Purdue women's basketball to host UT Arlington, former Boilermaker star Shereka Wright

Wright, a three-time All-American and the program's second-leading scorer, visits Mackey Arena on Nov. 24

Since Katie Gearlds took over the program, the former Boilermaker worked to bring another former Boilermaker back to Mackey Arena for a game.

And this former Purdue star is one Gearlds looked up to during her playing days in West Lafayette.

Shereka Wright, one of the most dynamic players in program history, will bring UT Arlington to face the Boilermakers on Nov. 24 at Mackey Arena. The contract between the schools is for one year.

“I think that’s something that needed to happen, and we’ve tried to make it work,” Gearlds said. “I’m so jacked she’ll be able to come back here and coach, and I imagine she’ll get the love she deserves.”

Gearlds was a freshman when Wright was a senior at Purdue, and the Texas native “was great for me personally. (She) kicked my ass every day.”

Purdue coach Katie Gearlds (Wegiel Photography)

Wright is set to begin her fifth season with the Mavericks after finishing 17-16 and fifth in the Sun Belt Conference last year. She’s compiled a 64-48 record and guided the program to the NCAA tournament in her second season. Wright was an assistant at Texas Tech, Alabama and Vanderbilt before securing her first head coaching position.

At Purdue, Wright is the only three-time All-American in program history and the third Boilermaker to earn first-team All-Big Ten honors three times. She totaled 2,251 points, the second most in school history, and set Big Ten records for free throws made and attempted.

The matchup against UT Arlington is the fifth officially released nonconference game. Five of the six remaining nonconference games are expected to be played at Mackey Arena.

Nonconference schedule (as of July 25):

Nov. 10: Notre Dame

Nov. 24: UT Arlington

Nov. 28: vs. Middle Tennessee State, 3 p.m. (Fort Myers, Fla.)

Nov. 30: vs. South Carolina, 11 a.m. (Fort Myers, Fla.)

Dec. 14: Kentucky