The college sports landscape is buzzing with movement, and one of the most exciting stories comes from a familiar name in the Northwest. Becca Skinner, a standout from Clarkston High School who spent her freshman season at Washington State University, is taking her talents to the Southeastern Conference. She's following former Cougar head coach Todd Shulenberger to the University of Mississippi, marking a major step up in competition.
Skinner announced the move in a collaborative Instagram post with the Ole Miss women's soccer program and Shulenberger, captioned simply: "Switched to the Sip: Becca Skinner is a Rebel." She joins former Cougars Jenna Studer and Isabelle Wright in Oxford, with Wright making the switch after a brief stop at Colorado State. In total, eight former WSU players have now reunited under Shulenberger in Mississippi.
Skinner's high school career was nothing short of dominant. She scored over 100 goals for Clarkston and led the Bantams to the state tournament as a junior. At WSU, her true freshman season was cut short due to injury, but her determination remains unwavering. "I've put everything into soccer, and I see myself going very, very far," Skinner told the Lewiston Tribune last year. "On the field, it's my space. It's my time to let go and shine."
Shulenberger's 11-year tenure at WSU was legendary, boasting a 113-67-34 record, five NCAA Tournament appearances, and a College Cup run in 2019. His departure to Ole Miss in December set off a chain reaction, with several players choosing to follow him to the SEC. Meanwhile, WSU hired former Montana coach Chris Citowicki, who has reshaped the roster with transfers from his previous program.
The Cougars aren't the only team seeing change. WSU volleyball lost standout middle blocker Lucie Blazkova to the University of Minnesota. Blazkova was a force last season, ranking fifth nationally with a .443 hitting percentage and second in the West Coast Conference in blocks per set. To fill that void, the Cougars signed Kryssa Moerman, a 6-foot-2 all-conference talent fresh off a national championship run at NCAA Division II Metropolitan State-Denver.
On the hardwood, WSU women's basketball added two new faces: 5-foot-5 guard Gianella Espedale from Argentina, and Lizzy Filch. With so much movement across programs, it's clear that the Palouse and its surrounding airports are busier than ever—and the competition is only heating up.