Good morning, Shocker Nation! There’s no denying that Caitlin Clark, Coco Gauff, JuJu Watkins and many other female athletes have captured the spotlight more than ever in recent years. And, with National Girls and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD) approaching (Feb. 5), Wichita State University Athletics is proud to celebrate the achievements of female athletes.
 
Our women's programs and female student-athletes are no strangers to success. Since joining the AAC, softball has had five AAC Players of the Year and has made the NCAA Tournament four of the last six seasons (not including 2020 when the season was canceled). Softball has also had four All-Americans in program history, all within the last four years.

💪🏽 : The full rundown on other Shockers success in female sports and contribution info

What else are we mixing into today’s edition of the Shocker Brew?

🏆 Two announcements for 2025 Shocker Sports Hall of Fame induction class
⚾️ Josh Livingston goes from indifferent student to highest cumulative GPA
🌾 ​ And much, much more!

🌾 ONE BIG THING

Color Us Surprised. Surely you’ve got some red and/or yellow in your closet, so break it out to support the Shockers and save on tickets!

📈 STOCK UP

🔼 Don’t Call it a Comeback. Or maybe do! Wichita State director of athletic academic services Gretchen Torline and Shocker baseball playerJosh Livingston joined the podcast to talk about Livingston's journey from an indifferent student to one with a 3.8 GPA last fall while majoring in sport management.

Why this topic? Wichita State's cumulative grade-point average of 3.53 for the fall semester is the highest in recorded department history, dating to 1990!

🔼 To the Victor Go the Spoils. Jim Schaus is part of the 2025 Pizza Hut Shocker Sports Hall of Fame induction class, to be inducted on Jan. 18.

Steve Rainbolt remembers leaving his interview with Wichita State athletic director Jim Schaus and thinking, "No way they give the track and field coach an office that nice."

Schaus hired him in August 2000 and Rainbolt did indeed end up in that corner office three years later after the renovation and expansion of Levitt Arena into Charles Koch Arena.

⇢ Read more about Schaus’ many accomplishments. 🏆

🔼 Annie, Get Your Rackets. Wichita State Women's Tennis is set to begin its 16^th  season under the guidance of head coach, Colin Foster, taking on No. 16 Oklahoma this morning at 11 a.m. CT. in Norman, Oklahoma.

Sophomore Xin Tong Wang will be looking to keep up her momentum from the fall season, during which she made history by becoming the first Shocker since 1983 to compete in the Central Region Singles Final, and in November, she became the first to make an appearance at nationals since 2019.

⇢ Get the full rundown and scouting reports. 🎾

🔼 Challenge Accepted. The #7-ranked Wichita State women's bowling team kicks off the spring portion of the schedule against a loaded field at the Northeast Classic. Hosted by Sacred Heart, the competition begins today and concludes Sunday, Jan. 19, in New Castle, Delaware.

The 38-team field includes all of the nation's top-10 teams in the latest NTCA Poll and 22 of the top 25 overall. It is the largest field in the history of NCAA Women's Bowling.

🔼 All Comes Down to Karma. Karma Wagner Mason is part of the 2025 Pizza Hut Shocker Sports Hall of Fame induction class. The class will be inducted on Saturday, Jan. 18.

Mason bowled for three national champions and a runner-up from 1975-78. She helped the Shockers win the Collegiate Team Championships (now known as the Intercollegiate Team Championships) in 1975, the first year for the competition. She also bowled on WSU's championship teams in 1977 and 1978 and the runner-up in 1976.

🎳 : More on Karma’s Many Accomplishments

🔼 Onward and Upward. The Shockers dropped their third-straight game as their second-half comeback efforts fell short against Tulane on Wednesday night in Charles Koch Arena.
 
Despite Tulane’s stellar interior and perimeter defense, the Shockers' leading scorer, Salese Blow, succeeded from deep, hitting 3-of-7 three-point attempts and finishing with 20 points and five rebounds, her third 20-point performance of the season. Joining Blow in double-figures was Jayla Murray, who scored 17 points of her own, shooting 8-of-16 from the field and collecting two blocks and two steals.

🤔 SHOCKER TRIVIA

Bump This Post. Shocker Volleyball is in the midst of its longest run of sustained success since joining The American in 2017. How many consecutive postseason appearances has Wichita State Volleyball put together?

Think you got it? Scroll down to see if you know your stuff!

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📆 LOOKING AHEAD

*All times CST

Friday, Jan. 17
🎳 Women’s Bowling @ Northeast Classic
👟 Track & Field @ KU-KSU-WSU Triangular
🎾 Men’s Tennis @ South Florida @ 9:30 a.m.
🎾 Women’s Tennis @ #16 Oklahoma @ 11 a.m. | Live Video | Live Stats
🎾 Women’s Tennis vs. Wyoming @ 2:30 p.m. | Live Video

Saturday, Jan. 18
🎳 Women’s Bowling @ Northeast Classic
🏀 Women’s Basketball @ North Texas @ 2 p.m. | Live Audio | Live Stats
🏀 Men’s Basketball vs. East Carolina @ 6 p.m. | KEYN 103.7 FM | Live Audio | Live Stats | Tickets

Sunday, Jan. 19
🎳 Women’s Bowling @ Northeast Classic

🌾 Click here to see the full Wichita State Athletics Calendar

🎉 TRIVIA ANSWER

Answer: Three!

Shocker Volleyball is in the midst of its longest run of sustained success since joining The American in 2017. The Shockers have put together three consecutive postseason appearances, including an NIVC championship in 2023 and an American Athletic Conference Tournament title this past season.

🌾 It’s FRIDAY, Shocker Nation!