Right Where She Was Meant To Be

Landry Williams is no stranger to the world of college basketball. Born into a family deeply rooted in the sport, with both parents having played at the Division I level. Williams' journey has been shaped by her passion for the game and her unwavering determination to succeed.

Growing up with parents who were fiercely competitive due to their basketball backgrounds, Williams found herself immersed in a world of high expectations and relentless drive from a young age.

"They were super hard on me. They were still in that mind frame of playing that, 'I' am the one who experienced It.'," said Williams.

"At first, I did not like it. I hated it. I didn't want to play, but they didn't really give me a choice initially."

Despite the pressure she felt, Landry credits her parents' guidance as a blessing, shaping her understanding of what it takes to succeed in the game.

"Looking back, it was a big blessing to have two parents who knew what it was going to take to go play college basketball because as soon as I told them that's what I want to do, they were like okay, this is what it's going to take," Williams said.

Before OSU Landry originally committed and played her freshman year at Kansas City. The reason was now-Cowgirl head coach Jacie Hoyt was in charge of the Roos program at the time.

"Jacie was one of the few people in my recruiting process who made me feel she cared about me more than just as a basketball player," Williams said.

Her decision to commit to Kansas City was not based solely on the school, but on her belief in Hoyt and her vision for the team. Even though the one school that always lingered in the back of her mind was the one located in Payne County. After all, her mother, Megan, played for the Cowgirls from 997-99.

After Williams' freshman season ended at Kansas City, Hoyt announced to the team via Zoom that she was taking a new job to be the head coach at OSU. Williams was devastated when she first heard the news and was unsure of what the future entailed.

"I didn't know if I was gonna be able to come here, so I was upset that she was leaving because I went to that school solely for her," Williams said.

However, fate had other plans and her emotions quickly turned to excitement as she realized the opportunity to fulfill her dream of playing at OSU could become reality.

"Once I kind of calmed down from the initial shock, it was like, I want to go with her of all the places, of all the colleges," Williams said. "This has always been my dream."

After eagerly awaiting word from Hoyt, Williams finally got the call that she was getting an offer from OSU.

"So this has always just been home and, as soon as I decided I wanted to play college basketball, I wanted to play at OSU," Williams said.

Williams was now at her dream school, which also happened to be her mother's alma mater. Megan spent two years with the Cowgirls after an impressive stint at Seward County Community College. During her senior campaign as a Cowgirl, she averaged 9.3 points and 4.5 rebounds per contest.

"We are so similar, so to kind of feel I'm fulfilling what she passed down to me is super cool. It is just crazy because I didn't initially think it was going to happen," Williams said.

During Williams' first season at OSU, the Cowgirls made the NCAA Tournament. Williams explained how scary it was initially being in a new environment with a new team after arriving in Stillwater. However, as the season went on, she realized how special Hoyt's first OSU team was.

"It was awesome and getting to play at Indiana in the first round, a place that is a pinnacle of basketball, so that was cool," Williams said. "Not only for Jacie to get that, but for all of us to experience it just in our first year because I don't think many people were expecting that."

Coming into this year, Williams was one of just five players who returned from last season and now assumes a leadership role for this year's group of Cowgirls.

"Last year, I was the baby of our team, literally the youngest girl on our team. Now, I'm considered one of the older girls and I'm the team mom and I'm the one that everyone looks and turns to if we don't know what we're doing or what we're wearing or anything," Williams said.

Williams started her collegiate career 311 miles away from Stillwater unsure of what her journey entailed. Now she's right where she belongs — in America's Brightest Orange.

Williams journey has been one of adaptability and grit and as she continues her journey at OSU, she remains grateful for the opportunities she has been given and looks forward to the challenges and triumphs that lie ahead.

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