Missouri State lands Pittsburg State's Macie Mays

Lady Bears coach Beth Cunningham secures commitment from proven Division II guard

Apr. 11, 2026 at 1:54pm

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A cubist-style painting featuring sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in navy blue, forest green, and burnt orange, conceptually representing the fast-paced action and energy of a women's basketball game.A cubist interpretation of the dynamic action and energy of a women's basketball game, capturing the sport's intensity through a fragmented, geometric lens.El Dorado Springs Today

Missouri State women's basketball coach Beth Cunningham has landed a commitment from Macie Mays, a standout guard from Pittsburg State University. Mays, a former El Dorado Springs star, averaged 12.5 points and 3.6 rebounds per game during her career at the Division II school, helping the team reach the NCAA Tournament in 2025.

Why it matters

Cunningham has a history of successfully recruiting Division II talent to Missouri State, with players like Maycee James and Lacy Stokes making smooth transitions to the Division I level and making significant contributions to the Lady Bears' program. Mays' addition continues that trend and bolsters Missouri State's backcourt depth heading into the 2026-27 season.

The details

Mays, the 2023 Missouri Class 3 Player of the Year, shot 52% from the field, 37% from 3-point range, and 81% from the free-throw line during her career at Pittsburg State. She suffered a season-ending knee injury during the team's deep postseason run in 2025, leading to a redshirt year for the 2025-26 season. Mays will be a redshirt junior when she joins the Lady Bears in 2026-27.

  • Mays was named the 2023 Missouri Class 3 Player of the Year.
  • Pittsburg State reached the NCAA Division II Final Four in 2025.
  • Mays suffered a season-ending knee injury during Pittsburg State's 2025 postseason run.
  • Mays will be a redshirt junior when she joins Missouri State in the 2026-27 season.

The players

Beth Cunningham

The head coach of the Missouri State women's basketball team, who has a history of successfully recruiting Division II talent to the program.

Macie Mays

A standout guard from Pittsburg State University, who was the 2023 Missouri Class 3 Player of the Year and helped her team reach the NCAA Division II Final Four in 2025.

Jarrod Mays

Macie Mays' father, who was a former baseball standout at Missouri State and was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in 1996.

Maycee James

A former Pittsburg State teammate of Macie Mays, who spent the past season as Missouri State's starting senior point guard and helped the Lady Bears reach the NCAA Tournament.

Lacy Stokes

A former point guard at Missouri Southern who transferred to Missouri State and earned all-conference distinction in her junior and senior seasons, helping the Lady Bears win a share of the Missouri Valley Conference regular-season title in 2025.

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What they’re saying

“After growing up watching the Lady Bears and knowing her father's history of playing at Missouri State, Macie understands the pride, tradition and expectation when it comes to wearing a Lady Bear uniform.”

— Beth Cunningham, Missouri State women's basketball coach

What’s next

Mays will join the Missouri State women's basketball team as a redshirt junior for the 2026-27 season, where she will look to continue the program's recent success and help the Lady Bears compete for a Missouri Valley Conference championship.

The takeaway

Missouri State's women's basketball program has established a track record of successfully integrating talented Division II transfers into their system, and the addition of Macie Mays continues that trend. Mays' scoring ability, versatility, and familiarity with the program's tradition should make her a valuable asset for the Lady Bears as they aim to build on their recent NCAA Tournament appearances.