Michigan State Spartans Women's Basketball Legends

Last Updated on March 16, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

The Michigan State Spartans women’s basketball program has produced major names across different eras, from early stars who raised the profile of the team to modern All-Americans who helped keep the Spartans nationally relevant. Here are some of the most notable Michigan State Spartans women’s basketball legends. (Michigan State University Athletics)

1. Kristin Haynie

Years at Michigan State: 2001–2005
Position: Guard
Notable Achievements:
- Led Michigan State to its first Final Four in 2005
- Michigan State Athletics Hall of Fame inductee
- One of the key leaders of the most important breakthrough team in program history
- Finished her college career as one of the defining floor generals the program has had
- Later won a WNBA title as a pro (Michigan State University Athletics)

2. Liz Shimek

Years at Michigan State: 2002–2006
Position: Forward
Notable Achievements:
- Left as Michigan State’s all-time leading scorer and rebounder
- Two-time All-American
- One of only two Spartans to earn All-American honors twice
- One of the best frontcourt players in program history
- Helped form one of the most productive duos Michigan State has had (Michigan State University Athletics)

3. Tori Jankoska

Years at Michigan State: 2013–2017
Position: Guard
Notable Achievements:
- Became the first Michigan State women’s player to score 2,000 career points
- Finished with 2,212 career points
- Set program career records for field goals made and three-pointers made
- Earned All-America honors
- One of the most dangerous scorers the Spartans have ever had (Michigan State University Athletics)

4. Aerial Powers

Years at Michigan State: 2013–2016
Position: Forward
Notable Achievements:
- Two-time AP All-American
- First Spartan to earn AP third-team All-America honors
- Three-time first-team All-Big Ten selection
- One of the most explosive forwards of the Suzy Merchant era
- Later won a WNBA championship (Michigan State University Athletics)

5. Kalisha Keane

Years at Michigan State: 2007–2011
Position: Guard
Notable Achievements:
- First Michigan State women’s player to win Big Ten Player of the Year
- All-American
- Finished her career as the only Spartan with at least 1,500 points, 600 rebounds, 300 assists, and 250 steals
- Hall of Fame inductee
- One of the program’s best all-around guards (Michigan State University Athletics)

6. Allyssa DeHaan

Years at Michigan State: 2006–2010
Position: Center
Notable Achievements:
- First Spartan to be named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year
- All-American
- Four-time All-Big Ten selection
- Finished her career second all-time in NCAA Division I blocked shots
- One of the most impactful shot-blockers the program has ever seen (Michigan State University Athletics)

7. Kisha (Kelly) Simpson

Years at Michigan State: 1991–1995
Position: Guard
Notable Achievements:
- First All-American in Spartan women’s basketball history
- Finished her career as Michigan State’s all-time leading scorer
- Three-time All-Big Ten selection
- Team MVP
- Hall of Fame inductee who helped set the standard for future stars (Michigan State University Athletics)

8. Lindsay Bowen

Years at Michigan State: 2002–2006
Position: Guard
Notable Achievements:
- Michigan State’s all-time leader in made three-pointers
- One of the top shooters in Big Ten history
- Helped lead the Spartans through one of the best stretches in program history
- Freshman All-American and co-Big Ten Freshman of the Year with Liz Shimek
- A major part of the 2005 Final Four group (Michigan State University Athletics)

Michigan State’s best women’s basketball legends cover several different versions of the program. Haynie helped deliver the breakthrough Final Four run, Shimek and Bowen gave the Spartans a high-level inside-out duo, Simpson set an early standard, and players like Jankoska, Powers, Keane, and DeHaan kept the program loaded with star power in later years. Some were scorers, some were defensive anchors, and some could control everything on the floor, but all of them left a serious mark on Spartan women’s basketball. (Michigan State University Athletics)

Sources:

Michigan State Spartans Women’s Basketball Legends