After what he called two months of “speed-dating,” Mississippi State women’s basketball head coach Sam Purcell has a new-look roster for the 2026-27 season.

Purcell added six pieces through the portal during the offseason, and has two incoming freshmen. The fifth-year coach said this is one of the strongest groups he’s coached, character-wise.

“I’ve been fortunate to have a lot of great young women I’ve been able to coach, but from top to bottom, this is hands down the best character group that I’ve been fortunate to be a part of,” Purcell said.

The Transfers

Guard Aryss Macktoon

“Ooooo, Ath-uh-lete.”

It’s the first words that came to mind when Purcell started talking about his senior guard from La Salle University. Aryss Macktoon was the Swiss Army knife of the Explorers last season, leading La Salle in rebounds (7.6 pg), and steals (3.2 pg), and taking second in points (15 pg). She led La Salle in minutes, averaging 32.6 a contest.

Purcell and his staff were familiar with Macktoon’s game, playing her and La Salle in a December matchup. Macktoon had nine points, four rebounds and three steals in an 85-37 Bulldogs’ win.

“She came from a great coach at La Salle, but there’s just so much potential,” Purcell said. “She’s hungry for the game, she’s wanting to learn, she’s a sponge… every single day she is really getting better, and when she gets better, she’s really going to take us to another level.”

Guard/Forward Macie Phifer

Anyone who keeps an eye on Mississippi high school sports likely knows a thing or two about Macie Phifer.

She was a two-time Mississippi Miss Basketball, and two-time Mississippi Miss Volleyball at Ingomar High School in New Albany. She is the eighth all-time leading scorer in Mississippi girls high school basketball, according to MaxPreps, tallying 3,518 points.

Phifer spent her freshman season at Middle Tennessee State, averaging 11.1 points and 5.7 rebounds per game.

“Her smile, her joy, her passion for Mississippi State, for our fanbase who follows the kids on social media, it’s already cool to see her presence here,” Purcell said.

Guard Reese Beaty

The second time was the charm for Purcell in getting Reese Beaty to Starkville.

Purcell said he recruited her “very hard” coming out of high school in Tennessee. He lost the recruiting battle to Iowa State, but when Beaty entered the portal after last season, Purcell took another shot.

“It’s funny, in this portal world, that I might lose you the first time, but I can get you the second time,” Purcell said. “When she went in the portal, I called her, I said ‘Listen, come on, you know how I feel about you.’”

Beaty played in 26 games for the Cyclones last season, averaging 20 minutes and 4.6 points per game. She was a four-star prospect coming out of high school, according to 247.

Purcell said she has been “phenomenal” during summer workouts.

Guard Cali Smallwood

Sam Purcell has sisters on his 2026-27 roster.

Cali Smallwood is headed to State from UAB, joining her little sister, Lani, a freshman from Albertville, Alabama.

Purcell is no stranger to coaching sisters. He coached the Shoni and Jude Schimel as an assistant coach at Louisville, and Anastasia and Alasia Hayes in his first season as MSU head coach.

The senior shot 45% from the field and 41% from 3-point land, the 20th best mark in DI women’s basketball last year. Purcell said in practice she is “shooting the lights out.”

“She might be one of my top five shooters I’ve ever had the way she’s starting off in the summer,” Purcell said.

Guard Tootie Lockett

Purcell said he felt like he was one “speedy guard” away when recruiting this transfer cycle. Enter Tootie Lockett.

Lockett, a Starkville native and Starkville High School alum, spent the first years of her college career at Itawamba Community College. She led Itawamba in points per game last season, averaging 14.9 while shooting 45% from the field. She also led Itawamba in total steals with 45.

Purcell said Lockett’s response to his initial phone call was, “Well, it’s about time you called me.”

“She’s from here, it was a no-brainer. She came on an unofficial visit and was committed right away,” Purcell said. “Her heart’s here, her passion’s here, her family’s here.”

Forward Arianny Francisco de Oliveira

Arianny Francisco de Oliveira, the top junior college transfer in the portal, finally touched down in Starkville on Wednesday.

The junior forward originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, transferred to MSU after two years at Gulf Coast State. She averaged 18.9 points and 8.8 rebounds a game, and earned third-team NJCAA All-American honors last season. She also led her team in 3-pointers made with 50.

“I don’t think I’ve ever coached a post player who can shoot the three as good as she can,” Purcell said.

The freshmen

Guard Lani Smallwood

Returners Madison Francis and Favour Nwaedozi have taken notice of Lani Smallwood, Purcell said.

“I was talking to Favour and Madison after weights the other day. I said, ‘OK, who’s impressing you?’” Purcell said. “Because there’s always impressing coach when coach is in there, but who’s impressive when coach is not in there? They’re like, ‘Coach, Lani Smallwood is something else.”

Smallwood averaged 25.8 points per game as a senior at Albertville High School. Purcell called her “very special.”

“She’s small, she’s a water bug, she’s lefty, she can shoot the ball and she can get to the rim,” Purcell said.

Guard Andrea Flores

Flores was a four-star recruit coming out of Johnson City, Tennessee, according to the 247 composite rankings.

She was the Tennessee Class 3A Miss Basketball in 2026.

Is MSU’s 2026-27 roster complete? Not quite, Purcell said. He wants his team to get taller, and said there are international prospects MSU is looking at.

Late additions are nothing new to Purcell. The Bulldogs signed Nwaedozi in the summer of last offseason and Madina Okot in August of 2024.

Jake is the Mississippi State athletics reporter for The Dispatch.