SPRINGFIELD — Missouri State will honor one of its athletics legends with a statue outside JQH Arena. The university announced Saturday that a bronze likeness of former National Player of the Year and current women’s basketball assistant coach Jackie Stiles will be unveiled early in the 2016-17 season on the southeast side of JQH adjacent to Bear Boulevard.
“Jackie’s accomplishments are significant and should be commemorated,” said Director of Athletics Kyle Moats. “It is important to honor our history, and this will serve as a reminder that our program can excel at the highest level of the sport.”
Missouri State will also host a banquet and fundraiser on May 21 at Hammons Student Center to celebrate Stiles’ June 2016 induction into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, with the proceeds going towards the privately-funded statue as well as an endowment in her name. Additional details on the banquet will be released at a later date.
“I don’t know how to put into words what an honor like this means to me. I am blushing just thinking about it,” added Stiles. “Never in my wildest dreams did I think that one day I would have a statue on MSU’s campus. I share this with so many that helped make it possible, especially my teammates, coaches, the administration, friends, family and the fans.”
Stiles enjoyed one of the greatest playing careers in women’s basketball history at Missouri State, culminating with the program’s second Final Four appearance in 2001.
As a senior, Stiles was named a first-team All-American by Kodak and the Associated Press, and was the Women’s Basketball News Service Player of the Year after finishing her collegiate career with 3,393 points, a record that still stands. Her 1,062 points that season remained the only 1,000-point season in Division I women’s basketball history until 2014, and still sits atop the single-season scoring list. She also holds the No. 5 single game total with 56 in a March 2000 contest against Evansville.
Stiles was also named the Honda Awards program Player of the Year and was the recipient of the coveted Honda Awards Broderick Cup, as well as the Wade Trophy as a senior. A four-time Missouri Valley Conference first-team selection, Stiles earned MVC Player of the Year honors as a sophomore, junior and senior, and the award for the league’s most outstanding player now bears her name.
