MORGANTOWN — Sydney Shaw played a pivotal role in leading the 15th-ranked West Virginia University (WVU) women’s basketball team to victory in the Big 12 women’s tournament, motivated by a notable omission from the all-Big 12 team. The senior guard was left off the list, which was released just before the tournament, despite her impressive performance throughout the season.
WVU head coach Mark Kellogg, who is unable to vote for his players, expressed disbelief at Shaw’s exclusion, stating, “It’s absolutely crazy to me that she didn’t make an all-conference team. She led our league in 3-point shooting. She’s a senior on the second-best team during the regular season.” Shaw finished the tournament with 17 points and three 3-pointers in the championship game, helping the Mountaineers secure a 62-53 victory over TCU at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri.
During the tournament, Shaw averaged 13.7 points and made nine 3-pointers across three games, earning a spot on the all-tournament team. Her performance was particularly notable as she led the Big 12 in 3-point field goal percentage, finishing the season at 41.6% and recording 87 total 3-pointers, ranking second in the conference.
The all-Big 12 team featured Jordan Harrison from WVU, who was named to the first team, while the Mountaineers did not have any players on the second or third teams. Gia Cooke and Kierra Wheeler received honorable mentions. This led to Shaw feeling disrespected by the voting coaches, prompting her to channel that motivation into her game. “I think I felt very disrespected when I heard that list,” she remarked. “And it just made me check myself and realize that I’ve got to go out and show people.”
Kellogg expressed pride in Shaw’s achievements, particularly in light of the championship victory. “For her to get this championship is pretty special and to be on that all-tournament team because that kid certainly earned that right,” he said.
The emotional significance of the win extended beyond the court for Kellogg, whose parents hail from Missouri. Celebrating the championship in their home state was particularly meaningful, especially after the passing of his mother, Geri, in December. “So to come back here, she would have been here, obviously she loved every second of this,” he reflected. “It’s been on my mind a little bit just being back here and how much she would be loving this.”
As the Mountaineers prepare for the upcoming NCAA tournament, they will find out on March 11, 2024, if they will be awarded the opportunity to host one of the 16 regionals for the first and second rounds. The NCAA moved the opening rounds to on-campus sites in 2015, marking a shift from predetermined neutral locations. Under Kellogg’s leadership, the Mountaineers were a No. 8 seed in 2024 and a No. 6 seed last season. Securing a top-four seed would represent the highest seed for WVU since they were a No. 2 seed in 2014.
The history of NCAA tournament games in Morgantown is notable. The WVU women hosted a regional in 1992, defeating Clemson before losing to the top-ranked Cavaliers. The city has also served as a venue for NCAA men’s tournaments, with the Coliseum hosting the East Regional in 1972 and another first-round game in 1974.
Kellogg remains optimistic about the Mountaineers’ chances of hosting, stating, “We certainly think we’ve done enough to get some games in Morgantown. I hope it plays out that way for this group. They’ve absolutely earned that.”
