Before the Georgia Southern women’s basketball team secured 23 wins and a historic trip to the WBIT, they had to prove they belonged on the biggest stages. For senior guard McKenna Eddings, the realization that the Eagles were a truly special group didn’t come from an easy victory, but from a fierce battle against LSU.
“Even though we didn’t come out with the win, we were all very pleased with our performances and held our heads high,” Eddings recalled. “Playing against that level of competition, with that many people finally in the gym watching us was a big task and I felt we all showed a type of tenacity that continued throughout the season. That game most definitely put us on a lot of people’s radar and put some respect on our name.”
That same tenacity didn’t just define the Eagles’ record-setting season at The Hill; it has been the defining trait of Eddings’ entire college journey. When looking back on her career, she sums up her experience in a single word: perseverance.
“I chose this word because there were many moments over the years where it got really hard mentally and physically,” Eddings reflected. “Times when I really just wanted to give up. But I had to change my mindset and push through and tell myself that I can do anything I put my mind to.”
That mindset translated directly into her play on the court. This season, Eddings was a key part of the Eagles’ historic run, averaging 13.4 points and 3.9 rebounds per game while shooting 40.7 percent from the floor. She also led the team in three-pointers with 64, tying for the second-most in a single season in program history. Her consistent performance earned her Third Team All-Sun Belt honors, proving that her ability to push through hard times brings real results.
Part of finding the strength to succeed meant surrounding herself with the right environment for her final college season. For Eddings, transferring to Georgia Southern was about finding a program that matched her competitive drive and the standards she learned early in her career.
“The fact that the culture of Georgia Southern would be established by Coach Hana is what made it the right place to finish my career,” Eddings explained. “She is big on sisterhood, intensity, and a dog mentality. Playing my redshirt-freshman and sophomore year under coach helped set the standard on what a championship team and culture should look like and that is something that I felt the most comfortable with when it came to choosing my final destination.”
That championship culture translated into a great final run in a Georgia Southern uniform. But as she leaves Statesboro behind, her basketball journey is far from over.
“I am planning to play professionally overseas,” Eddings said. “I am currently in the process of finding an agent and hopefully signing to a team soon.”
Armed with a resilient mindset, a “dog mentality,” and the experience of helping lead the Eagles through a historic season, Eddings is more than ready for whatever comes next.
