West Virginia to Open New Year Against Kansas
December 31, 2025 12:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University women's basketball team is set to open the new year on Thursday when it travels to Lawrence, Kansas to face Kansas inside Allen Fieldhouse.
Tipoff against the Jayhawks is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET. Thursday's contest will be broadcast live on the Mountaineer Sports Network, including 100.9 FM, with Andrew Caridi on the call. Fans can also listen to the game on the Varsity Network App.
Additionally, the game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Josh Klingler and Wayne Simien on the call. Live stats and game notes are available on WVUsports.com.
West Virginia (11-2, 1-0 Big 12) and Kansas (10-3, 0-1 Big 12) meet for the 27th time in program history. West Virginia is 19-7 all-time against KU, including a 9-4 mark when playing on the road. The Mountaineers have won three straight against the Jayhawks and are winners of 15 of the last 18 meetings, dating back to 2015.
In the nonconference, the Mountaineers won three contests against Power Four opponents and reached the 10-win mark for the third straight season. It marks the seventh time since joining the Big 12 in 2013 that West Virginia has reached double-digit wins before entering conferenceplay. During the last three seasons, the Mountaineers are 31-3 in nonconference action.
The Mountaineers are averaging 82.9 points per game this season and allowing just 54.9 points from their opponents. The marks are the 22nd and 34th best in the country. West Virginia's 27.5 scoring margin is the 19th-highest win margin in the nation. Additionally, WVU is forcing its opponents into 25.2 turnovers, the ninth best nationally, and has produced 13.4 steals a game, the 17th best mark in the nation.
West Virginia has forced 24+ turnovers in eight games and 16+ steals in six contests this season. WVU ranks 15th in the nation with a +8.23 turnover margin.
The Mountaineers' offense this season has been about getting downhill and to the charity stripe. WVU is third in the nation in free throw attempts, averaging 27.3 per game, and is third among free throws made per game at 19.1.
Junior guard Gia Cooke leads the Mountaineers in scoring this season with 16.3 points per game. She has scored double figures in 12 straight contests and has scored 20+ points in four games. Kierra Wheeler has averaged nearly a double-double in her last eight outings with 15.3 points and 9.3 rebounds. In the month of December, she is the only player in the nation with 90+ points, 50+ rebounds and 15+ steals. She leads the Mountaineers on the glass with 7.2 rebounds per game and is now just 23 rebounds shy of reaching 1,000 in her career.
Senior guards Sydney Shaw (13.8) and Jordan Harrison (12.2) are also averaging double figures this season. Shaw has scored 989 career points and is 11 points away from career milestone 1,000. Harrison, who scored her 1,000-career point at West Virginia earlier this season, has amassed 1,455 career points, just 45 points away from 1,500 in her career.
Tipoff against the Jayhawks is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET. Thursday's contest will be broadcast live on the Mountaineer Sports Network, including 100.9 FM, with Andrew Caridi on the call. Fans can also listen to the game on the Varsity Network App.
Additionally, the game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Josh Klingler and Wayne Simien on the call. Live stats and game notes are available on WVUsports.com.
West Virginia (11-2, 1-0 Big 12) and Kansas (10-3, 0-1 Big 12) meet for the 27th time in program history. West Virginia is 19-7 all-time against KU, including a 9-4 mark when playing on the road. The Mountaineers have won three straight against the Jayhawks and are winners of 15 of the last 18 meetings, dating back to 2015.
In the nonconference, the Mountaineers won three contests against Power Four opponents and reached the 10-win mark for the third straight season. It marks the seventh time since joining the Big 12 in 2013 that West Virginia has reached double-digit wins before entering conferenceplay. During the last three seasons, the Mountaineers are 31-3 in nonconference action.
The Mountaineers are averaging 82.9 points per game this season and allowing just 54.9 points from their opponents. The marks are the 22nd and 34th best in the country. West Virginia's 27.5 scoring margin is the 19th-highest win margin in the nation. Additionally, WVU is forcing its opponents into 25.2 turnovers, the ninth best nationally, and has produced 13.4 steals a game, the 17th best mark in the nation.
West Virginia has forced 24+ turnovers in eight games and 16+ steals in six contests this season. WVU ranks 15th in the nation with a +8.23 turnover margin.
The Mountaineers' offense this season has been about getting downhill and to the charity stripe. WVU is third in the nation in free throw attempts, averaging 27.3 per game, and is third among free throws made per game at 19.1.
Junior guard Gia Cooke leads the Mountaineers in scoring this season with 16.3 points per game. She has scored double figures in 12 straight contests and has scored 20+ points in four games. Kierra Wheeler has averaged nearly a double-double in her last eight outings with 15.3 points and 9.3 rebounds. In the month of December, she is the only player in the nation with 90+ points, 50+ rebounds and 15+ steals. She leads the Mountaineers on the glass with 7.2 rebounds per game and is now just 23 rebounds shy of reaching 1,000 in her career.
Senior guards Sydney Shaw (13.8) and Jordan Harrison (12.2) are also averaging double figures this season. Shaw has scored 989 career points and is 11 points away from career milestone 1,000. Harrison, who scored her 1,000-career point at West Virginia earlier this season, has amassed 1,455 career points, just 45 points away from 1,500 in her career.
Players Mentioned
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