The Mississippi State softball program has announced plans to retire the jersey of Alex Wilcox later this fall.
Wilcox wore the #8 jersey during her single season as a Bulldog. She fought ovarian cancer for several years after being diagnosed in 2015 with the disease, but appeared in eight games during her freshman season in Starkville. Wilcox recorded three hits in fifteen at-bats during that time, despite being in the midst of receiving chemotherapy treatments.
A Brantley, Alabama native, Wilcox’s brave and inspiring fight against cancer inspired the No One Fights Alone campaign that took the Southeastern Conference and the softball world by storm. The Mississippi State program wore teal uniforms during midweek contests in the 2018 season to spread awareness for ovarian cancer and Wilcox’s battle against the disease. The other twelve SEC softball programs joined the campaign in various ways, donning teal uniforms and accessories at times and contributing messages of support.
Following an incredibly brave fight, Wilcox passed away on June 25 at the age of eighteen.
Mississippi State will retire Wilcox’s jersey during a ceremony at halftime of the team’s home football games against Louisiana-Lafayette on September 15th. A memorial service will be held on campus on September 16th in an event that is open to the public and will feature various Bulldog softball members speaking on Wilcox’s impact both on and off the field.
With the retirement of her #8, Wilcox will become the first-ever female athlete in Mississippi State history to have her jersey retired.
