Shanna Rose | WV Sports Chat
When the buzzer sounded Sunday night, the scoreboard read 62-53 in favor of West Virginia, but the real story was written far beyond the numbers. Every rebound, every forced turnover and every sprint down the court told the tale of a team built on grit, hustle and heart.
Jordan Harrison, named the Big 12 Tournament Most Outstanding Player, was at the center of it all.
“[Jordan Harrison] wreaked havoc on defense,” Mountaineer head coach Mark Kellogg said.
Harrison’s six rebounds, four assists, three steals and 21 points exemplified WVU’s relentless style. But for Harrison, it was never about individual stats.
“They said height,” she explained. “Honestly, it just takes heart. That’s what coach tells us that rebounding is all about—if you want it, you’ve got to have it. I mean, he has us do drills for it, but he always just tells us like rebounding is just like you got to have it or you don’t have it. With the heart and height thing, I’ve never I’ve always been short my whole life. But and I found my ways to maneuver around that and score in ways that I need to score because of my height. Like they said, hard over high any day for sure.”
The team’s collective effort was equally critical. Sydney Shaw added 17 points and has been instrumental to WVU’s success all season. However, she hasn’t always felt appreciated by outsiders.
“I felt very disrespected when I heard the list (all-conference team) and it just made me check myself and realize that I got to go out and show people,” Shaw said. “Especially like having my team behind me is a great motivator for all that.”
Kierra “Meme” Wheeler chipped in 10 points and eight boards, complementing the Mountaineers’ physical style with her own toughness.
Kellogg emphasized that this championship was about more than just talent.
“It starts at your at the presidential level. I have a phenomenal athletic director that I’ve been with at a couple places that just kind of gives you opportunities, gets out of your way a little bit, lets us do our thing,” he said. “Great coaches, great staff. We have unbelievable character around us, the players included. And then all the credit to those guys. They did the hard work. We just try to put the plans together and put them in place and let these kids go showcase what they’re capable of. And I think that was on display tonight.”
WVU’s philosophy—heart over height, grit over glamour—manifested itself in every rebound, steal and forced turnover. Full-court pressure wasn’t just a tactic—it was a mindset. After a Marta Suarez turnover, Harrison sprinted coast-to-coast for a layup. Shaw forced another turnover that Taylor Bigby converted into a bucket. Every hustle play reinforced the team’s identity: relentless, connected and disciplined.
That fearless mindset extends to how Harrison attacks the basket, trusting her instincts and her teammates when the defense collapses.
“Majority of the time I’m just going,” Harrison said. “A lot of times if they come, then I’ll drop it off to my teammates, so I’ll read that. But other than that, I just want to score and get to the basket. And if they block it, majority of the time it’s going out of bounds, so we’ll get it back.”
Kellogg credited the culture they’ve built over the season for turning hard work into results.
“It’s the culture, the character of our kids, the way they execute the plan and showcase what they’re capable of,” he said. “It’s a full-team effort, and they earned every moment of this success.”
The Mountaineers’ victory is not just a trophy—it’s a testament to a team that thrives on perseverance, preparation and doing the little things right every single play. With Harrison and Shaw leading the way, WVU now heads into March Madness carrying momentum, toughness and a belief that heart can beat height every time.
Photo Credit: WVU Athletics
