2024 E. Gordon Gee Spirit Of Ohio State Award
2023–24 women’s basketball team
The 15 players who made up this team of championship winners and record-breakers put a major emphasis on giving back to the Columbus community.
A 26-6 overall record. Two WNBA draft picks. A Big Ten Conference title — which happened to come in a win against That Team Up North. The 2023-24 women’s basketball team, recipient of this year’s E. Gordon Gee Spirit Award, knows what it means to triumph.
But, for them, success and impact go further than what happens on the court. What these athletes did outside of practices and competitions created a culture of chemistry, connection and giving back. In other words: what it truly means to achieve.
“If we were only here to win games and championships, then I think we’d be shortchanging what this program means to the community,” says head coach Kevin McGuff, who was selected as this year’s Big Ten Coach of the Year. “I’m just really proud of what our players do in our area and how they impact so many people.”
Often, when the student-athletes weren’t winning championships, breaking records and hosting sold-out crowds, they were dedicating numerous hours to local charities and volunteer projects in the greater Columbus area. The team took special care to be active role models. They took part in mentoring programs and youth basketball clinics through the Columbus Boys & Girls Club and engaged in the “Buckeyes Read” program in local elementary schools. They got their hands dirty — literally, participating in university-led initiatives such as campus cleanup days — as well as supporting the Mid-Ohio Food Collective by being active in food drives for those in need. McGuff and his players also played roles in fundraising events for the Buckeye Cruise for Cancer and the Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research.
“Clearly, their dedication to community went above and beyond, and that’s part of what makes Ohio State’s student-athletes special,” says Gene Smith, athletic director during this team’s time on the court. “It starts with culture, with our head coaches and our assistant coaches and everyone being willing to talk to our student-athletes about life beyond your sport,” he says. “Giving back is so critical to Buckeyes.”
The team members were honored with the E. Gordon Gee Spirit Award in thanks for their devotion to doing good, not only on the basketball court or at the university, but for the larger community.
“We play for the ‘Ohio State’ on the front of our jersey, not the names on the back,” McGuff says. “These players carry themselves in a first-class manner, and it just represents the university in an awesome way.”
2023–24 women’s basketball team
Head coach Kevin McGuff
Associate head coach Carla Morrow
Assistant Coach Wesley Brooks
Assistant Coach Jalen Powell
Madison Greene
Rikki Harris
Taylor Thierry
Kennedy Cambridge
Jacy Sheldon
Emma Shumate
Kaia Henderson
Celeste Taylor
Taiyier Parks
Karla Vres
Diana Collins
Eboni Walker
Rebeka Mikulášiková
Cotie McMahon
Faith Carson
This award recognizes people and programs who demonstrate a devotion to Ohio State and promotes school spirit with integrity and honor in an effort to elevate the university and its history.