CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cleveland State women's basketball team will open the 2021-22 season with an exhibition contest this Wednesday (November 3), hosting Ursuline in the Wolstein Center. Wednesday's exhibition contest is slated for a 7:00 p.m. tipoff.
COVID Protocols
All fans attending home games inside the Wolstein Center during the 2021-22 season are required to wear a mask at all times, regardless of vaccination status. For more information on #SafeCampusCSU please READ HERE.
Reigning WBI Champions
The Vikings will start the 2021-22 campaign as the reigning WBI Champions, after capturing the program's first-ever postseason title last season. Cleveland State picked up three wins over three days to earn the championship, knocking off Manhattan, Stetson and Portland en route to the title.
#HLWBB Preseason Poll | Complete Poll
Last month, Cleveland State was selected to finish sixth in the competitive 12-team Horizon League field, picking up 78 points. IUPUI was tabbed as the preseason favorite, while Milwaukee, Green Bay, Northern Kentucky, and Oakland rounded out the top five.
Leo Named To #HLWBB Preseason Second Team
After being named the Horizon League Sixth Player of the Year as a freshman last season, Destiny Leo earned a spot on the #HLWBB Preseason Second Team last month, becoming the fourth Viking to earn a spot on a preseason team during head coach Chris Kielsmeier's tenure. As a freshman, Leo averaged 11.4 points per game to rank 13th among league players, while she was tops in the #HLWBB standings with 51 total three-pointers on the season.
Head Coach Chris Kielsmeier
The Vikings will be under the direction of fourth-year head coach Chris Kielsmeier. Through his first three seasons, Kielsmeier has led the Vikings to a 45-40 overall record, including a 21-win season during the 2019-20 campaign. Last season, Kielsmeier notched his 450th career win in a 60-48 victory over Green Bay, becoming just the second active #HLWBB coach with 450 career victories.
The 2021-22 Vikings | Complete Roster
Cleveland State returns 10 letterwinners from last season's WBI Championship squad, while four transfers and one true freshman will join the Vikings for the upcoming season. Included in the returners is the senior trio of Nadia Dumas, Isabella Geraci and Isabelle Gradwell.
2021-22 Schedule | Complete Schedule
Cleveland State will officially kickoff the 2021-22 season on Tuesday, November 9 when they host ETSU at the Wolstein Center. This will be the first of seven non-league games for the Vikings during the 2021-22 campaign – six of which will be played at home – while Cleveland State will also play a 22-game #HLWBB slate during the year.
