Oklahoma State’s women’s soccer squad kicks off the 2026 campaign with a two‑game road swing that will set the tone for a season focused on rebuilding. The first test arrives on August 27 at 6 p.m. in Starkville, Mississippi, where the Cowgirls will meet a Mississippi State team that opened its schedule with three straight wins and a 9‑1 goal differential.
First‑ever showdown with Grambling State
Four days later, on August 30 at noon, the Cowboys return to Stillwater for their home opener against Grambling State. It will be the program’s inaugural meeting with the Tigers, who arrive after a narrow defeat at Louisiana‑Monroe and a 0‑1‑1 record early in the season. New head coach Chris Logan, in his first year at the helm, will look to guide his team through this unfamiliar matchup.
Second‑year head coach Colin Carmichael, now in his 22nd season at OSU, brings a career record of 269‑123‑55 (.663) to the table. Under his guidance the Cowgirls are transitioning from a 4‑13‑2 finish in 2025, a campaign that featured eight returning starters and a roster bolstered by 17 newcomers, including eight Division I transfers, six freshmen, two junior‑college transfers and one Division II player.
Key returnees anchor the midfield and goal. Laudan Wilson, a Preseason All‑Big 12 midfielder, returns after posting five goals and nine assists in 2024, ranking second in the conference for assists. In goal, Logan Marks led the Big 12 with 5.21 saves per game and ranked second nationally with 99 saves last season. Both players are expected to play pivotal roles as the team integrates fresh talent.
Mississippi State enters the matchup with a perfect 3‑0‑0 start, having defeated South Alabama and Southern Miss at home and posted a road win at UAB. New head coach Kevin O'Brien, who took over the program this year, inherits a squad that outscored opponents 9‑1 in its opening three games. Grambling State, meanwhile, is 0‑1‑1 after a close loss to Louisiana‑Monroe and will be looking to improve its defensive shape against a still‑developing OSU attack.
The Cowgirls’ schedule also highlights the debut of Gracie Bindbeutel, who scored the team’s first goal of the season in the opener against Sam Houston. Her seventh career goal adds a veteran presence to an attack that will need to blend experienced returnees with a wave of newcomers as the season progresses.