The 2024–25 Mid-American Conference women's basketball season was the season for Mid-American Conference women's basketball teams. It began with practices in October 2024, followed by the start of the 2024–25 NCAA Division I women's basketball season in November. Conference play began in January 2025 and concluded in March 2025. The 2025 MAC tournament was held at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio for the 25th consecutive season. This was the conference's last season with 12 members as it will see its first change in membership since 2005 with the addition of UMass.
Ball State won the regular season championship with a 16–2 record Ally Becki of Ball State won player of the year. In the 2025 MAC women's basketball tournament, Ball State defeated Western Michigan, Kent State, and Toledo to win their second MAC tournament title, and first since 2009, to advance to the 2025 NCAA tournament. Ally Becki was the tournament MVP.
Head coaches Coaching changes
Eastern Michigan On December 11, 2023 Eastern Michigan fired Fred Castro after a 1–7 start. Ke'Sha Blanton finished the season as interim coach. On March 28, 2024, Canisius head coach Sahar Nusseibeh was named as the next head coach.
Toledo On April 5, 2024, Tricia Cullop left the head coaching position at Toledo after winning three constitutive MAC coach of the year honors to become the head coach at Miami (FL). On April 9, 2024, Monmouth head coach Ginny Boggess was named the new head coach.
Coaches Team Head coach Previous job Years at school Overall record School record MAC record MAC titles MAC tournament titles NCAA tournaments NCAA Final Fours NCAA championshipsAkron Ryan Gensler Illinois (Asst.)2 0 0 0 0 0Ball State Brady SalleeEastern Illinois13 0 0 0 0 0Bowling Green Fred Chmiel South Carolina (Asst.)2 † 0 0 0 0 0Buffalo Becky Burke USC Upstate3 0 0 0 0 0Central Michigan Kristin Haynie Michigan State (Asst.)2 0 0 0 0 0Eastern Michigan Sahar Nusseibeh Canisius 1 0 0 0 0 0Kent State Todd Starkey Indiana (Asst.)9 0 1 1 0 0Miami Glenn Box Indiana (Assoc HC.)2 0 0 0 0 0Northern Illinois Lisa CarlsenLewis 10 0 0 0 0 0Ohio Bob Boldon Youngstown State 12 2 1 1 0 0Toledo Ginny Boggess Monmouth 1 0 0 0 0 0Western Michigan Shane Clipfell 13 0 0 0 0 0 Notes: Appearances, titles, etc. are from time with current school only. Years at school includes 2024–25 season. MAC records are from time at current school only. All statistics and records are through the beginning of the season. Chmiel's overall record does not include his coaching record at Feather River College and Lassen College because it is unknown to the author.
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Preseason
The MAC Men's & Women's Basketball Tip-Off will be held on Tuesday, October 22, 2024. Each team will have their head coach and a student athlete from both the men's and women's basketball team for interviews.
MAC Women's Basketball Preview Coaches & Student-Athletes Akron: Head Coach Ryan Gensler & Alexus Mobley (Senior, Guard) Ball State: Head Coach Brady Sallee & Ally Becki (Senior, Guard) Bowling Green: Head Coach Fred Chmiel & Lexi Fleming (Senior, Guard) Buffalo: Head Coach Becky Burke & Chellia Watson (Senior, Guard) Central Michigan: Head Coach Kristin Haynie & Lisa Tesson (Senior, Guard) Eastern Michigan: Head Coach Sahar Nusseibeh & Sisi Eleko (Junior, Forward) Kent State: Head Coach Todd Starkey & Jenna Batsch (Senior, Guard) Miami: Head Coach Glenn Box & Katey Richason (Senior, Forward) Northern Illinois: Head Coach Lisa Carlsen & Chelby Koker (Grad., Guard) Ohio: Head Coach Bob Boldon & Kate Dennis (Senior, Guard) Toledo: Head Coach Ginny Boggess & Nan Garcia (Grad., Guard/Forward) Western Michigan: Head Coach Shane Clipfell & Hannah Spitzley (Grad., Guard)
Preseason women's basketball coaches poll +Women's Basketball Preseason Poll Place Team Points First place votes 1. Ball State 120 10 2. Kent State 104 2 3. Buffalo 98 -- 4. Bowling Green 96 -- 5. Toledo 82 -- T6. Northern Illinois 64 -- T6. Ohio 64 -- 8. Miami 44 -- 9. Akron 43 -- 10. Western Michigan 34 -- 11. Eastern Michigan 23 -- 12. Central Michigan 20 -- MAC tournament champions:Ball State (8), Bowling Green (1), Kent State (1), Toledo (1)
Source
MAC Preseason All-Conference
Honor Recipient Preseason All-MAC First TeamAlly Becki, Ball State, SeniorAmy Velasco, Bowling Green, SeniorChellia Watson, Buffalo, Fifth YearJenna Batsch, Kent State, SeniorKirsten Lewis-Williams, Buffalo, Sophomore Preseason All-MAC Second TeamBrooke Stonebraker, Northern Illinois, Graduate StudentErika Porter, Bowling Green, Fifth YearJaya McClure, Ohio, JuniorMadelyn Bischoff, Ball State, SeniorSammi Mikonowicz, Toledo, Graduate Student
Regular season
Rankings
Pre Wk2 Wk3 Wk4 Wk5 Wk6 Wk7 Wk8 Wk9 Wk10 Wk11 Wk12 Wk13 Wk14 Wk15 Wk16 Wk17 Wk18 Wk19 Final Akron AP C Ball State AP C Bowling Green AP C Buffalo AP C Central Michigan AP C Eastern Michigan AP C Kent State AP C Miami AP C Northern Illinois AP C Ohio AP C Toledo AP C Western Michigan AP C
+ Legend Improvement in ranking Drop in ranking Not ranked previous week No change in ranking from previous week RV Received votes but were not ranked in Top 25 of poll т Tied with team above or below also with this symbol
Postseason
Mid–American Tournament
Ball State defeated Western Michigan, Kent State, and Toledo to win their second MAC tournament title, and first since 2009, to advance to the 2025 NCAA tournament. Ally Becki was the tournament MVP.
NCAA tournament
As a 12 seed, Ball State lost to Mississippi in the NCAA Tournament.
Women's National Invitation Tournament
Buffalo and Miami accepted bids. Buffalo won the WNIT championship over Troy.
All-MAC Awards
Mid-American women's basketball weekly awards Source:
WeekPlayer(s) of the WeekSchoolNovember 11Chellia WatsonBuffaloNovember 18Amy VelascoBowling GreenNovember 25Mya BabbittMadelyn BischoffKent StateBall StateDecember 2Sisi ElekoEastern MichiganDecember 9Enjulina GonzalezMiamiDecember 16Brooke StonebrakerNorthern IllinoisDecember 23Enjulina Gonzalez {2}MiamiDecember 30Alexus MobleyAkronJanuary 6Ally BeckiBall StateJanuary 13Elise StuckBall StateJanuary 20Enjulina Gonzalez (3)MiamiJanuary 27Ally Becki (2)Ball StateFebruary 3Jenna BatschKent StateFebruary 10Alecia DoyleNorthern IllinoisFebruary 17Ally Becki (3)Chelby KokerBall StateNorthern IllinoisFebruary 24Chellia Watson (2)BuffaloMarch 3Chelby KokerNorthern IllinoisMarch 10Alex RichardBall State
Postseason awards 2025 Mid-American Women's Basketball Individual Awards https://getsomemaction.com/news/2025/3/11/mac-announces-2024-25-mac-womens-basketball-all-mac-teams-specialty-award-winners.aspx Award Recipient(s)Player of the Year Ally Becki, Senior, Ball State, GuardCoach of the Year Brady Sallee, Ball StateDefensive Player of the Year Marie Kiefer, Senior, Ball State, ForwardFreshman of the Year Madi Morson, Freshman, Central Michigan, GuardSixth Man Award Nan Garcia, Graduate Student, Toledo, Guard/Forward
All-MAC Honors 2025 Mid-American Men's Basketball All-Conference Teams First Team Second Team Third Team Honorable Mention All-Defensive Freshman TeamNan Garcia, ToledoAmy Velasco, Bowling GreenChellia Watson, BuffaloEnjulina Gonzalez, MiamiJenna Batsch, Kent StateAlex Richard, Ball StateKirsten Lewis-Williams, BuffaloMadi Morson, Central MichiganSammi Mikonowicz, ToledoSisi Eleko, Eastern MichiganChelby Koker, Northern IllinoisHannah Spitzley, Western MichiganKennedi Watkins, OhioLexi Fleming, Bowling GreenShelbee Brown, AkronAmber Tretter, MiamiJanae Tyler, Kent StateKendall Carruthers, ToledoMarina Asensio, Western MichiganPaige Kohler, Bowling GreenAyanna-Sarai Darrington, Central MichiganFaith Fedd-Robinson, ToledoJohnea Donahue, Bowling GreenLexi Carlsen, Northern IllinoisMadi Morson, Central MichiganAlly Becki, Ball StateHannah Spitzley, Western MichiganJohnea Donahue, Bowling GreenLani Cornfield, BuffaloMarie Kiefer, Ball State
See also 2024–25 Mid-American Conference men's basketball season
References