McNelis Tabbed as USA TODAY’s Woman of the Year for Mississippi
2/27/2025 12:54:00 PM | Women's Basketball
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – USA TODAY announced that Southern Miss women's basketball head coach Joye Lee-McNelis is one of the publication's Women of the Year. McNelis, in her 21st season leading the Lady Eagles, represents the Mississippi on the annual list of the top women in the United States.
McNelis, 62, earned the honor not just for her storied career as a head coach at Memphis and Southern Miss, but also for her determination in the face of a years-long battle with adenocarcinoma.
Already a member of the M-Club Hall of Fame, National Coach of the Year Finalist the Southern Miss Legends Club and recipient of the Pat Summitt Most Courageous Award, McNelis' honor as a USA TODAY Woman of the Year is just the latest in a long line of accolades for Southern Miss' head coach.
To read McNelis' article in the Hattiesburg American, click here: https://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/story/news/local/2025/02/27/mississippi-joye-lee-mcnelis-usa-today-women-of-the-year/76451106007/
To meet to rest of this year's honorees, visit womenoftheyear.usatoday.com.
About USA TODAY Women of the Year
The program recognizes women who have made a significant impact in their communities and across the country. The program launched in 2022 as a continuation of Women of the Century, which commemorated the 100th anniversary of women gaining the right to vote.
Celebrating 50 Seasons of Southern Miss Women's Basketball
The 2024-25 season of Southern Miss Lady Eagle Basketball marks a major milestone for the program and for The University of Southern Mississippi as the women's basketball program celebrates its 50th season of competition. Following the adoption of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Southern Miss added women's basketball and women's tennis as official athletic programs beginning in the 1975-76 season. Since then, the Lady Eagles have laid out five decades of excellence on and off the court. To celebrate this golden jubilee, Southern Miss women's basketball hosted its 50th Season Celebration and Reunion on Saturday, January 18, against South Alabama at Reed Green Coliseum.
Follow The Lady Eagles
Follow the Lady Eagles on Twitter (@SouthernMissWBB), Instagram (@southernmisswbb) or on Facebook (/SouthernMissWBB) to stay up-to-date on Southern Miss women's basketball. Fans can visit Southern Miss.com or download the Southern Miss GameDay app to see full schedules, releases and more.
McNelis, 62, earned the honor not just for her storied career as a head coach at Memphis and Southern Miss, but also for her determination in the face of a years-long battle with adenocarcinoma.
Already a member of the M-Club Hall of Fame, National Coach of the Year Finalist the Southern Miss Legends Club and recipient of the Pat Summitt Most Courageous Award, McNelis' honor as a USA TODAY Woman of the Year is just the latest in a long line of accolades for Southern Miss' head coach.
To read McNelis' article in the Hattiesburg American, click here: https://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/story/news/local/2025/02/27/mississippi-joye-lee-mcnelis-usa-today-women-of-the-year/76451106007/
To meet to rest of this year's honorees, visit womenoftheyear.usatoday.com.
About USA TODAY Women of the Year
The program recognizes women who have made a significant impact in their communities and across the country. The program launched in 2022 as a continuation of Women of the Century, which commemorated the 100th anniversary of women gaining the right to vote.
Celebrating 50 Seasons of Southern Miss Women's Basketball
The 2024-25 season of Southern Miss Lady Eagle Basketball marks a major milestone for the program and for The University of Southern Mississippi as the women's basketball program celebrates its 50th season of competition. Following the adoption of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Southern Miss added women's basketball and women's tennis as official athletic programs beginning in the 1975-76 season. Since then, the Lady Eagles have laid out five decades of excellence on and off the court. To celebrate this golden jubilee, Southern Miss women's basketball hosted its 50th Season Celebration and Reunion on Saturday, January 18, against South Alabama at Reed Green Coliseum.
Follow The Lady Eagles
Follow the Lady Eagles on Twitter (@SouthernMissWBB), Instagram (@southernmisswbb) or on Facebook (/SouthernMissWBB) to stay up-to-date on Southern Miss women's basketball. Fans can visit Southern Miss.com or download the Southern Miss GameDay app to see full schedules, releases and more.
– #McNelisStrong | #SMTTT –
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