====== 2023-24 Minutewomen Season ======
The 2023-24 UMass Minutewomen women's basketball team will represent the University of Massachusetts. The Head Coach will be [[https://umassathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/coaches/mike-leflar/2068|Mike Leflar]].
The season will represent the 49th season of women's basketball in the school's history.
* **Current Record:** n/a
* **Conference Record:** n/a
^ Previous Season ^ Next Season ^
| [[wbb_season_2022-23|2022-23]] | [[wbb_season_2024-25|2024-25]] |
===== Roster =====
We're tracking what we know here. This is of course subject to change as the off-season progresses.
==== Incoming players ====
^Name^Height^Pos.^Exp.^Status^Notes^
|Bellamy, Bre|6-0|F|4 years|Signed((https://umassathletics.com/news/2023/5/8/womens-basketball-womens-basketball-signs-four-transfers))((https://www.gazettenet.com/UMass-womens-basketball-transfer-portal-news-50869994))|7.6 PPG, 6.0 RPG in 29 GP at William & Mary last season. [[https://tribeathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/bre-bellamy/15260|W&M]], [[https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/bre-bellamy-1.html|SRWBB]].|
|Childers, Avery|5-10|G/F|HS|Verbal((https://twitter.com/childers_avery/status/1653178987135262727))((https://www.wvnews.com/sports/highschool/robert-c-byrds-avery-childers-commits-to-umass-womens-basketball/article_46d3eb18-e823-11ed-b2c5-4b602fb93e77.html))|Played at Byrd HS in Clarksburg WV. [[https://twitter.com/childers_avery|Twitter]]|
|Hyduke, Tori|5-6|G|4 years|Signed((https://umassathletics.com/news/2023/5/8/womens-basketball-womens-basketball-signs-four-transfers))((https://twitter.com/torihyduke/status/1653474116781916173))((https://www.gazettenet.com/UMass-womens-basketball-transfer-portal-news-50869994))|10.2 MPG, 2.8 PPG in 26 GP at Drexel last season. [[https://drexeldragons.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/tori-hyduke/9578|Drexel]], [[https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/tori-hyduke-1.html|SRWBB]].|
|Jones, Mikenzie|6-1|F|1 year|Signed((https://umassathletics.com/news/2023/6/1/womens-basketball-womens-basketball-adds-three-newcomers))|3.4 PPG, 2.2 RPG in 11.1 MPG at Denver last season. [[https://denverpioneers.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/mikenzie-jones/4077|Denver]], [[https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/mikenzie-jones-1.html|SRWBB]], [[https://twitter.com/Mikenzi61219257|Twitter]].|
|Mapp, Jermany|6-0|G/F|3 years|Signed((https://umassathletics.com/news/2023/5/8/womens-basketball-womens-basketball-signs-four-transfers))((https://www.gazettenet.com/Hampton-Jermany-Mapp-announces-transfer-to-UMass-50796695))|7.4 PPG, 3.4 RPG in 30.2 MPG at Hampton last season. [[https://hamptonpirates.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/jermany-mapp/5428|Hampton]], [[https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/jermany-mapp-1.html|SRWBB]].|
|Odenigbo, Chinenye|6-5|C|HS|Signed((https://umassathletics.com/news/2022/11/12/womens-basketball-womens-basketball-inks-three-for-2023-24-season))|Played at Noble and Greenough in Dedham MA.((https://wbbblog.com/chinenye-odenigbo/)) [[https://twitter.com/ChinenyeJO_|Twitter]].|
|Palmieri, Allie|5-10|G|3 years|Signed((https://umassathletics.com/news/2023/5/8/womens-basketball-womens-basketball-signs-four-transfers))((https://twitter.com/PalmieriAllie/status/1650625827824910338))|Modest PT in 2 seasons at Boston College and 1 at Seton Hall. [[https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/allie-palmieri-1.html|SRWBB]], [[https://twitter.com/PalmieriAllie|Twitter]]. Will sit out 2023-24 as a two-time transfer.((https://twitter.com/Jschreiber272/status/1724835730604675452))|
|Pierce, Dallas|5-9|G|HS|Signed((https://umassathletics.com/news/2022/11/12/womens-basketball-womens-basketball-inks-three-for-2023-24-season))|Played at Sanford HS in Hockessin DE. MaxPreps' Delaware Player of the Year((https://www.maxpreps.com/de/hockessin/sanford-warriors/athletes/dallas-pierce/?careerid=010aulcdi3022)) [[https://twitter.com/_DallasPierce|Twitter]].|
|Rose, Alexsia|5-7|G|3 years|Signed((https://umassathletics.com/news/2023/6/1/womens-basketball-womens-basketball-adds-three-newcomers))((https://twitter.com/Alexsia_Rose/status/1662218579981529090))|3.1 PPG, 1.5 RPG, 1.5 APG at East Carolina last season. [[https://ecupirates.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/alexsia-rose/12154|ECU]], [[https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/alexsia-rose-1.html|SRWBB]], [[https://twitter.com/Alexsia_Rose|Twitter]].|
|Taulelei, Lilly|6-3|F|HS|Signed((https://umassathletics.com/news/2023/6/1/womens-basketball-womens-basketball-adds-three-newcomers))((https://twitter.com/LillyTaulelei/status/1660078773210062848))|From Wellington, New Zealand. Played HS basketball for DME Academy in Daytona Beach, FL last season.((https://twitter.com/Jschreiber272/status/1660077624079556608)) [[https://twitter.com/LillyTaulelei/|Twitter]].|
Aaryn Battle had signed an NLI while Tory Verdi was our coach.((https://umassathletics.com/news/2022/11/12/womens-basketball-womens-basketball-inks-three-for-2023-24-season)) Since he departed, she has reopened her recruiting.((https://twitter.com/aarynbattle24/status/1654463502361194496))
==== Returning players ====
Assuming they're back until we hear otherwise.
^Name^Height^Pos.^Exp.^Notes^
|Ferguson, Lilly|5-10|G|1 year|Logged 13 minutes of action across 9 games. Limited opportunities to break through into a usual 7-player rotation. [[https://umassathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/lilly-ferguson/14533|UM]]|
|Kulesza, Stefanie|5-11|G|2 years|Averaged 12.6 mpg in 27 games off the bench in 2022-23. [[https://umassathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/stefanie-kulesza/14535|UM]], [[https://twitter.com/KuleszaStefanie|Twitter]]|
|Williams, Kristin|5-8|G|2 years|Averaged 4.7 mpg in 20 games off the bench in 2022-23. [[https://umassathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/kristin-williams/14540|UM]], [[https://twitter.com/kwilliams510|Twitter]]|
==== Departing players ====
^Name^Height^Pos.^Exp.^Status / Notes / 2022-23 Stats^
|Breen, Sam|6-1|F|6 years|Eligibility exhausted. 17.3 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 37.0 MPG, 34 GP, 34 GS. 2x A10 POY, 2023 Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year. [[https://umassathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/sam-breen/13785|UM]], [[https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/sam-breen-1.html|SRWBB]], [[https://twitter.com/32_samb|Twitter]]|
|Dabo, Aisha|6-1|F|2 years|Entered transfer portal. Has since committed to Hampton.((https://twitter.com/gwmyers/status/1656343354483802120)) Was on UMWBB's roster for two seasons, but injuries kept her sidelined. [[https://umassathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/aisha-dabo/13787|UM]]|
|Fair, Laila|6-2|F|2 years|Entered transfer portal. Has since committed to Morgan State.((https://morganstatebears.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/laila-fair/8648)) Logged 9.1 MPG and 1.8 PPG across 19 games for UM in 2022-23. [[https://umassathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/laila-fair/13797|UM]]|
|Mayo, Ber'Nyah|5-6|G|3 years|Entered transfer portal. Has since committed to St. John's.((https://twitter.com/bmayo_23/status/1648441825827639298)) 12.6 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 4.0 APG, 34.3 MPG, 34 GP, 34 GS. A10 Second Team. [[https://umassathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/ber'nyah-mayo/13790|UM]], [[https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/bernyah-mayo-1.html|SRWBB]], [[https://twitter.com/bmayo_23|Twitter]]|
|Ngalakulondi, Angelique|6-2|F|4 years|Entered transfer portal. Has since committed to Missouri.((https://twitter.com/Angeliqueee32/status/1650950519010086913)) 7.7 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 18.9 MPG, 33 GP, 32 GS. [[https://umassathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/angelique-ngalakulondi/13791|UM]], [[https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/angelique-ngalakulondi-1.html|SRWBB]], [[https://twitter.com/Angeliqueee32|Twitter]]|
|Philoxy, Destiney|5-7|G|5 years|Eligibility exhausted. 10.7 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 5.0 APG, 33.9 MPG, 34 GP, 34 GS. A10 Defensive Team. [[https://umassathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/destiney-philoxy/13792|UM]], [[https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/destiney-philoxy-1.html|SRWBB]], [[https://twitter.com/DestineyPhiloxy|Twitter]]|
|Taylor, Sydney|5-9|G|4 years|Entered transfer portal. Has since committed to Louisville.((https://twitter.com/sydtay1or/status/1649561030022799361)) 16.1 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 34.9 MPG, 33 GP, 33 GS. A10 First Team. [[https://umassathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/sydney-taylor/13793|UM]], [[https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/sydney-taylor-1.html|SRWBB]], [[https://twitter.com/sydtay1or|Twitter]]|
|White, Makennah|6-2|F|3 years|Entered transfer portal. Has since committed to Seton Hall.((https://twitter.com/JacobMunch1/status/1654115971278462978)) 9.5 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 23.0 MPG, 28 GP, 2 GS. [[https://umassathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/makennah-white/13794|UM]], [[https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/makennah-white-1.html|SRWBB]], [[https://twitter.com/makennahwhite|Twitter]]|
===== Schedule =====
* [[https://umassathletics.com/news/2023/8/3/womens-basketball-womens-basketball-announces-2023-24-non-conference-schedule|Full non-conference schedule]] announced on August 3.
* Nov 23-25, [[https://cancunchallenge.net|Cancun Challenge]]. UM will face [[https://greenbayphoenix.com/sports/womens-basketball|Green Bay]], [[https://wsucougars.com/sports/womens-basketball|Washington State]], and [[https://umterps.com/sports/womens-basketball|Maryland]].((https://cancunchallenge.net/news/2023/1/17/2023-womens-cancun-challenge-field-announced.aspx))
* The A10 conference game schedule will increase from 16 to 18 games.((https://atlantic10.com/news/2023/6/7/about-the-atlantic-10-atlantic-10-presidents-council-and-athletic-directors-conclude-annual-business-meeting.aspx))
===== Coaching Staff =====
* Head Coach: [[https://umassathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/coaches/mike-leflar/2068|Mike Leflar]]
Changes from 2022-23:
* Yolanda Cole joined as an Assistant Coach((https://umassathletics.com/news/2023/4/26/womens-basketball-massachusetts-womens-basketball-welcomes-assistant-coaches-yolanda-cole-and-samera-marsh))((https://www.gazettenet.com/Yolanda-Cole-and-Samera-Marsh-join-Minutewomen-staff-50769650))
* Samera Marsh joined as an Assistant Coach((https://umassathletics.com/news/2023/4/26/womens-basketball-massachusetts-womens-basketball-welcomes-assistant-coaches-yolanda-cole-and-samera-marsh))((https://www.gazettenet.com/Yolanda-Cole-and-Samera-Marsh-join-Minutewomen-staff-50769650))
* Tori Verdi (Head Coach) left for the HC job at Pittsburgh.
* Lynne-Ann Kokoski (Assistant Coach) left for the HC job at Bryant.
More details on full staff as the start of the season nears.
===== A-10 Lists & Honors =====
==== Pre-Season ====
UMass was picked to finish 11th out of the 15 teams in the Atlantic 10. No Minutewomen were named to All-Conference Teams.((https://atlantic10.com/news/2023/10/25/rhode-island-voted-a-10-womens-basketball-favorite-23-players-earn-preseason-awards.aspx))
{{tag>"WBB 2023-24 Season"}}