On MSU's student finder, Winston is no longer listed. Michigan State's student finder is a website accessible by MSU students and faculty to find people within Michigan State University. While the rest of the team is listed, Winston is not. It is possible for individuals to remove their name from the database if they choose.

Michigan State's women's basketball's Twitter, Instagram and TikTok no longer follow Winston as of Thursday morning. It is unclear the reasoning or circumstances of Winston's departure and she was not immediately available for comment.

Michigan State Head Coach Suzy Merchant had hinted after the Iowa game that freshman guard Deedee Hagemann could be placed in the starting lineup — which would likely be in Winston's place if it came to fruition — but it is unclear if these are related.

As a freshman, Winston averaged 2.9 points and 0.9 rebounds per game. She came in from Muskegon High School as a four-star recruit, ranked No. 18 for her position and No. 68 overall in the nation. Winston saw play time in 30 games for the Spartans.

As a sophomore, amid the pandemic, the Spartans played a much shorter schedule. In 23 games, Winston averaged 11.1 points and 1.3 rebounds – a huge increase from the year prior. She also saw start time in 16 games.

Her position as a starter remained solid going into her junior year, where she played and started in MSU’s first 10 games before she was removed from the roster. She averaged 12.2 points and 1.6 rebounds, as well as three assists and 1.4 steals per game. She was prominent in the home opener for MSU, helping the program reach a new high of 17 three-pointers off her 20 points and 51.7% shooting beyond the arc.

This is a huge loss for the Spartans as Winston was the second fiddle to junior guard Nia Clouden over the last two seasons. It is unclear who will fill her position in the starting five, though speculation leans towards Hagemann.