Teaira McCowan

Teaira McCowan (born September 28, 1996; first name pronounced ) is Turkish-American professional basketball player who most recently played for the Minnesota Lynx of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), and for Fenerbahçe of the EuroLeague Women and Turkish Super League. She played college basketball for the Mississippi State Bulldogs.

College career Following McCowan's junior season, she was named WBCA All-American, ESPNW First Team All-American and the Associated Press Third Team All-American. McCowan was also the inaugural winner of the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Award.

On January 10, 2019, McCowan was the projected first overall pick in the 2019 WNBA draft in an ESPN mock draft. However, this particular mock draft included only college seniors and eligible international players. Later that month, ESPN compiled another mock draft, this time including draft-eligible juniors, the most notable of whom was Oregon's Sabrina Ionescu. In this second mock draft, McCowan was projected as third, but with the caveat that "if Ionescu decides to stay and play her senior season at Oregon, the whole first round looks different." This qualification proved relevant as Ionescu announced that she would remain at Oregon for 2019–20.

On January 21, 2019, she was voted as the espnW national player of the week.

Professional career WNBA McCowan was drafted by the Indiana Fever with the third pick of the 2019 WNBA draft. In her first game for the Fever, she hit a buzzer-beating layup to deliver an 81–80 victory. Following the 2019 season in which she averaged 10 points, 9 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game, McCowan was named to the All-Rookie Team. She was second in the league in rebounding and scored a career-high 24 points in three games.

McCowan played for the Indiana Fever for the 2019 through 2021 seasons and, after a March 2022 trade, the Dallas Wings for the 2022 through 2024 seasons.

On August 3, 2025, she was waived by the Wings.

On May 28, 2026, McCowan signed a rest-of season contract with the Minnesota Lynx. She was waived by the Lynx on June 25, 2026.

Overseas On 1 August 2022, she signed with Galatasaray of the Turkish Women's Basketball Super League (TKBL).

On 8 January 2024, it was announced that a contract was signed with Galatasaray again.

On November 6, 2024, McCowan signed a short term deal with Çukurova Basketbol.

On October 18, 2025, McCowan signed a season-long deal with the Turkish powerhouse Fenerbahçe.

International career In November 2023, McCowan acquired Turkish citizenship and subsequently began playing for the Turkey women's national basketball team.

Personal life McCowan was born in Bryan, Texas and grew up in Brenham, Texas, where she graduated from Brenham High School. She is the daughter of Tracy Nunn and Dayronn McCowan.

Career statistics

WNBA Regular season Stats current through the end of the 2025 season

Playoffs

College

Mississippi State

Mississippi State

Mississippi State

Mississippi State