Mechelle Voepel Archive

Mechelle Voepel joined ESPN.com in 1996 and covers women's college hoops, the WNBA and additional collegiate sports for espnW. Born in Los Angeles, she grew up 40 miles north of St. Louis and is a lifelong Cardinals fan still basking in amazement over their 2011 World Series title.
  • Voepel: Texas A&M knocks off top-seeded Tennessee

    Tennessee was going for a fourth straight SEC tournament title. Instead, Texas A&M used two Lady Vols' staples -- defense and rebounding -- to upset the No. 1 seed and advance to the championship game.

    Mar 9 | By Mechelle Voepel

  • Voepel: Timing is everything for red-hot LSU

    A month ago, LSU didn't look to be an NCAA tournament team. But after six consecutive victories, not many teams are hotter heading into championship week.

    Mar 6 | By Mechelle Voepel

  • Voepel: Griner's 50 points just another spectacular performance

    As thousands turned out to watch Brittney Griner on senior night, the Baylor star gave them a spectacular show, scoring a career-high 50 points in a victory over Kansas State.

    Mar 4 | By Mechelle Voepel

  • Youngstown State's Brown named espnW player of the week

    After scoring 42 points and grabbing 21 rebounds Saturday, Brandi Brown nabbed our weekly honor.

    Mar 4 2:02 AM ET | By Mechelle Voepel

  • Voepel: Laimbeer puts personal touch on Liberty

    New York coach Bill Laimbeer, who led Detroit to three WNBA titles, has three former Shock players on his roster -- and he's expected to add a fourth next week.

    Mar 1 | By Mechelle Voepel

  • Voepel: Texas Tech draws inspiration from 1993 championship team

    After missing last season's NCAA tournament, Texas Tech looks headed back to the Big Dance -- and is using the program's 20-year-old championship season as added motivation.

    Feb 27 | By Mechelle Voepel

  • Voepel: Stringer passes all tests on way to 900

    Highs and lows. Tragedies and triumphs. C. Vivian Stringer is no stranger to them all. But as Rutgers slugs through a 15-12 season, the coach added another milestone: her 900th career victory.

    Feb 26 | By Mechelle Voepel

  • Voepel: UConn-Tennessee rivalry missed

    Pat Summitt's third book chronicles the end of the Tennessee-UConn rivalry. Will the two programs ever play again? Do we need them to?

    Feb 26 | By Mechelle Voepel

  • Voepel: Defending champ relies on Madden as defensive stopper

    Though her defense was "awful" at one point, Baylor's Jordan Madden -- who might help decide Monday's showdown with UConn -- has grown into the Lady Bears' defensive stopper.

    Feb 18 | By Mechelle Voepel

  • Voepel: Griner gets best of Dolson, UConn

    Brittney Griner has grown up a lot since the last time she played in Hartford. And though the one-on-one battle inside between Griner and UConn's Stefanie Dolson didn't disappoint, a more mature Griner and Baylor got the best of the Huskies.

    Feb 18 | By Mechelle Voepel

  • Voepel: Kansas scores crucial win for NCAA résumé

    Led by two seniors who desperately want to return to the Big Dance, Kansas knocked off No. 22 Oklahoma on Sunday to earn another crucial win for their NCAA résumé.

    Feb 17 | By Mechelle Voepel

  • Voepel: For Oklahoma, Play 4Kay game is personal

    A strong support system helps Oklahoma assistant coach Jan Ross through breast cancer -- coach Sherri Coale and Sooners players past and present.

    Feb 14 | By Mechelle Voepel

  • Voepel: Rutgers' Stringer on verge of 900th win

    C. Vivian Stringer, in her 42nd year as a head coach, has been through countless highs and lows during successful runs at Cheyney State, Iowa and Rutgers. She's on the brink of becoming just the fourth women's coach to win 900 games.

    Feb 12 | By Mechelle Voepel

  • Voepel: UNC's Hatchell joins 900-win club

    North Carolina's Sylvia Hatchell on Thursday became just the third Division I women's coach to win 900 career games.

    Feb 7 | By Mechelle Voepel

  • Voepel: While league gears up, LJ will sit

    No one wants to see one of the league's top players miss an entire season. But sitting out 2013 -- even if it leaves Seattle scrambling right now for what appears to be a very competitive Western Conference race -- just might be exactly what Lauren Jackson needs.

    Feb 6 | By Mechelle Voepel

  • Voepel: Hatchell savors spot on sideline

    Whether she's running summer camps or on the verge of becoming just the third Division I women's coach to win 900 career games, UNC's Sylvia Hatchell simply loves being on the sideline.

    Feb 6 | By Mechelle Voepel

  • Voepel: Missouri tops Tennessee, makes statement

    Sharp-shooting Missouri's big second half lifted the Tigers past No. 9 Tennessee, marking the Lady Vols' first SEC loss of the season.

    Feb 3 | By Mechelle Voepel