Women's Basketball | 10/6/2025 4:03:17 PM

HATTIESBURG, Miss. — When Missy Bilderback accepted the Southern Miss job, it wasn’t just a homecoming for the alumna. It was a reunion. The first-year head coach returned to her alma mater and promptly brought six of her former players from ULM and Jones College – instantly giving the Lady Eagles an identity, a voice, and a head start.

“I think it was something they kind of decided together,” Bilderback said of the group’s move. “We have a really strong relationship… all of those players are people that we’ve got multiple-year relationships with—at either Jones College or ULM.”

“They were all successful in the league last year… and just for them to come to Southern Miss with us was really special.”

For Johnson, the journey has been braided with trust. The dynamic scorer played for Bilderback at Jones College and again at ULM before following her to Hattiesburg. 

“Having played for Coach Bilderback at both Jones College and ULM, I’ve built a lot of trust in her system—in the way she develops players, not just on the court but as people,” Johnson said. 

“When she took the job at Southern Miss, it felt natural… I knew what she expects from her players, and she knows what I bring to the table. That kind of faith and familiarity gives me confidence going into this season.”

Johnson’s role? Be a tone-setter. 

“I take a lot of pride in being a versatile scorer—getting to the rim, pulling up in the mid-range, knocking down threes,” she said. “But more than just putting up points, I want to be a consistent presence on both ends—setting the tone defensively, being vocal, doing the little things that help us win.” 

With other ULM transfers beside her, the expectation is that the culture lands immediately. 

“Chemistry-wise, we understand [Coach’s] system and what she demands,” Johnson added. “Our job is to bring leadership, set the standard, and help create a culture where everyone competes and grows together.”

That readiness will be tested next month at the 2025 Cancun Challenge, where Southern Miss is slated for a marquee step onto the national stage. It’s the perfect measuring stick for a program rebuilding, but with familiar parts.

“I’m excited for the opportunity to play on a big stage like this,” Johnson said. “Anytime you get to compete against high-level programs like UAB and NC State, it pushes you. That’s what we want early—give us a chance to measure ourselves, see where we are, and grow from it.” 

For a roster that has blended quickly, the trip also doubles as a chemistry accelerator. 

“Beyond the games, trips like this are huge,” Johnson said.

“Being together in a different environment lets us bond, learn more about each other, and build the trust that shows up when a game is on the line. I think it’s going to bring us closer and set the tone for the rest of the season.”

Coach Bilderback also noted the importance of the Cancun Challenge trip as both a proving ground and a classroom. 

“It’s going to be great competition, a tremendous challenge to play both UAB and North Carolina State,” she said. “It should get us ready for Sun Belt play.” 

The back-to-back format is intentional. “We felt that turnaround would be good—teaching us how to prepare and make adjustments the second time we see conference opponents.”

There’s respect in her voice when she talks about the opponents. “UAB’s a great program, great coach—I’ve known Coach Norton a long time,” Bilderback said. 

And on NC State: “There’s a tremendous amount of respect for the history of their program and how good they’ve been over the years… one of the top teams in the country. Obviously, that’ll be a great challenge, but also a tremendous opportunity.”

The homecoming element remains a throughline for Bilderback, who called Southern Miss “a great place with great leadership.” 

When asked for her local favorites she missed in her hometown, Coach Bilderback replied, "Crescent City Grill for dinner and Java Moe’s for a morning coffee”—but her focus is fixed on building something sustainable.

“These transfers could have gone anywhere,” she said. “For them to choose Southern Miss with us—it’s just really special.”

That tone travels to Mexico next month. A reunited coach-and-core arrives at the Cancun Challenge with a clear purpose: compete, calibrate, and come home sharper for the Sun Belt grind. 

Johnson, the face of the transition, sums it up simply: “We’re ready to hit the ground running.”