In an era defined by roster turnover and uncertainty, Jana Van Gytenbeek, Bella Fontleroy and Darianna Littlepage-Buggs chose to grow together. Four seasons later, they leave as the foundation of a program they helped steady, shape and sustain.
Author: Marissa Essenburg
Marissa Essenburg
Marissa Essenburg is a senior from Frisco Texas, majoring in Broadcast Journalism. She loves spending time with friends and family, playing/watching and writing about sports, traveling, and listening to any and every musical soundtrack. After graduating, she hopes to pursue a career in sports media after potentially getting her masters.
After a record-setting first month of indoor competition, the Bears have stacked event titles and program marks across multiple events. With the Big 12 Indoor Championships approaching, early-season performances now shift from benchmarks to potential conference points.
With No. 7 Oregon State, No. 18 Southern Miss and Purdue on the docket, the Bears will look to sustain early momentum their first neutral-site weekend at Dell Diamond for the 7th annual Round Rock Classic.
Fueled by a 26-point performance from Taliah Scott and a 29-point halftime cushion, the Bears responded in dominant fashion after Thursday’s setback to remain firmly in the tightening Big 12 race.
Baylor’s nationally ranked three-point defense unraveled as Olivia Miles poured in 40 and the Horned Frogs nearly doubled the Bears’ season-high mark from beyond the arc, reshaping the Big 12 standings with the tournament looming.
After last season’s razor-thin battles and a shifting power dynamic in the conference, Baylor and TCU meet again with title implications and momentum at stake. Now separated in the standings but still within striking distance, Thursday’s matchup could reshape the Big 12 race.
Locked in a wire-to-wire battle deep into the fourth quarter, No. 15 Baylor women’s basketball edged past Arizona State 67–64 on Saturday night. The Bears closed it out at the line behind late defensive stops and key contributions off the bench.
There’s a quiet grief that follows us out the door when leaving one place hurts and leaving another hurts too. That sadness isn’t something to apologize for — it’s proof of deep belonging.
Eleven. That’s the new magic number for 10-time national champion Baylor acrobatics and tumbling, as the team chases one more national title and one final NCATA crown. This year, the dynasty isn’t just defending a title — it’s writing the last chapter of an era.
Two years after the game was taken from her, Ines Goryanova didn’t rush her first steps back onto the floor — she waited for the moment to feel earned. When she finally checked in for No. 15 Baylor women’s basketball, it was more than a substitution. It was the quiet end of a long, unseen fight.
Plagued by a program-record 30 turnovers, a 34–8 points-in-the-paint deficit and 38 points allowed off turnovers, No. 14 Baylor women’s basketball fell to No. 22 West Virginia 70–60 on Sunday afternoon, marking just the Bears’ second loss in conference play and fourth of the season.
Behind efficient senior scoring and a late 8–0 run, No. 14 Baylor women’s basketball held off Houston to remain tied atop the Big 12 standings. The Bears shot 52% from the field and leaned on a balanced offensive effort to secure an 82–66 win at home.
Tied for first place in the Big 12 standings, No. 14 Baylor sits alongside No. 12 TCU as the conference race tightens. Elite defense, balanced production and road success have kept the Bears firmly in the title hunt as the push continues for a lone No. 1 spot.
Winter weather sweeping across Central Texas has forced schedule changes for multiple Baylor athletic programs, including No. 14 Baylor women’s basketball and No. 19 Baylor men’s tennis, as icy conditions threaten the region ahead of the weekend.
The Big 12 announced Baylor’s 2026 football schedule Wednesday morning, outlining the Bears’ path through the upcoming season. A slate including pivotal conference games, a demanding late-season stretch and a six-game homestand.
After uneven December results, Baylor responded with an undefeated January marked by road wins, roster depth and program milestones. The stretch has reshaped the Bears’ early Big 12 run as conference play takes hold.
No. 14 Baylor meets No. 2 Texas on a neutral floor Sunday, setting up one of December’s biggest in-state showdowns as both teams chase a résumé-defining win before conference play.
From WNBA Coach of the Year to the helm of Baylor’s storied program, Nicki Collen has navigated legacy, transition and pressure with equal parts grit and grace — and the Bears are better for it.
Behind a red-hot start and a lineup that produced from top to bottom, No. 14 Baylor powered past Southeastern Louisiana 112–47 in an all-hands performance for the third game of its five-game homestand.
Behind a 14-5-4 record, top-15 national ranking and five All-Big 12 honors, Baylor delivered its most complete season under Michelle Lenard, powered by depth, veteran leadership and strong wins. It was a year the Bears didn’t just put up numbers — they rebuilt a standard, found their identity and laid a foundation that will carry the program forward for years to come.
Even with injuries and constant change, the Bears have found something steady: each other. Their chemistry has become their anchor, shaping how they play and who they are. It’s the foundation of the team’s strong start to the season.
A relentless rebounding performance from Littlepage-Buggs and a balanced offensive attack powered Baylor to a dominating 76–35 win over Grambling State and a continued spotless home record.
Fresh off the program’s best season in seven years, Baylor soccer has secured head coach Michelle Lenard with a new contract extension following a year defined by top-10 rankings, marquee wins and a culture shift that’s reshaped the program’s trajectory.
Baylor’s rim protection kept it close, but Iowa capitalized on a scoreless final five minutes to escape with the win in Orlando as The Bears’ 10 blocks and Scott’s 32 points couldn’t offset the late offensive drought.
Baylor capitalized on a late first-half penalty and leaned on Alvarez’s 11-save effort to edge No. 15 Wisconsin 1-0 in Thursday’s NCAA second round. The Bears survived a late Badger surge, overcoming a 20-10 shot margin to secure their first Sweet 16 berth since 2018.
From freshman phenom to senior heartbeat, Darianna Littlepage-Buggs has stacked double-doubles, big-time accolades and steady dominance across four seasons in green and gold. Her climb has already placed her among Baylor women’s basketball greats — and her story, her impact and her legacy are still unfolding.
Senior forwards led the way for the Bears in a dominant outing, with Bella Fontleroy scoring her 1,000th career point and Darianna Littlepage-Buggs adding a 26-point double-double. The Bears cruised past Le Moyne 99-43 for the Bears’ 24th win in Foster Pavilion.
With zero returning players and everything to prove, Baylor men’s basketball is entering a new era. Fifth-year guard Obi Agbim is helping set the tone for a team determined to build its identity one practice, one day, one step at a time.
It’s not too late to relearn how to learn from experiences. Maybe that means leaving the phone in your pocket for one sunset, or asking a local a question instead of just taking a photo with them. Perhaps it means accepting that not every moment is meant to be shared on a screen; some are intended to be kept private.
After securing an at-large berth and their best résumé of the Michelle Lenard era, the Bears open NCAA Tournament play at home Friday against Texas State. They will look to advance past the opening round for the first time since 2018.
