Western Kentucky Women’s Basketball Team Holds Open Practice

Bowling Green, KY, October 13, 2025

News Summary

The Western Kentucky women’s basketball team recently hosted its third annual open practice at E.A. Diddle Arena, attracting 100-150 fans. This two-hour event featured team drills, a scrimmage against a male scout team, player introductions, and karaoke. Head coach Greg Collins praised the fan interaction and highlighted the team’s reshaped roster, which includes only one returning starter. The season will officially begin against Kentucky State on November 5, after a closed scrimmage against Louisville to assess team readiness.

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The Western Kentucky women’s basketball team kicked off their season with a successful open practice on Saturday at E.A. Diddle Arena, drawing an estimated attendance of 100-150 fans. This marked the team’s third annual open practice and was held on the main floor for the first time, signifying that the event has “outgrown our back gym.”

The open practice lasted two hours and featured team drills as well as a scrimmage against WKU’s male scout team. The event was designed as an introduction to the players for the fans, concluding with player introductions and a karaoke session, allowing for an engaging atmosphere.

Head coach Greg Collins expressed excitement about the turnout and emphasized the importance of fan interaction as the players met with supporters. Official practice for the team began in late September, giving them about six weeks of preparation before their season opener.

The Lady Toppers are set to begin their season on November 5 against Kentucky State. Following the open practice, the team participated in a closed scrimmage against Louisville the next day, which Collins indicated was crucial for assessing their progress against a quality opponent.

This season, the Lady Toppers will have a significantly reshaped roster, featuring only one returning starter, senior forward Zsofia Telegdy. The new roster includes six newcomers, including sophomore point guard Trinity Rowe, who transferred from Southern Mississippi and has a background as a former Miss Basketball.

Additionally, junior forward Tatum Boettjer is rejoining the squad after missing the previous season due to injury, while Collins praised the good chemistry developing among players on and off the court. He highlighted Telegdy’s leadership, as well as the high expectations placed on Rowe, who is expected to make a considerable impact at point guard in the conference.

Early preseason practices have also brought attention to sophomore forward Tori James, who has received commendations for her development. The open practice will allow the coaching staff to analyze film and identify areas for improvement before the highly anticipated season opener.

Key Developments at the Open Practice

• The Lady Toppers introduced six newcomers to the team.
• Participated in drills and a scrimmage against the male scout team.
• The event was interactive, engaging the fans with player introductions and karaoke.
• A closed scrimmage occurred the following day against Louisville.

Upcoming Season Details

The Western Kentucky women’s basketball team’s official season opener is against Kentucky State, set for November 5. This marks the commencement of their competitive schedule after a robust preseason practice period.

Team Composition

The roster changes reflect new opportunities for players and the chance to develop chemistry throughout the season, with Reynolds focusing on both returning and incoming talents. The emphasis on teamwork and leadership is expected to play a vital role as the Lady Toppers aim for success.

Analysis and Future Focus

Coach Collins has highlighted the need for improvement in the upcoming weeks, especially following the scrimmage against Louisville, a strong benchmark for assessing team readiness as the season approaches.

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Additional Resources

• Bowling Green Daily News: WKU Lady Toppers Basketball Open Practice
• WKU Sports: Basketball Tipoff Luncheon
• Tarleton Sports: Jailynn Brill Joins Tarleton State Women’s Basketball
• Google Search: WKU Lady Toppers Basketball
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Basketball

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