Top-25 Recruit Payton Caudle Commits to Oklahoma State as Cowgirls Build on Preseason Momentum

STILLWATER, Okla. — Oklahoma State women's basketball is building momentum both on the court and on the recruiting trail.

Payton Caudle, one of the nation's top prospects in the 2028 recruiting class, has committed to Oklahoma State, she told Rivals.

Caudle is ranked No. 24 nationally in the class of 2028 by Rivals and selected the Cowgirls over Arkansas, Oklahoma, Minnesota and Texas Tech.

The commitment represents another significant development for head coach Jacie Hoyt, whose program enters the 2026-27 season with high expectations after an offseason filled with major roster additions.

Landing Caudle is a notable recruiting victory for Oklahoma State, particularly considering the competition for her commitment. The Cowgirls beat out Arkansas and Oklahoma of the SEC, Minnesota of the Big Ten and fellow Big 12 member Texas Tech.

With Caudle ranked among the nation's top 25 prospects in her class, her decision gives Oklahoma State an early building block for its 2028 recruiting efforts.

The commitment also reflects the program's ability to attract nationally recognized talent while competing against established programs from across the country.

Although Caudle is still more than a year away from potentially arriving in Stillwater, her pledge provides an encouraging sign for the Cowgirls' long-term roster development.

As with other early recruiting commitments, her decision is verbal and is not yet a binding signing.

Caudle's commitment comes at an exciting time for Oklahoma State women's basketball. The Cowgirls were selected as the Big 12 preseason favorites entering the 2026-27 season, reflecting the expectations surrounding Hoyt's roster.

Oklahoma State also received national recognition from ESPN women's basketball bracketologist Charlie Creme, who ranked the Cowgirls No. 21 in his preseason Top 25.

Those expectations follow an offseason in which Oklahoma State added two of the nation's most productive players. Audi Crooks, who transferred from Iowa State, averaged 25.8 points per game last season and was named the Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year. Liv McGill, a transfer from Florida, averaged 22.5 points and 6.3 assists per game and earned Big 12 Preseason Newcomer of the Year honors. The combination of Crooks' interior scoring ability and McGill's playmaking gives Oklahoma State a potentially dangerous offensive foundation.

With returning and incoming talent surrounding those two stars, the Cowgirls enter the season with aspirations of competing for a Big 12 championship.

While much of the attention surrounding Oklahoma State has focused on the upcoming season, Caudle's commitment provides another reason for optimism beyond 2026-27.

Hoyt and her staff have emphasized building a competitive roster through both high school recruiting and the transfer portal.

Adding nationally ranked high school prospects remains an important part of establishing long-term success, particularly as programs navigate the changing landscape of college basketball.

Caudle's decision gives Oklahoma State an opportunity to develop another highly regarded player while continuing to strengthen its future recruiting classes. It also demonstrates that the Cowgirls can compete for talent against programs from multiple major conferences.

For a team entering the season as the Big 12 preseason favorite, maintaining that recruiting momentum will be important as expectations continue to rise.

Oklahoma State's immediate focus remains on the 2026-27 season, with Crooks, McGill and the rest of the roster preparing to meet the expectations surrounding the program.

However, Caudle's commitment shows that the Cowgirls are also making progress toward building for the years ahead. Securing the No. 24 prospect in the 2028 class is a meaningful early recruiting victory for Hoyt and her staff.

With Oklahoma State entering the season atop the Big 12 preseason poll and ranked No. 21 nationally by Charlie Creme, the Cowgirls have reasons for optimism in both the present and the future. And with Caudle now committed, another talented prospect could eventually become part of that continued growth in Stillwater.