Northwest women open season with three returners after Region 23 title
Northwest Mississippi Community College’s women’s basketball team begins its 2026-27 season as the defending Region 23 champion, but returns only three players from last year’s squad. Coach LaTaryl Williams said the program’s goal remains competing for a championship.
The Rangers finished 23-9 in 2025-26 and made their first NJCAA Division I women’s basketball national tournament appearance in 21 years. They lost 63-50 to Dodge City Community College in the first round. A’Destiny Bogan, Zoe Metcalf and Andrea Rios are the three returners.
Metcalf averaged 3.4 points in 14.9 minutes per game last season. Rios averaged 1.6 points in just under nine minutes, while Bogan averaged 1.6 points in 8.5 minutes. Williams said their experience as freshmen on the championship team could help them lead a young roster.
Northwest also added transfer Sophia Yancy, who played in 13 games at NCAA Division II Davis & Elkins College. The freshman group includes five guards and five forwards. Laylah Johnson, a 5-foot-9 guard from Pisgah High School, averaged 16.9 points, 12 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 3.7 steals and 1.4 blocks as a senior and helped her team reach the MHSAA Class 3A Final Four.
Former Independence High School teammates Sacari Burnett and Madison Holts join the Rangers after helping lead the Wildcats to a district title, an Elite Eight appearance and a 27-4 record. Burnett was named co-offensive MVP and earned All-District honors in 2025-26. Holts also made the All-District team and averaged 15 points and eight rebounds per game.
Forward Morgan Thompson, who averaged 15.8 points and nine rebounds as a senior at Velma Jackson, earned Region 6-1A Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors. Grenada product Carlei Brown averaged 17.9 points, 13.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocks and helped her high school team post a 19-6 record and reach the MHSAA Class 6A playoffs. Williams said he expects the freshmen to contribute as a group.
The schedule includes three opponents ranked in the NJCAA Division I preseason poll: No. 10 Three Rivers, No. 17 State Fair and No. 5 Shelton State. Northwest’s calendar listed a Nov. 2 home opener against Bishop State, followed by games against Three Rivers on Nov. 6 and State Fair on Nov. 7 at the Three Rivers Classic in Poplar Bluff, Missouri.
The Rangers’ calendar lists their MACCC opener at East Mississippi on Jan. 11. Northwest is scheduled to face Shelton State twice, including a Dec. 3 home game and a Jan. 7 visit to Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Williams said the demanding nonconference schedule is intended to prepare the team for league play.
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