LAKE CHARLES – After record-breaking season that saw the McNeese Cowgirls post the greatest turnaround in McNeese and Southland Conference women's basketball history, and the third-best in the history of the NCAA, head coach Ayla Guzzardo has been rewarded with a five-year contract and extension, McNeese VP/Director of Athletics Heath Schroyer announced on Monday.
 
The term runs through the 2031 season.
 
In her first year at the helm, Guzzardo flipped the McNeese program with 18 wins from a 10-21 season in 2024-25 to 28-5 this season while running away with the Southland Conference regular season championship with a school and league-record 21 wins to just one defeat. The Cowgirls will play in their first-ever WBIT this week when they visit Texas A&M in the first round on Thursday at 7 p.m.
 
"It's an honor to sign Coach Guzzardo to a new contract and extension," said Schroyer. "She has completely transformed this program and there is not a doubt in my mind that there will be more championships in our future as well as NCAA Tournament bids. It's clear that we have one of the best coaches in women's basketball, and I couldn't be more excited about the future of our program under Coach Guzzardo."
 
The Cowgirls re-wrote the McNeese record book this season. The in addition to the 28 overall and 21 conference wins setting new school records, the Cowgirls won a school-record 21 consecutive games in the second half of the season.
 
"I want to thank the leadership at McNeese for believing in me and our staff to continue leading this program," said Guzzardo. "I'm incredibly proud of our student-athletes and the culture we're building here. The support from the McNeese community means a lot to our team. I'm excited about the future of McNeese women's basketball, and I'm committed to continuing to grow this program the right way. Geaux Pokes!"
 
The Cowgirls' 18-win turnaround from the prior season ranks as the third-best in Division I women's basketball history and just two wins away from matching the record of 20 held by Iowa State who went from 2-22 in 2020-21 to 22-13 in 21-22. Ohio State is second with a 19-win turnover from 8-22 in 1998-99 to 27-9 in 1999-2000.
 
McNeese led the Southland Conference in attendance in 2025-26 with an average of 2,645 fans per game, more than 1,400 than the next team in the league, and a school record. The 59.8 percent arena capacity of fans ranked 12^th in the NCAA (UConn was No. 1) and second in Louisiana behind LSU.