Michigan State University Athletics
Lindsay Bowen Set to be Inducted into the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame
9/8/2026 3:26:00 PM | Women's Basketball
In addition to Bowen, the Michigan State Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2026 includes Dan Currie (football), Tico Duckett (football/men's track & field), Walt Drenth (men's and women's cross country and track & field), Sue Latter-Addison (women's track & field and cross country), Kalin Lucas (men's basketball), and Leah O'Connor (women's cross country and track & field).
The Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Celebration will take place on Friday, Sept. 11.There will also be a special recognition of the 2026 MSU Athletics Hall of Fame Class during the Michigan State-Eastern Michigan football game at Spartan Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 12.
The MSU Athletics Hall of Fame, located in the Clara Bell Smith Student-Athlete Academic Center, opened on Oct. 1, 1999, and displays plaques of the 193 previous inductees. The charter class of 30 former Spartan student-athletes, coaches and administrators was inducted in 1992.
Lindsay Bowen
Women's Basketball (2002-06)
Dansville, Mich.
The photo is iconic. Lindsay Bowen on the back of MSU teammate Liz Shimek celebrating the Spartans taking down the mighty Lady Volunteers of Tennessee in the 2005 NCAA Tournament National Semifinal game. Bowen was an integral part of the 2005 squad that was the first Michigan State women's basketball team to reach the Final Four.
Now, Bowen will add another honor to her resume as a member of the Michigan State Athletics Hall of Fame.
"I was very shocked. I did not expect that, but obviously very happy, excited, and honored to get to be in the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame. That's so cool," said Bowen after being informed. "I've grown up a Spartan fan since I was really young. I dreamed of going to Michigan State. That was always my dream, but I never dreamt that I would be Hall of Famer."
Two members of that 2005 team, Shimek and Kristin Haynie are already members of the Michigan State Athletics Hall of Fame, and now Bowen will join her teammates.
"Yes, it's such an honor and a privilege to have played with a lot of those young ladies. And Kalisha Keane is also in the Hall of Fame, and so it's just really, really a special honor and really cool to be honored alongside them," she said.
The 2005 season was the most successful year in MSU women's basketball history, under the direction of Joanne P. McCallie, Coach P to her players. The Spartans ended the year ranked No. 2 in the final USA Today/ESPN Coaches poll, earning their highest-ever national ranking.
The win against No. 1-seed Tennessee at the time tied what was the largest comeback in women's basketball Final Four history. The Spartans trailed by 16 points with fewer than 15 minutes remaining in the game and battled back for the 68-64 victory. It was one of several marquee wins for Michigan State that season, including non-conference wins over UConn and Notre Dame.
"What really stands out was we beat USC, by I think two points at the buzzer, to be in the Sweet 16 for the first time ever. The game at Stanford also stuck out to me because we beat them and went to the Final Four for the first time in school history. And then obviously the Tennessee game was big time because we were down by 16 and we came back and we beat them to put us into the National Championship game."
MSU averaged 71.0 points per game, while allowing only 58.2. Those stats were bolstered by a 67-51 win over No. 11 UConn on Dec. 29, 2004, as the 10th-ranked Spartans not only won on the Huskies' tough home court, but also dealt them their worst home loss in 12 years.
"In 2005, I was a junior. So, the two seasons leading up we were building something special. When that third year hit, we all had kind of talked about how we want to build this program into a championship program, and we went to work," said Bowen. "We all were just a solid, hard-working group of young women and we made it work. It's kind of cool, we were small-town girls, and we just kind of fought together. I think once we started winning in the beginning, we told ourselves, 'we could play with anybody.' That's when it took off because I think in the non-conference season, we played some really tough teams, and we beat them. That was a really good start to our season."
During her senior season in 2006, Michigan State continued to flex its muscles. The No. 4-seeded Spartans reached the Regional Semifinals, before falling to Duke. The team went 23-10 overall and finished third in the Big Ten.
Bowen currently stands fifth all-time in Michigan State history in points scored with 1,739 points. She ended her MSU career as the school record holder in 3-pointers made with 294, which lasted until Tori Jankoska broke the record with 320 (2013-17). To this day, Bowen remains the Spartan career leader in minutes with 4,611, a testament to her hard-working nature.
Among the many accolades collected during her tenure at MSU, Bowen was named a Wooden Award Finalist in 2005. She was also a four-time Big Ten honoree (2003-06). She started her Spartan career with a bang, winning 2003 Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors.
Bowen is very aware that her success as a Spartan and beyond was not done alone. She had a team of people in her corner to help her find success along the way.
"First and foremost, obviously my parents. I wouldn't be where I am today without their love, without their support, and just being with me every step of the way. So, I would say them first," said Bowen. "Obviously, Coach P, she was a pivotal coach and figure in our lives that helped us get to the success that we had. My high school coach, Stuart Thorburn, I just want to thank him for always pushing me in high school, and just being a really solid person and coach all around. Then obviously, all my teammates, we had so many awesome memories. They've been amazing Spartan sisters to me my whole career, and, even now, we continue to talk."
After completing her playing and coaching career, Bowen shifted gears and is now a mindset and mental performance coach for athletes. She helps athletes build confidence and helps them increase focus in their games. Her ultimate goal is to help athletes get out of their own heads, providing examples from her own career as an athlete, as well as other athletes that she has seen along the way.
Now, that advice and coaching is coming from a Spartan Hall of Famer.
