Coming off of a 11-14 2023-24 season and having finished 4-10 in conference play, the Case Western Reserve University women’s basketball team is back in action and ready for the 2024-25 season.

After graduating five fourth-years and two graduate students last season, the Spartans are entering the new season as a relatively young team, featuring four first-years and five second-years, with just three third-years and two fourth-years on the roster.

“It was definitely an adjustment,” fourth-year guard and co-captain Nyah Moore said. “However, I think our team has really taken a new approach and adapted to the skill and talent that we have. We are adapting to what our strengths are both on and off the court and taking that into this season.”

First-year guard Lauren Ludwig has felt warmly welcomed by her teammates and has thoroughly enjoyed her experience with the team so far.

“Joining the team as a freshman has been an incredible experience,” Ludwig said. “It feels like a family, and we’re all motivated to push each other to continue to improve. I’ve enjoyed learning the team culture and creating new bonds with my teammates, and I’m excited to see those relationships grow throughout the season.”

Following the 2023-24 season, the Spartans have been focused on team building, fitness and other key areas to ensure a strong start to the upcoming season.

“We have been focused on building our fitness and sharpening our skills, and the team did a great job of working hard during the past few months to prepare for the season,” Ludwig said. “While there’s a lot of work to do, it’s been rewarding to see how we’re all growing and coming together as a team.”

Moore is confident in the team and excited to help shift the perception of the Spartan women’s basketball team this season.

“I am most excited to see the team growth throughout the season,” she said. “I think a lot of teams and outside peers are underestimating the talent that we have. So, I am excited to prove those who are doubting us wrong.”

Ludwig attributes the team’s supportive and positive environment to the leadership of captains Moore and fourth-year forward Evie Miller, as well as the guidance of Head Coach Jennifer Reimer and Assistant Coaches Brooke Beecher, Morgan Micallef and Madison Gutierrez.

“Our captains have been great leaders, setting the tone in practice and making sure the team stays focused and motivated,” Ludwig said. “And the coaches have been focusing on making sure we have a solid foundation and challenging us to reach our full potential. They emphasize the importance of hard work, enthusiasm and always striving to get better every day.”

As a captain, Moore believes that she and Miller, along with the coaches, have played a key role in fostering a positive atmosphere both on and off the court.

“I think we have both done a great job in influencing and impacting the attitude our team has this year,” Moore said. “With having a more demanding pre-season this year, we showed how much dedication it takes to be on the women’s basketball team. Our coaches have helped us throughout this journey so far as well, by consistently being present for the whole team. They have great confidence in the team’s ability to do well this year, and they are really focusing on making us become the best version of ourselves.”

Ludwig is eager to begin her first season of collegiate basketball and looks forward to seeing the team’s hard work during preseason pay off.

“I’m really excited to see how the team develops throughout the season and to experience the competitive atmosphere of the UAA,” she said. “We have so much talent, and I am looking forward to seeing how we grow and develop. I am excited to learn from the coaching staff and upperclassmen and be able to represent the team, develop my skills and always leave it all on the court.”

As this is her final season with the Spartans, Moore is determined to give it her all on the court and is grateful for the experiences and opportunities the team and school have provided her over the past four years.

“Honestly, it still does not feel real that I am a senior,” she said. “I have become more grateful for the opportunity to have been able to play at such a high level of competition while still getting an amazing education. Not many people get to say that. So, I think I have had a new outlook or perspective on how and what I can do to make the team better both on and off the court.”