Champions lead the way: Lady Rams named WSSU Homecoming Parade grand marshals
After making history last season by capturing their first CIAA Tournament Championship, the 2025-26 Lady Rams will now do something else groundbreaking – serve as homecoming parade grand marshals.
Despite her squad finishing 28-4, including going a perfect 13-0 at home, Lady Rams head coach Tierra Terry said she was surprised when she received the invitation for her squad to lead the parade.
“I don’t know much about parades, but I know it’s a big deal,” Terry said. “I know what we accomplished last year, but I guess I just didn’t understand the impact we had with that team.”
The WSSU Homecoming Parade, traditionally held Saturday morning on the day of the football game, will instead kick off Homecoming Week at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1. The route will begin at Research Parkway and Fifth Street, turn left onto Rams Drive, left on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and end on Cromartie Street. For the complete parade route, click here.
The changes to this year’s parade are tied to the timing of homecoming and other events taking place across the Triad. WSSU’s homecoming is typically held earlier in the season, but this year’s celebration will culminate Nov. 7 when the Rams host the Fayetteville State University Broncos at Bowman Gray Stadium.
Last year’s parade grand marshal was Forsyth County Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough Jr. Terry said she appreciates WSSU Chancellor Bonita J. Brown for selecting her basketball team as grand marshals from among the many individuals and organizations she could have chosen. Terry looks forward to representing the university in the honored tradition.
“I always thought the chancellor is someone who empowers women. For her to be the first permanent female chancellor and for us to win the championship in her second year … I thought that was amazing,” Terry said. “For her to value us enough to be the face of homecoming is a big deal.”
Kiki Walker, a 2026 WSSU graduate who earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise science, was a shooting guard on the championship team. She is studying toward her master’s degree in WSSU’s occupational therapy program.
Walker was at a coffee shop with a friend when she received a text from Terry about the team’s selection as grand marshals.
“At first, I looked it up to make sure I was sure what it was,” Walker said. “That’s honestly so cool to be able to represent Winston. I’ve been in parades, just never as grand marshal. There are so many good teams and leaders at Winston, so the fact that we were chosen, I think, is really cool.”
In April, the Lady Rams received three major honors in recognition of their historic championship season. They attended meetings of the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners and Winston-Salem City Council, where they received proclamations, and visited the Executive Mansion at the invitation of Gov. Josh Stein.
“It’s been several months since the championship and it’s really nice to see we’re still being recognized,” Walker said. “It’s a good reminder of our success and a good way to start off this new season for them.”
The Lady Rams open the 2026-27 season Friday, Nov. 13, at home against nonconference opponent Chowan University.
Selecting last season’s squad to serve as grand marshals was easy for the chancellor.
“Last year, the Lady Rams demonstrated how to set goals and work diligently to achieve them,” Brown said. “They were winners, and not just on the basketball court. Thirteen of them earned a spot on the CIAA Commissioner’s Honor Roll, which requires a minimum 3.0 GPA. I have no doubt they will do an awesome job as parade grand marshals, and I look forward to having them lead us Nov. 1.”
