WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue women's basketball team held its first official practice of the 2023-24 season on Monday on Cardinal Court in Mackey Arena.
Head coach Katie Gearlds enters her third year in charge of the Boilermakers following back-to-back trips to the postseason. Gearlds guided Purdue to a 19-11 record in her second campaign and reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2017.
Purdue's 2023-24 roster features a mixed roster of veteran experience and youthful energy. Five returners in starters Madison Layden, Caitlyn Harper, Abbey Ellis and Second Team All-Big Ten Jeanae Terry, as well as Jayla Smith, set the tone for a group of eight newcomers this season.
Gearlds signed freshmen Mary Ashley Stevenson, Sophie Swanson, McKenna Layden, Rashunda Jones and Emily Monson to NLIs last November to be ranked as the No. 21 class in the nation, before top-60 guard Amiyah Reynolds signed for Purdue in May. The Boilermakers added transfers Mila Reynolds from Maryland and Alaina Harper from Grand Canyon.
One twist to the roster is the three sets of sisters who will suit up for the Boilermakers this season - Amiyah and Mila Reynolds, Caitlyn and Alaina Harper and McKenna and Madison Layden. Prior to this season, Purdue never had two sisters on the same team.
Gearlds, guards Jeanae Terry and Madison Layden, along with freshman forward Mary Ashley Stevenson, met with the local media for the first time.
HEAD COACH KATIE GEARLDS
SENIOR GUARD MADISON LAYDEN
FIFTH-YEAR GUARD JEANAE TERRY
FRESHMAN FORWARD MARY ASHLEY STEVENSON
Head coach Katie Gearlds enters her third year in charge of the Boilermakers following back-to-back trips to the postseason. Gearlds guided Purdue to a 19-11 record in her second campaign and reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2017.
Purdue's 2023-24 roster features a mixed roster of veteran experience and youthful energy. Five returners in starters Madison Layden, Caitlyn Harper, Abbey Ellis and Second Team All-Big Ten Jeanae Terry, as well as Jayla Smith, set the tone for a group of eight newcomers this season.
Gearlds signed freshmen Mary Ashley Stevenson, Sophie Swanson, McKenna Layden, Rashunda Jones and Emily Monson to NLIs last November to be ranked as the No. 21 class in the nation, before top-60 guard Amiyah Reynolds signed for Purdue in May. The Boilermakers added transfers Mila Reynolds from Maryland and Alaina Harper from Grand Canyon.
One twist to the roster is the three sets of sisters who will suit up for the Boilermakers this season - Amiyah and Mila Reynolds, Caitlyn and Alaina Harper and McKenna and Madison Layden. Prior to this season, Purdue never had two sisters on the same team.
Gearlds, guards Jeanae Terry and Madison Layden, along with freshman forward Mary Ashley Stevenson, met with the local media for the first time.
HEAD COACH KATIE GEARLDS
SENIOR GUARD MADISON LAYDEN
FIFTH-YEAR GUARD JEANAE TERRY
FRESHMAN FORWARD MARY ASHLEY STEVENSON