Cullowhee, N.C. – The Western Carolina women's basketball team hit Ingles Court at the Ramsey Center for the first official team practice under first-year head coach Jonathan Tsipis on Tuesday as preparations for the 2024-25 season ramp up for the Catamounts.
The 2024-25 WCU women's basketball team features eight returning players, highlighted by unanimous Southern Conference All-Freshman team selection Tyja Beans and upperclassmen standouts Chelsea Wooten and Jada Burton.
Tsipis added four newcomers to the program including a pair of NCAA Division I transfers, bringing in Georgia Tech graduate transfer Avyonce "AC" Carter and Grace Pack from Gardner-Webb as veteran presences, while also infusing fresh blood in the form of freshmen signees Taj Hunter and Kennedy Hilsenroth.
The first official fall practice of the 2024-25 campaign saw the Catamounts primarily tackle defensive play and fundamentals, which Tsipis hopes to instill as the team's identity.
"I think it's a competitive group. Everybody understands that they're going through it the first time, whether it's a true freshman like Kennedy Hilsenroth or Taj Hunter or somebody going through their fifth, first practice like Zo Cruz or AC Carter," said Tsipis. "I think it's a group willing that's to learn and there's a lot of good competition, understanding how we can improve every single day. They do a good job of pushing each other which is what you need to have to push your team past your potential."
He added, "I think our identity has got to come from being a great defensive team, being a smart team, and taking good care of the basketball. I feel that we have great versatility on how we can play and that's with the eight returners and four newcomers. I think that gives us a lot of great ideas to see how the chemistry works together. I think the biggest part right now is once you get the competitive understanding, you start to figure out your identity. If you can defend and rebound, you put yourself in a position to really be able to be competitive in a lot of games"
While game times and opponents are still being finalized for the upcoming season, Western Carolina is set to host a pair of home games to open the 2024-25 season as Warren Wilson and the Campbell Fighting Camels swing through Cullowhee on Nov. 4 and Nov. 7, respectively. The Catamounts then hit the road for five straight away from Cullowhee, opening in Radford, Va., against the Highlanders on Nov. 10.
WCU has a handful of preseason events on deck before Ingles Court at the Ramsey Center begins welcoming fans. The Catamounts are set to take the stage during 2024-25 SoCon Basketball Media Day in Greenville, S.C., on Oct. 1. WCU also has its annual "A Night in The Whee" fan event on Oct. 22 and the inaugural Catamount Basketball on the Boundary on Oct. 29.
More information regarding those preseason events as well as Catamount Basketball season tickets will be made available at a later date.
Keep track of everything related to Catamount women's basketball and WCU Athletics through its social media outlets on Facebook (fb.com/catamountsports), Instagram (@wcu_catamounts), and Twitter (@catamounts, Catamountwbb).
