The professional career begins for a Red Raiders legend.
LUBBOCK, Texas - After going undrafted in the 2026 WNBA Draft, former Texas Tech guard Bailey Maupin has received a training camp contract with the Golden State Valkyries.
The Gruver native becomes the first-ever player from the Texas Panhandle to sign a WNBA contract, according to Tech Athletics.
While not an official spot on the regular-season roster, Maupin's contract allows her to compete with the Valkyries in the hopes of continuing her basketball career into the professional ranks.
Most WNBA teams will travel between 15 and 20 players to training camp before ultimately trimming the roster down to 12.
Other training camp deals for Golden State include signees Caroline Ducharme and Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda.
"We’re so excited to be able to add Bailey, Caroline and Ndjakalenga to our training camp roster," said Valkyries general manager Ohemaa Nyanin. "Each of these players have shown a high level of competitiveness, and a winning mentality, and a desire to improve. Excited to have them join us here in the Bay for training camp."
Maupin enters the W after a storied four-year career in Lubbock that has put her among the best Lady Raiders in program history.
Her imprint on the record books is apparent. She ranks inside the top-10 in program history in the following categories: second in 3-pointer attempts (618), third in free throws made (486), third in free throw percentage (.835), fourth in career scoring (1,825 points), fourth in 3-pointers made (199), fifth in free throw attempts (582), seventh in field goal attempts (1,422) and 10th in field goals made (570).
Maupin was a core piece of one of the best seasons in program history for Texas Tech women's hoops in 2025-26. The team had its best start to a season ever and reached the NCAA tournament for the first time in over a decade.
"This moment is something that I’ve dreamed of since I was a little kid," Maupin said to reporters prior to the big dance kicking off. "It’s something that for the past four years of my college career, this is what I’ve been working towards. This is exactly the way that I would want my career to end."
The Lady Raiders saw their magical season close in the second round to finish 26-8 on the year. Maupin continued to express her gratitude for her journey this past season and all the years in West Texas.
"At the end of the day, we gave it what we could," she said. "But moving forward, knowing that we got the program back to where I believe it deserves to be, and where it will continue to be for a long time, is an honor."
Now, Maupin will continue making the region proud as she earns an opportunity in the WNBA.
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