Celebrating The Starkville Samoans
April 24, 2026 | Softball
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State softball has built a winning culture under head coach Samantha Ricketts in the past seven seasons.
Within the culture surrounding the team in Starkville, Ricketts' connection to her Samoan heritage and the village of Leone has played a big role in creating a strong environment that has attracted several additional Samoan players to play under Ricketts at Nusz Park.
One of the oldest Polynesian cultures, the Samoan Islands are located in the South Pacific Ocean, approximately halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand. Today, large Samoan populations also live in the United States and Australia.
Over the past decade, Mississippi State has rostered at least one player with Samoan heritage thanks to Ricketts' influence. That list includes seven American Samoan players, and as many as four Samoan players have been teammates at the same time.
The Bulldogs currently have a pair of sisters on the roster in Kiarra Sells and Kalani Sells, as well as former Bulldog turned graduate assistant Matalasi Faapito. Faapito appeared in 137 games in the Maroon and White and left her mark by finishing third in MSU's NCAA Tournament history in slugging percentage and tying for second with a .750 career on-base percentage in postseason play.
Such achievements have been ingrained into State softball history, but none of this would have been possible without the welcoming environment that coach Ricketts and the Bulldogs have embraced.
"I think, for myself, I really see the connection between the Samoan culture and team environment," Ricketts said. "It's a very kind of quiet respect. Respect your elders and leaders, your team first, family first, all based on love and faith. I think that's something that works well within our program."
That strong feeling of love and faith has given not only Samoan athletes but all players that arrive at Mississippi State a sense of comfort and pride. The culture that has been built has guided the Bulldogs to becoming a consistent top-20 program.
With the program's achievements during her tenure, Ricketts was appointed the head coach of the American Samoan National Team. The Sells sisters and Faapito were all included in Ricketts' initial player pool and will be eligible to play for the team this summer. Former Bulldogs Fa Leilua and Chloe Malau'ulu were also included as the team prepares to attempt to qualify for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
"I think it's an amazing opportunity," Kiarra said. "I think it's really great to be able to put on for our home country."
As softball season is underway, Ricketts and company will continue to draw attention with their high-level play on the field and their powerful sense of companionship and pride off the field.
"I wouldn't want to play for anyone else," Faapito said. "Only because, yes, she's my coach, but she treats me like her daughter. I can say that she's my second mom. She holds me accountable and she knows [Kiarra] and I have high standards, and she knows what we can do."
The Bulldogs will hold their annual Samoan Heritage Day on Sunday, April 26 while hosting No. 20 LSU at Nusz Park. The first pitch is set for 11 a.m. CT and will be aired on SEC Network+.
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Within the culture surrounding the team in Starkville, Ricketts' connection to her Samoan heritage and the village of Leone has played a big role in creating a strong environment that has attracted several additional Samoan players to play under Ricketts at Nusz Park.
One of the oldest Polynesian cultures, the Samoan Islands are located in the South Pacific Ocean, approximately halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand. Today, large Samoan populations also live in the United States and Australia.
Over the past decade, Mississippi State has rostered at least one player with Samoan heritage thanks to Ricketts' influence. That list includes seven American Samoan players, and as many as four Samoan players have been teammates at the same time.
The Bulldogs currently have a pair of sisters on the roster in Kiarra Sells and Kalani Sells, as well as former Bulldog turned graduate assistant Matalasi Faapito. Faapito appeared in 137 games in the Maroon and White and left her mark by finishing third in MSU's NCAA Tournament history in slugging percentage and tying for second with a .750 career on-base percentage in postseason play.
Such achievements have been ingrained into State softball history, but none of this would have been possible without the welcoming environment that coach Ricketts and the Bulldogs have embraced.
"I think, for myself, I really see the connection between the Samoan culture and team environment," Ricketts said. "It's a very kind of quiet respect. Respect your elders and leaders, your team first, family first, all based on love and faith. I think that's something that works well within our program."
That strong feeling of love and faith has given not only Samoan athletes but all players that arrive at Mississippi State a sense of comfort and pride. The culture that has been built has guided the Bulldogs to becoming a consistent top-20 program.
With the program's achievements during her tenure, Ricketts was appointed the head coach of the American Samoan National Team. The Sells sisters and Faapito were all included in Ricketts' initial player pool and will be eligible to play for the team this summer. Former Bulldogs Fa Leilua and Chloe Malau'ulu were also included as the team prepares to attempt to qualify for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
"I think it's an amazing opportunity," Kiarra said. "I think it's really great to be able to put on for our home country."
As softball season is underway, Ricketts and company will continue to draw attention with their high-level play on the field and their powerful sense of companionship and pride off the field.
"I wouldn't want to play for anyone else," Faapito said. "Only because, yes, she's my coach, but she treats me like her daughter. I can say that she's my second mom. She holds me accountable and she knows [Kiarra] and I have high standards, and she knows what we can do."
The Bulldogs will hold their annual Samoan Heritage Day on Sunday, April 26 while hosting No. 20 LSU at Nusz Park. The first pitch is set for 11 a.m. CT and will be aired on SEC Network+.
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Players Mentioned
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