Texas Tech Women’s Basketball Makes Historic Leap as Head Coach Krista Gerlich Named National Coach of the Year and Superstar Bailey Maupin Claims MVP Honors—A Red Raider Era of Empowerment, Dominance, and Unshakable Legacy Begins in Lubbock

Double Crowned Queens of the Court: Texas Tech Women’s Basketball Makes Historic Leap as Head Coach Krista Gerlich Named National Coach of the Year and Superstar Bailey Maupin Claims MVP Honors—A Red Raider Era of Empowerment, Dominance, and Unshakable Legacy Begins in Lubbock

 

Lubbock, Texas — June 21, 2025

It’s a storybook season that just keeps writing new chapters of glory for Texas Tech University—and this time, it’s the women who are wearing the crown.

 

In a nationally televised CBS Sports broadcast that sent waves across the NCAA and beyond, Texas Tech women’s basketball received two of the most prestigious honors in collegiate athletics: Head Coach Krista Gerlich was named National Coach of the Year, and Bailey Maupin, the team’s electrifying guard, was awarded the NCAA Women’s Basketball Most Valuable Player for the 2024–2025 season.

 

Together, these accolades don’t just represent individual brilliance—they symbolize the dawning of a new dynasty in women’s collegiate basketball, one led by a program that has redefined what it means to rise from the shadows and take center stage.

 

From Underdogs to Undeniable: A Season for the Ages

 

Coming into the season unranked by most major sports outlets, the Lady Raiders were not expected to make a deep postseason run—let alone challenge the likes of perennial powerhouses such as UConn, South Carolina, or Stanford. But Krista Gerlich had a different vision for her team. A vision rooted in grit, chemistry, and unapologetic ambition.

 

Under Gerlich’s guidance, Texas Tech didn’t just play basketball—they tore through their schedule like a team possessed, finishing the regular season with a program-record 31 wins and only 3 losses. The Lady Raiders won the Big 12 Championship, entered the NCAA Tournament as a No. 2 seed, and advanced all the way to the Final Four, sparking national headlines and galvanizing fans far beyond West Texas.

 

Coach of the Year: Krista Gerlich’s Culture-First Philosophy Wins Big

 

When Krista Gerlich took over the reins of the program just a few seasons ago, many questioned whether the former Lady Raider herself had the chops to restore a struggling program. Today, she stands as the most decorated women’s basketball coach in Texas Tech history, with a Coach of the Year trophy now etched with her name.

 

Gerlich’s success isn’t just measured by wins. It’s her culture—the way she empowered her players, brought the Lubbock community into the fold, and turned a fragmented locker room into a sisterhood—that won over voters nationwide.

 

In her acceptance speech, she made it clear the award wasn’t hers alone:

 

> “This is a win for West Texas. For every little girl who dreams big. For every player who chose belief over fear. We did this together, and we’re just getting started.”

 

 

 

Bailey Maupin: The MVP Texas Didn’t Know It Needed

 

Enter Bailey Maupin—the sophomore guard whose meteoric rise has captivated the college basketball world. A former four-star recruit with explosive speed, clutch shooting, and infectious leadership, Maupin delivered highlight after highlight throughout the 2025 season.

 

She led the Big 12 in scoring with 23.6 points per game, posted five double-doubles, and hit three game-winners—including an iconic buzzer-beater in the Elite Eight that now lives in NCAA tournament lore.

 

Maupin becomes the first Red Raider—male or female—to ever win the national MVP honor, and with two years of eligibility left, the nation is already buzzing about what’s next.

 

In an emotional moment during the award ceremony, Maupin simply said:

 

> “This is for my team. For Coach G. And for every person who said Texas Tech could never make it to the top. We’re here now. And we’re not going anywhere.”

 

 

 

A Program Reborn: Women’s Basketball Becomes Texas Tech’s New Torchbearer

 

While much of the national spotlight in recent months has been on Texas Tech football and track & field, it is now the women’s basketball team that has stolen the stage—and perhaps, the future of the university’s athletic legacy.

 

Ticket sales have tripled. Merchandise featuring Maupin’s name has sold out three times since the award. And next season’s recruiting class? Already being called the best in program history, with two McDonald’s All-Americans verbally committed to join the Red Raiders.

 

In the eyes of many, the Red Raider women have become the soul of Texas Tech athletics, exemplifying unity, tenacity, and heart in a way that’s captivated fans nationwide.

 

The Road Ahead: Eyes on the Championship

 

While the celebration is still fresh in Lubbock, the mission continues. Gerlich and Maupin are already laying the foundation for the 2025–2026 season—with their sights set not just on more awards, but on cutting down nets in the national title game.

 

“This season was proof of what’s possible,” said Gerlich. “But we’re building a legacy. One season doesn’t define us. A championship will.”

 

Final Word: A Moment for the History Books

 

As fans poured into the streets of Lubbock, waving signs that read “Maupin Magic” and “In Coach G We Trust”, it was clear this was more than a basketball moment. This was a cultural shift. A declaration that Texas Tech women’s basketball has arrived—and it’s here to dominate.

 

Two awards. One unstoppable program. And a Red Raider future glowing brighter than ever.