Michigan State Women's Basketball: Multiple Spartans earn Big Ten honors
Grace VanSlooten and Kennedy Blair received All-Big Ten second-team honors, while Rashunda Jones earned a spot on the All-Defensive team. Emma Shumate was also honored.
The 18th-ranked Michigan State women’s basketball team has officially made its mark on the conference. Following another strong regular season under head coach Robyn Fralick, the Big Ten announced its 2025–2026 postseason honors on Tuesday, March 3, with three Spartans earning prestigious spots on the all-conference lists.
Led by a blend of veteran consistency and breakout talent, the Spartans secured a 22–7 overall record (11–7 in the Big Ten), earning them the No. 7 seed in the upcoming Big Ten Tournament.
The Headliners: Second-Team All-Big Ten
The Spartans' offensive engine was recognized by both the coaches and the media, as senior forward Grace VanSlooten and redshirt sophomore guard Kennedy Blair both landed on the All-Big Ten second-team.
Grace VanSlooten (Senior, forward)
VanSlooten has been the bedrock of the MSU front-court since transferring from Oregon. For the second consecutive year, she has earned All-Big Ten honors, leading the team in scoring with 15.1 points per game in 2025-2026.
Rank: 16th in the Big Ten in scoring.
Legacy: She has started every game this season and eclipsed 850 points in her two seasons at MSU.
Kennedy Blair (Redshirt sophomore, guard)
If there were a "Most Improved" category, Blair would be the unanimous choice. After averaging just 8.9 minutes per game during the 2024-2025 campaign, she exploded into a versatile triple-threat this year.
Stat Line: 13.9 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 5.4 APG and 2.4 SPG.
Conference Standing: She ranks second in the Big Ten in steals and fifth in assists, cementing her status as one of the premier all-around guards in the country.
Defensive Lockdown: Rashunda "Spider" Jones
Junior guard Rashunda Jones was named to the Big Ten All-Defensive Team. Known by her teammates as "Spider" for her length and quickness, the transfer from Purdue has been a nightmare for opposing ball-handlers.
Impact: She is the first Spartan to make the All-Defensive team since Aerial Powers in 2014-2015.
Stats: Averaging 2.1 steals per game, ranking fifth in the conference. Offensively, Jones averages 12.0 points per game.
Status: Despite a late-season lower leg injury, she is expected to be a vital factor in the postseason.
Sportsmanship and Team Success
The honors didn't stop with the stat sheet. Senior guard Emma Shumate was named Michigan State’s representative for the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award, recognized for her leadership and character on and off the court.
What’s Next: The Big Ten Tournament
With the individual hardware secured, the Spartans now shift their focus to Indianapolis for the Big Ten Tournament. As the No. 7 seed, Michigan State is slated to play on Thursday, March 5, at 6:30 p.m. ET on the Big Ten Network. MSU will face the winner of the opening-round matchup between No. 10 Illinois and No. 15 Wisconsin.
A deep run in Indy could help MSU secure a top-16 seed in the NCAA Tournament, which would allow the Spartans to host the first two rounds at the Breslin Center.
