included are the deaths of MTSU first lady Liz McPhee and longtime MTSU supporter Denise Smith.
The death of Butch Hamby , father of junior and former Blackman standout Gracie Hamby. The cancer battle of Autumn Insell , wife of associate head coach Matt Insell. And the situation three former MTSU players are dealing with while playing professionally in Israel .
But the team has persevered, and it delivered the 21st winning season in the 21-year career of coach Rick Insell, who will be retiring at the end of the 2025-26 season. "It's not been fair to these young ladies, what they've had to go through," he said. "What they've had to go through on the court, and you take what they've had to go through off the court .
. . the young ones didn't know Denise Smith, but we did, the coaching staff.