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EFORE Teaira McCowan
became the most dominant
player in the SEC, she had
to overcome an obstacle far
more challenging than any
opponent she’s had to face.
“[My height] was something that I
carried as a burden for so long,” McCow-
an says. “I didn’t really like to be stared
at or pointed at or people were taking
pictures of me. That was really hard for
me to adjust to.”
By the time she was in the sixth
grade, McCowan had grown to 6-7 and
was towering over her classmates. She
even stood a whole head above her
parents, who are both 5-7.
“Some days I would feel like, no, this
isn’t for me. I can’t have people looking
at me like I’m some type of freak or
something. I’m not supposed to be here,”
McCowan recalls.
There were times when she didn’t
want to leave her house, but she eventu-
ally realized power within herself after
she arrived on campus at Mississippi
State in 2015. Over the past four years in
Starkville, McCowan has thrived as the
center of attention.
“When I got to Mississippi State, I no-
ticed that it’s not going to really change.
People are always going to stare. Peopleare always going to want to take pic-
tures,” McCowan says. “I just had to tell
myself to use it as a positive.”
From coming off the bench as a fresh-
man and playing just 13.7 minutes per
game, McCowan’s progression has been
astronomical throughout her college
career.
As a sophomore, McCowan was
thrust into the starting lineup for the
first time during the NCAA Tournament,
where she helped lead the program to
its first Final Four appearance. In one of
the greatest upsets in college basketball
history, Mississippi State ended UConn’s
111-game winning streak to advance to
the National Championship game.
The following season, McCowan
started every game, establishing herself
as an elite rebounder, shot-blocker and
one of the nation’s premier defenders.
This past season, McCowan became
the most efficient scorer in college
basketball, despite seeing double- and
triple-teams on a nightly basis.
And she routinely showed out when
the stage was the brightest. In Decem-
ber, 24 and 18 vs Marquette. In January,
26 and 24 vs South Carolina. In the SEC
championship game vs Arkansas: 24, 14
and 3 blocks.
After leading Mississippi State to itsthird straight Elite 8 in March, McCowan
was drafted No. 3 overall by the Indiana
Fever in the 2019 WNBA Draft.
And while the Fever finished with
a franchise-worst record of 6-28
last season, McCowan can draw
some similarities to her first year at
Mississippi State.
“Indiana is a team that’s rebuilding
and trying to re-lay its foundation and
just get off the ground,” she says. “I’m
happy to be a part of that. Much like at
Mississippi State when I came in, we
were laying the foundation, and now
we’ve been to two Final Fours. So I’m just
ready to get in and get my team going.”
As a high IQ, defense-oriented, team-
first player, McCowan was exactly who
the Fever needed to add to their young
core. Rookie of the Year is one of her
goals for this season, but changing the
identity of the program is her mission.
And she’ll be using her platform to share
an inspiring message to everyone who
might be struggling with the judgement
of others.
“Don’t worry about what other people
think, because this is a big world,”
she says. “As long as you think about
yourself and are giving positive energy
to yourself, then you’ll be alright. You’ll
make it.” SWNBA rookie-to-be Teaira McCowan will begin her pro career with a
team that finished at the bottom of last season’s standings, but she’s
guided teams to great success in the past, and she’s ready to do it again.WORDS RYNE NELSONENERGYENERGYENERGY
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