Author: Marissa Essenburg

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.

No. 16 Baylor opened its home slate with a mix of fast offense and stretches of inconsistency, but the Bears found stability in the scoring of Taliah Scott and the steady two-way play of Bella Fontleroy en route to their 33rd straight home-opening win.

Baylor’s postseason run came to a halt Wednesday night in Fort Worth, as No. 8 BYU capitalized on defensive miscues and handed the Bears their first 4-0 defeat in nearly two years to advance to the Big 12 Championship final.

Fresh off a statement win over No. 7 Duke in Paris, Baylor women’s basketball looks poised to build on its momentum. With returning stars, key transfers and a growing national spotlight, the Bears are setting the tone for a season built on chemistry and championship ambition.

From a Texas state championship to a starring role in Baylor’s midfield, freshman phenom Olivia Hess has made her mark in just one season in Waco where her drive, composure and heart have helped shape a team redefining what Baylor soccer can be.

After falling to Texas Tech earlier this season, Baylor flipped the script when it mattered most, surviving seven rounds of penalty kicks to punch its ticket to the Big 12 semifinals.

From an 8-8-5 campaign a year ago to a 12-win season, the Bears have rewritten their story. With veteran leadership and belief in their potential, Baylor soccer heads to Fort Worth for the 2025 Big 12 Championships.

Before this year’s group set its sights on another postseason run, there was a stretch that changed everything. The 2017 and 2018 teams turned belief into banners, capturing back-to-back Big 12 titles and setting the standard that today’s Bears continue to chase.

Over two decades, Baylor women’s basketball has turned championships into careers. From Sophia Young-Malcolm to Brittney Griner and NaLyssa Smith, generations of Bears continue to define greatness beyond Waco and into the WNBA.

In its final in-state conference match before the Big 12 Tournament, No. 16 Baylor battled Houston to a 1-1 draw, taking a point on the road and keeping focus on next week’s finale in Stillwater.

Back on the court and back in command, Jana Van Gytenbeek guided a fast-paced Baylor squad that found its rhythm and closed strong, cruising past West Texas A&M 86-46 in its preseason tune-up at Foster Pavilion.

Despite controlling much of the match and out-shooting UCF, No. 16 Baylor soccer couldn’t find the finishing touch Thursday night in Orlando. The Bears fell 2–1 to the Knights in a hard-fought Big 12 battle that marked the first stop of their final road stretch.

After a fall filled with personal bests and breakout performances, Baylor cross country enters championship season with momentum. The Bears look to turn steady progress into postseason results against one of the nation’s toughest fields.

After a midweek stumble at TCU, No. 10 Baylor soccer responded with a statement shutout over Utah on Sunday, closing its home slate with renewed confidence and keeping pace in the Big 12 race.

Baylor’s five-game win streak ended Thursday under the Fort Worth lights, where the Bears never quite settled into their rhythm against the defending Big 12 champions. TCU controlled the pace from the opening whistle, turning early pressure into momentum that carried throughout the top-20 matchup.

What began with a handful of believers in 1995 has become one of the Big 12’s strongest programs, powered by a blend of faith, tradition and drive that has Baylor on the brink of history. Three decades later, the Bears aren’t just chasing a title; they’re living out the promise that built the program from the start.

Every tackle, every clearance, every stop tells the story. For sixth-year defender Blythe Obar, her final season is about more than just soccer — it’s about proving that the strongest legacies can’t be measured in numbers.

With a 9-1-2 record and a four-game win streak, Baylor soccer is proving its rise is no fluke. Now ranked No. 2 in the Big 12 and top 15 nationally, the Bears look every bit the contender head coach Michelle Lenard envisioned.

For decades, women have been proving they belong in sports conversations. The real question is why society still acts like they don’t. The issue isn’t that women need to “get educated” on sports. The problem is that audiences, media and casual fans alike must stop acting surprised when women bring authority and insight to the conversation.