It was a history making moment Wednesday as Gruver High School graduate and Texas Tech Lady Raider standout Bailey Maupin put pen to paper becoming the first player from the Texas Panhandle to sign a contract with the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA).
Maupin has inked a training camp contract with the Golden State Valkyries announced by the organization.
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Maupin, a former Press Pass Sports Girls Basketball Player of the Year, started her illustrious career leading the Gruver Lady Hounds to two UIL Class 2A state championships (2020 and 2022) and was a state MVP.
Gruver head coach Trent Lankford, who coached Maupin her senior year, says this is a monumental day for the Lady Hound program and the community of Gruver.
“I can’t tell you what this means to our school, our program and our community,” Lankford said. “This is unheard of and so awesome. Gruver and Lady Hound basketball are super proud and pumped to support Bailey as she levels up her game at the WNBA level. Bailey puts in a ton of time and effort, and has shown a ton of growth on and off the court. She deserves this chance.”
Following her high school career, Maupin has gone on to become one of the Texas Tech Lady Raider greats over the past four years. This past season, Maupin led the Lady Raiders to 26 wins and the programs first NCAA tournament win since 2005.
Maupin was recently named a Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Coaches’ All-America Honorable Mention selection, Maupin was also one of just 20 players in the country selected to compete at the Lilly Women’s College All-Star Game earlier this month.
Maupin led the Lady Raiders in points per game (15.2), free throws (129), threes (69), double-figure scoring games (29) and 20-plus point games (6). Second on the team in assists (89) and third in steals (53), Maupin earned her fourth All-Big 12 honor after being named to the All-Big 12 First Team in March.
A four-year Lady Raider, Maupin will go down as one of the best, ranking in the top-10 of the record book in the following categories: second in 3-pointer attempts (618), third in free throws made (486), third in free throw percentage (.835), fourth in career scoring (1,825 points), fourth in 3-pointers made (199), fifth in free throw attempts (582), seventh in field goal attempts (1,422) and 10th in field goals made (570).
Texas Tech women’s basketball coach Krista Gerlich, who started recruiting Maupin when she was in eighth grade, couldn’t be happier her protege.
“What a full circle moment to see Bailey receive a training camp invite,” Gerlich said. “This is something we talked about during her recruiting and for it to come to fruition through her hard work and dedication is just incredible. I’m so very proud of her and for her. She has done exactly what she set out to do when she came to Texas Tech. She led the Lady Raiders to the NCAA tourney, and now she’s headed to the WNBA. What an incredible legacy she has left and I can’t wait to see her story continue.”
Maupin was unavailable for comment due to her chaotic schedule on top of flying to San Francisco, Calif., to join the Valkyries.