Michigan State University Athletics
Photo by: Matthew Mitchell/MSU Athletic Communications
Law & Order: OPG
2/20/2026 3:15:00 PM | Women's Tennis
Spartan women tennis redshirt-junior Oriana Parkins-Godwin keeping order on and in the court.
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan State women's tennis player Oriana Parkins-Godwin decided to come to East Lansing following her redshirt sophomore season at Drake. She knew that after a strong freshman season, and overcoming a broken wrist injury, that she was ready to go to a school that challenged her even more athletically and academically.
So she decided to enter the transfer portal.
During the transfer window, she received around 20 to 30 calls from coaches from different schools, but no coaching duo was more eager to land Parkins-Godwin than MSU Head Coach Kim Bruno and Associate Head Coach Tyler Faulkner.
"After a couple conversations with her we knew we wanted her right away," Bruno said. "I remember actually getting off the phone with her and talking to Tyler and being like, 'We need this kid.'"
Parkins-Godwin grew up in Kingston Upon Thames, a southwest town located by London, England, where she started playing tennis from a young age. Her mother encouraged her to give it a try, and in middle school she realized that it was something she wanted to pursue. She started to play at the junior level, playing in tournaments such as the Babolat Cup in 2016 and reaching the third round of her first ITF junior tournament in Antalya.
"I started playing internationally and the hours of playing tennis just started to go up," Parkins-Godwin said. "It was starting to turn into almost a full time job. That's definitely difficult at age 14 or 15 where you're going through all the hormonal changes and you want to hangout with friends on the weekend, but you can't because you have to go to compete."
Once Parkins-Godwin turned 16, she began to realize that the lifestyle of a professional tennis player was not for her. She didn't like the idea of living out of a suitcase and couldn't stand being away from her family for a large portion of the year. This is when she decided that she wanted to come to an American university to continue her academics and tennis.
She decided to go to Drake, a small Missouri Valley Conference team in Des Moines. During her freshman season she earned First-Team All-Missouri Valley Conference honors, finishing with a combined singles and doubles record of 35-8 overall.
She then entered her sophomore season, where she broke her right wrist in practice just days before her first match. This resulted in her having to redshirt the season.
"The recovery process was definitely difficult, there were so many ups and downs both mentally and physically," Parkins-Godwin said. "It was a long process, it took me three and a half months to get back. It started with being in a cast, all these X-rays, and then slowly working back the muscles that I could move around the wrist. It was almost like relearning tennis again."
Parkins-Godwin chose to come to MSU following the long recovery process. She wanted to continue tennis at a high level, and also pursue becoming a finance lawyer. Parkins-Godwin always had an interest in the finance field, and after initially gravitating towards a job in investment banking, she realized her real passion was to work as a finance lawyer where she could help other people.
"I like the idea of helping clients through finance and the risk and the rules, instead of being the one who's pushing for the deals," Parkins-Godwin said. "I enjoy the fact that I can help someone make a decision with all the information that they have, instead of being the one making the decision."
She is set to graduate with her undergraduate degree in economics and minor in business law this May. She is undecided on where she wants to pursue her Master's degree, but is leaning towards returning to MSU next year and pursuing legal studies.
She plans to return to England where she must complete a year and a half law conversion course. This will help prepare her for the two-part Solicitors Qualifying Examination and the two years of qualifying work experience she must complete to become a lawyer. Her search for potential jobs and internships is ongoing, but she already has a few potential law firms in mind.
"I'm trying to get into firms within the Magic Circle or Silver Circle which are the top two bands of law firms," Parkins-Godwin said. "It would give me the breadth of knowledge, the international exposure, and I just think those kinds of firms really suit the challenging environment I like to work in."
Parkins-Godwin knows her career aspirations are high, but with the work ethic and skills she has gained through tennis, she has full confidence she can reach her goals. Coach Bruno also has a lot of confidence in her, knowing she can do anything she puts her mind to.
"Oriana is super academic-oriented to the point where she's constantly studying, constantly wanting to achieve the next thing," Bruno said. "I think the sky's the limit for her in tennis and in life."
Parkins-Godwin and the Spartan women's tennis team is in action at home at the friendly, warm and toasty confines of the MSU Indoor Tennis Center for a weekend full of action, starting on Friday, Feb. 20 at 5 p.m. against Toledo and then continuing on Sunday, Feb. 22 at 12 p.m. versus Dartmouth.
Additionally, Dartmouth and Toledo will take the courts in a neutral territory match on Saturday, Feb. 21 at 12 p.m.
This weekend's matches serve as the Breast Cancer Awareness matches for MSU. Fans who are able to attend are encouraged to wear pink in support of awareness.
The Spartan Strength Kits Donation Drive will also be active during the event, fans are encouraged to donate tumblers, lemon candy, fuzzy socks, lip balm, tea or unscented lotion to support breast cancer warriors.
Fans who can't make it out to the action in person can follow along with "Live Results" and "Watch Live" links available at MSUSpartans.com.
So she decided to enter the transfer portal.
During the transfer window, she received around 20 to 30 calls from coaches from different schools, but no coaching duo was more eager to land Parkins-Godwin than MSU Head Coach Kim Bruno and Associate Head Coach Tyler Faulkner.
"After a couple conversations with her we knew we wanted her right away," Bruno said. "I remember actually getting off the phone with her and talking to Tyler and being like, 'We need this kid.'"
Parkins-Godwin grew up in Kingston Upon Thames, a southwest town located by London, England, where she started playing tennis from a young age. Her mother encouraged her to give it a try, and in middle school she realized that it was something she wanted to pursue. She started to play at the junior level, playing in tournaments such as the Babolat Cup in 2016 and reaching the third round of her first ITF junior tournament in Antalya.
"I started playing internationally and the hours of playing tennis just started to go up," Parkins-Godwin said. "It was starting to turn into almost a full time job. That's definitely difficult at age 14 or 15 where you're going through all the hormonal changes and you want to hangout with friends on the weekend, but you can't because you have to go to compete."
Once Parkins-Godwin turned 16, she began to realize that the lifestyle of a professional tennis player was not for her. She didn't like the idea of living out of a suitcase and couldn't stand being away from her family for a large portion of the year. This is when she decided that she wanted to come to an American university to continue her academics and tennis.
She decided to go to Drake, a small Missouri Valley Conference team in Des Moines. During her freshman season she earned First-Team All-Missouri Valley Conference honors, finishing with a combined singles and doubles record of 35-8 overall.
She then entered her sophomore season, where she broke her right wrist in practice just days before her first match. This resulted in her having to redshirt the season.
"The recovery process was definitely difficult, there were so many ups and downs both mentally and physically," Parkins-Godwin said. "It was a long process, it took me three and a half months to get back. It started with being in a cast, all these X-rays, and then slowly working back the muscles that I could move around the wrist. It was almost like relearning tennis again."
Parkins-Godwin chose to come to MSU following the long recovery process. She wanted to continue tennis at a high level, and also pursue becoming a finance lawyer. Parkins-Godwin always had an interest in the finance field, and after initially gravitating towards a job in investment banking, she realized her real passion was to work as a finance lawyer where she could help other people.
"I like the idea of helping clients through finance and the risk and the rules, instead of being the one who's pushing for the deals," Parkins-Godwin said. "I enjoy the fact that I can help someone make a decision with all the information that they have, instead of being the one making the decision."
She is set to graduate with her undergraduate degree in economics and minor in business law this May. She is undecided on where she wants to pursue her Master's degree, but is leaning towards returning to MSU next year and pursuing legal studies.
She plans to return to England where she must complete a year and a half law conversion course. This will help prepare her for the two-part Solicitors Qualifying Examination and the two years of qualifying work experience she must complete to become a lawyer. Her search for potential jobs and internships is ongoing, but she already has a few potential law firms in mind.
"I'm trying to get into firms within the Magic Circle or Silver Circle which are the top two bands of law firms," Parkins-Godwin said. "It would give me the breadth of knowledge, the international exposure, and I just think those kinds of firms really suit the challenging environment I like to work in."
Parkins-Godwin knows her career aspirations are high, but with the work ethic and skills she has gained through tennis, she has full confidence she can reach her goals. Coach Bruno also has a lot of confidence in her, knowing she can do anything she puts her mind to.
"Oriana is super academic-oriented to the point where she's constantly studying, constantly wanting to achieve the next thing," Bruno said. "I think the sky's the limit for her in tennis and in life."
Parkins-Godwin and the Spartan women's tennis team is in action at home at the friendly, warm and toasty confines of the MSU Indoor Tennis Center for a weekend full of action, starting on Friday, Feb. 20 at 5 p.m. against Toledo and then continuing on Sunday, Feb. 22 at 12 p.m. versus Dartmouth.
Additionally, Dartmouth and Toledo will take the courts in a neutral territory match on Saturday, Feb. 21 at 12 p.m.
This weekend's matches serve as the Breast Cancer Awareness matches for MSU. Fans who are able to attend are encouraged to wear pink in support of awareness.
The Spartan Strength Kits Donation Drive will also be active during the event, fans are encouraged to donate tumblers, lemon candy, fuzzy socks, lip balm, tea or unscented lotion to support breast cancer warriors.
Fans who can't make it out to the action in person can follow along with "Live Results" and "Watch Live" links available at MSUSpartans.com.
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