The Purdue women’s basketball team just held its first official practice on Monday, September 21, but for head coach Katie Geralds and her squad, it feels like they’ve been at it for over a month. And honestly, they have been. This team has been grinding all summer, focusing on individual player development, which makes total sense given they’ve got just four returning players and a whopping ten newcomers. Talk about a fresh start!
A Roster Built Different, But Chemistry Is Already Electric
Coach Geralds is in her sixth season leading the program, and she’s put together one of the most unique rosters you’ll see anywhere. Out of 14 players, you’ve got women representing eight different countries: Australia, Israel, Montenegro, Netherlands, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tanzania, and the United States. You might think that mix of global basketball styles would lead to some serious clashes on the court, right? But Geralds isn’t seeing it that way at all. She says the team has already found its “connective tissue,” and the chemistry is flowing “seamlessly.” As Geralds puts it, “Basketball is one language,” and that’s been proven true watching them integrate. This is a “really selfless basketball team,” and you can see it in practice with players sacrificing their bodies, drawing charges, making the extra pass, and taking initiative on defense.
The Big Challenge: Finding Their Shot, Literally
Here’s the kicker though, and it’s a huge challenge Geralds has already thrown at them: this team needs to get more selfish. Yeah, you heard that right. While the selflessness is awesome, they’re going to need players to step up and be more aggressive taking shots or controlling the ball when it matters. It’s a fine line, but one Geralds knows will come with time as roles get locked down. She calls them “a group that’s collectively trying to figure it out together,” and it sounds like a blast, saying it’s been “a really fun group to be around so far.”
One of the key pieces expected to bring that offensive punch is Hannah Wickstrom, a transfer from UC Riverside. This junior averaged a ridiculous 23.4 points per game last year and finished as the Big West scoring leader. Yeah, she’s expected to be a major offensive contributor in the Big Ten. Wickstrom, originally from Melbourne, Australia, finds comfort in having so many new teammates also trying to integrate into the system. She feels it “helps when you’re all in the same kind of boat,” especially when learning new offenses and defenses. Everyone’s trying to understand, and “everyone deeply cares as well. It’s special, it’s cool going through that together.” Don’t forget redshirt senior Taylor Henderson either, who missed the entire 2025-2026 season with an injury. She’ll be a leader as one of the few returning Boilermakers and has already seen that quick connection first hand, saying, “Even though we come from all over the country and all over the world, we just have really good chemistry. The way that we glued so fast is really something.”
So, while the team feels like a family already, the big task ahead is for individual players to find their voice offensively. It’s a huge ask, but if the chemistry is truly this strong, watching them figure it out this season is going to be something special.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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