WATCH: FAMU WBB coach Gordon, guard McEvans after beating Bethune-Cookman
Florida A&M women’s basketball beat Bethune-Cookman 62-54 in a SWAC game on Jan. 4, 2025.
Bridgette Gordon is entering her third season as the head women’s basketball coach at Florida A&M.The Rattlers’ roster is mostly new, with only three returning players out of fifteen.FAMU was picked to finish eighth in the Southwestern Athletic Conference preseason poll.The team will open its 2025-2026 season on the road against Florida State on November 3.
Bridgette Gordon is entering her third season as the head women’s basketball coach at Florida A&M.
And she is enthused and optimistic.
After two seasons of leading the Rattlers to their only Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament appearances, the Women’s Basketball Hall of Famer is ready for the program to take the next step under her leadership.
“Just super excited in year three,” Gordon said on Tuesday, Oct. 7, at the Southwestern Athletic Conference Media Day.
“We’re healthy, competing, and coming off a great summer. I’m just loving this team from the character, culture, and sisterhood. It’s just a matter of them gelling together with so many new pieces.”
FAMU women’s basketball opens its 2025-2026 season across the railroad tracks at Florida State on Nov. 3. The Rattlers’ home opener is set for Nov. 15 versus Samford.
FAMU’s remaining non-conference slate includes Howard (Nov. 8), Georgia Mason (Nov. 10/away), Central Florida (Nov. 21/away), Mercer (Nov. 25/away), South Alabama (Nov. 30/away), Jacksonville (Dec. 2/home), Florida (Dec. 17/away), West Georgia (Dec. 21/home), and an exhibition game versus Southeastern (Dec. 29/home).
Following the Rattlers’ 9-21 record and 6-12 mark in the SWAC last year, league voters picked FAMU to finish eighth out of the 12 teams in 2025.
“Hopefully we’re going to be ready, with this non-conference schedule, to compete for a conference and tournament title in the SWAC,” Gordon said.
FAMU didn’t get any individual preseason All-SWAC honorees.
However, the FAMU coach says the underrated Rattlers will specialize in “size,” “length,” and a “Dawg Mentality.”
The Rattlers have a 15-woman roster with just three being returnees. Gordon had the autonomy to recruit every member of this year’s FAMU women’s basketball roster.
Point guards Cornelia Bussey and Jordan Bussie, and Breazia Robinson are the standout newcomers, says Gordon. The top returning players are point guard Tahnyjia Purifoy and 6-foot-6 center Zikeyah Ransom-Carter.
“When you talk about the key positions, it’ll be the PG and our center,” Gordon said.
Gerald Thomas, III is a multi-time award-winning journalist for his coverage of the Florida A&M Rattlers at the Tallahassee Democrat.
Follow his award-winning coverage on RattlerNews.com and contact him via email at GDThomas@Tallahassee.com or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee.