CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cleveland State women's basketball team will open the 2023-24 season with an exhibition contest on Wednesday, November 1, hosting Malone in the Wolstein Center. Wednesday's exhibition contest is slated for a 7:00 p.m. tipoff.
#HLWBB Preseason Poll | Complete Poll
Earlier this month, Cleveland State was selected to finish second in the #HLWBB Preseason Poll, picking up 107 points. This marks the third time in program history that the Vikings were selected to finish second in the #HLWBB Preseason Poll, with the Vikings also tabbed in the top-two prior to the 2011-12 and 2009-10 seasons.
Leo Repeats As #HLWBB Preseason Player of the Year
Cleveland State senior Destiny Leo was honored by the Horizon League earlier this month, earning her second straight nod as the #HLWBB Preseason Player of the Year. Leo, who is the reigning Horizon League Player of the Year, is the only Viking in program history to earn the recognition more than once. Leo returns as Cleveland State's leading scorer from a season ago, as she averaged 17.9 points per game to lead all league players, while also leading the league and ranking seventh nationally with a .911 free throw percentage (164-180).
…And Named To Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Preseason Watch List
Destiny Leo was also named to the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Preseason Watch List last week – one of 25 student-athletes named to the national preseason watch list. Leo, who is the first Cleveland State player to earn a spot on the list, enters her senior campaign at the top of the CSU Career Record Book in Three-Point Field Goal Percentage (.389) and Free Throw Percentage (.903), while ranking third with 214 Three-Point Field Goals and 11th with 1,433 Total Points.
The 2023-24 Vikings | Complete Roster
Cleveland State returns six letterwinners from last season's team that captured the 2023 #HLWBB Tournament Championship and set a program record with 30 wins on the year. In addition, Cleveland State welcomes seven newcomers – six transfers and one true freshman.
The 2023-24 Schedule | Complete Schedule
Cleveland State will officially kickoff the 2023-24 season on Tuesday, November 7 when the Vikings travel to Bowling Green for a 6:00 p.m. contest. This will be the first of 11 non-league games for the Vikings during the 2023-24 campaign, with Cleveland State also slated to play 20 #HLWBB games throughout the season. The Vikings' official home opener will be Saturday, November 18, when they welcome Central Michigan to the Wolstein Center.
Head Coach Chris Kielsmeier
The Vikings will be under the direction of sixth-year head coach Chris Kielsmeier, who enters the 2023-24 campaign with a career head coaching record of 512-170. Through his first five seasons at Cleveland State, Kielsmeier has led the Vikings to a 96-54 overall record, including a trio of 20-win seasons. Last year, Kielsmeier guided the Vikings to their third #HLWBB Tournament Championship, while he led the Vikings to their first-ever postseason title in 2021 when Cleveland State captured the WBI championship.
A Look Back At 2022-23…
Cleveland State combined for a program-best 30-5 record last season, marking the first 30-win campaign in program history and the third 20+ win season over the last four years. The Vikings captured the #HLWBB Tournament title for the third time in program history, and earned the program's highest seed in NCAA Tournament play. Cleveland State's trip to the NCAA Tournament marked the third straight postseason appearance.
