Photos by Terry McCutchen, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14
Wisdom Gym 1333 W. Washington Stephenville, TX 76401
Year Opened: 1970
Capacity: 3,000
Tarleton State University Women’s Basketball
Stephenville is a city of approximately 20,000 people located in north central Texas. Known affectionately as the Cowboy Capital of the World, Stephenville is home to numerous world-renowned horse trainers and top-level professional rodeo athletes, most notably Ty Murray. Murray is a nine-time PRCA world champion cowboy and co-founder of the Professional Bull Riders Association (PBR). In 2023, no less than 42 (31%) qualifiers for the National Finals Rodeo came from the Stephenville metro area.
In addition to professional level cowboys, Tarleton State University sponsors championship level rodeo, stock horse, and animal judging teams to solidify the town’s claim to the western-themed title. Not just a one-horse town, however, Tarleton State University also provides NCAA Division I athletic competition in multiple sports as well. Women’s basketball is such a sport, competing in the Western Athletic Conference since moving up from Division II in 2020.
The Tarleton State Texans women’s basketball team has 14 conference championships and multiple regional tournament appearances in their history – their best national finish was reaching the NAIA finals in 1991-92. Tarleton plays its home games in venerable Wisdom Gym, which opened in 1970 as a multisport facility; the gym seats 3,000 including pull-out seats on each side of the gym. The seating in the lower section has been updated with seatback chairs on the home side of the court, but the upper seating is the original wooden pull-out bleachers, which takes fans on a trip down memory lane.
With a modern video scoreboard and a live DJ pumping music, the setting is upbeat and energetic. This season will be the last for basketball in Wisdom Gym, however, as it will become a volleyball-only facility in the future, with basketball moving to a new facility.
Food & Beverage 3
All the normal concession stand fare is available at Wisdom gym, but there are no specialty items. Snacks include candy, chips, popcorn, and pretzels, while the drinks are Pepsi products, including Pepsi, Dr Pepper, Starry, and Tropicana Lemonade. Heartier food choices include hog dogs, nachos and pulled pork sandwiches.
At the game I last attended, pretzels with a side of cheese were very popular – I personally chose a pulled pork sandwich, which was above average.
Atmosphere 5
The atmosphere for Tarleton Women’s basketball is well above what you might expect – the presence of a live DJ, DJ Quan, playing before the game and during dead ball periods give the game an NBA feel. There is also an emcee, as well as games between quarters that include fan participants, keeping the crowd involved and helping avoid dead time. In addition, groups attending games get special recognition, and also can participate in some of the on-court games and other activities; all of these fan-friendly activities create an environment where fans enjoy themselves and want to come back again.
Even though the most recent game I witnessed was an early fall Saturday non-conference game, there was a mixture of fans that included a preteen birthday party, a high school basketball team, several Tarleton students, and a healthy section of older adults. The crowd was active and involved with the game.
Neighborhood 4
Tarleton is set in the center of Stephenville, which is a small town of approximately 20,000 people. The area around campus is mostly residential with many restaurants and fast food choices within a few minutes’ drive. The best options nearby include Hard 8 BBQ, Grumps Burgers, Don Nico’s Mexican Food, Newton's Saddlerack, and Caam’s Pizza. Or should you prefer an old school diner experience, Jake and Dorothy’s is a locally owned joint that dates back to 1948, the place waffle cut fries were invented and where chicken fried steak is their calling card – just carry cash as they do not accept credit or debit.
There are plenty of hotels to choose from in town; some of the more highly rated choices include Hampton Inn and Suites, La Quinta Inn and Suites, and Best Western Plus among others. If you prefer short term rental options, there are several small houses and cabins available in and around Stephenville. On busy weekends, availability can be an issue, however.
Fans 5
Tarleton fans are loud and loyal. They show up early and support their team without negatively cheering against the opponent. Students are also loyal and support the team loudly.
The Texans are also supported by their cheerleaders and a mascot, the Texan Rider, who is fully adorned in Cowboy attire including leather chaps, silk cravat and black hat. Other student groups at Tarleton include the Plowboys, as well as the state's oldest spirit organization, The Purple Poo. The Purple Poo is a secret society of males and females who are charged with keeping the spirit of John Tarleton and Oscar P alive. This special group posts signs of support weekly on campus and shows up at most events involving Tarleton teams. When they arrive, they lead the crowd in a special cheer for Oscar P and the Texans. Charged to wear disguises in public throughout their entire time on campus, the identity of each member of “The Poos” is only revealed at the end of their senior year.
At the game last I attended there was a large crowd – the student section was nearly full, while the reserved sections were over fifty percent capacity. For a football Saturday morning, such a large crowd is evidence that the basketball program is well supported by fans of all ages.
Access 4
Stephenville is approximately three and a half hours north of San Antonio via US-281, and three hours from Austin via Interstate 35. From the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex it is only a little over an hour’s drive. Once in town, the university is easily accessible and ample parking near the gym is available. There is no commercial air travel into town, however, and public transportation is rideshare only, which is limited at best. The best option if flying into the region is to fly to DFW, Love Field-Dallas, Austin-Bergstrom, or San Antonio airport and rent a vehicle to drive from there.
Return on Investment 4
General admission tickets are $10, and a full meal can be purchased for less than $10, so the ROI of a basketball game at Wisdom Gym is well worth the trip. With the assurance of a quality team, strong crowd support and entertainment during timeouts, the game experience is a bargain in my mind.
Extras 4
The presence of the live DJ takes the atmosphere to a high level, completely unexpected upon entering the gym – hype music is one thing, but with DJ Quan in the stands, the desire to dance during timeouts is greatly enhanced. In addition, the live, in-game emcee and crowd involvement greatly enhances the experience, and help the game not drag. Time goes by fast since there is very little down time during the game.
Lastly, the old school feel of the entrance and upper section of the building, combined with the upgraded seating and amenities, create a feeling of nostalgia without losing any of the comforts fans have come to expect in today’s game experiences.
Final Thoughts
Seeing a Tarleton Texan women’s basketball game is a quality entertainment option, and Wisdom Gym is a classic setting for such a positive experience. However, this year is the last chance to see a game in this facility, as Tarleton is currently constructing a new multipurpose facility, which will open in time for next season, so get to Wisdom Gym while you can.
Comments