The University of Indianapolis women’s basketball team will kick off their season away against Malone University, according to UIndy Athletics. UIndy ended their 2022-23 season with an 18-12 overall record per UIndy Athletics’ website. The team went 10-4 at home, which is the best at-home record they have had since their 2012-13 season where they also ended 10-4 in home games, according to their website. The 2023-24 season will commence on Nov. 10 at 3:30 p.m. according to UIndy Athletics.
UIndy Women’s Basketball Head Coach Marc Mitchell said the team is working hard to prepare for the upcoming season. He said that preparation for the season is not only physical.
“We’re just working hard every day, trying to get incrementally better,” Mitchell said. “Working together is paramount. Pushing each other. Inspiring each other. All those things go into preparation for the season.”
According to Mitchell, he is only entering his second year at UIndy, and the players are still figuring out his coaching style. He is still discovering the team dynamic and is hopeful that this season will help the team continue to build a culture of togetherness.
“Last year was my first year,” Mitchell said. “So, it was kind of a feeling out process. I guess the players were feeling me out, I was feeling them out. But this year’s team is kids that I recruited to come in, and having a year experience with the other young ladies that returned, kind of understanding that the culture we’re trying to build here is togetherness. And as you know, our motto and our saying is ‘As one’. Everyone’s really buying into that. Much more than last year… It’s a lot different. It’s a lot more together, a lot more connected at this stage in this season.”
According to Mitchell, in order to continue to build on the team culture, the team has been able to have a bit of team bonding. The team enjoys getting out and having fun together outside of the basketball court,” Mitchell said.
“Just on fall break we went laser tagging,” Mitchell said. “We had a competitive game of laser tag, which was fun. I’m upset my team lost that one. We played some video games, had a good outing, had fun. Went out for a team dinner. Things like that. Just really having to see each other outside of the lines. We get out there and have a good time with one another.”
Mitchell said UIndy has some key new players that fans can look forward to watching on the court. Some include guards Jada Haines, Kaleah Toomer and Sanaa Thomas, he said. Jada Haines transferred to UIndy from the University of Northwestern Ohio and was fourth in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics in points during the 2023 season and the Wolverine–Hoosier Athletic Conference leading scorer during the 2023 season, according to UIndy Athletics.
“Jada Haines is a grad transfer,” Mitchell said. “She’s from Akron, Ohio. She’s going to be a major part of what we do this season. We also have a couple of freshmen that are integral parts of what we’re doing here. They’re both Indianapolis kids. One from Ben Davis High School, Kaleah Toomer and the other is from Warren Central High School, Sanaa Thomas. Those young ladies should come in and really provide a different look UIndy this year.”
Mitchell said that fans can expect to see a fast paced team with more scoring than last year. He stated that the UIndy women’s basketball team works hard for each other, but also for the UIndy community.
