Rise and Roar: A New Season Begins for the Lady Lions
The Press Center | The Nittany Leak | Sports
A new season is here. A new story begins.
Inside historic Rec Hall, where echoes of greatness still hum through the hardwood, the Penn State Lady Lions prepare to write their next chapter.
On Monday, November 3, as the lights shine bright and the fans fill the stands, the Lady Lions will open their 62nd season — a season of purpose, growth, and fierce determination. Bucknell awaits, just as they have in seasons past, but this time the energy feels different. This time, there’s a fire in the air.
The Spirit of Rec Hall
Rec Hall is more than a venue. It’s a home built on heartbeats, hustle, and history. For nearly two decades, it carried the rhythm of Lady Lion basketball — and this year, it will do so again. Eleven games will unfold here, eleven chances to fill the rafters with cheers, pride, and possibility.
Every dribble on that floor connects past to present — a reminder of who we are, and what we’re still becoming.
A New Chapter, A Stronger Pride
Head Coach Carolyn Kieger enters her seventh season leading this pride of Lions. With experience, vision, and an unshakable belief in her team, she welcomes a new era — one defined by growth, accountability, and unity.
The addition of Jason Crafton, the program’s first-ever General Manager, marks a bold step forward. This is more than basketball — it’s a foundation for sustained excellence, built from the inside out.
Reflecting on the Journey
Last season tested this team’s resilience — and they responded with courage.
A thrilling win over No. 9 Ohio State reminded everyone of what this program is capable of. Records fell, lessons were learned, and the Lady Lions carried forward something far greater than numbers: belief.
Belief that every setback is a setup for a comeback.
Belief that greatness grows in the soil of struggle.
Belief that this season — this one — will be different.
The Energy Returns
When Gracie Merkle dominates the paint, when Moriah Murray launches another smooth three, when the defense locks in with intensity — that’s Penn State basketball.
These are players who embody strength, teamwork, and perseverance.
They are proof that success is built through preparation, repetition, and trust.
This season, they’re joined by new energy — transfers, international talents, and freshmen dreamers who chose Happy Valley because they saw something special here.
From Kiyomi McMiller’s explosive scoring to Shayla Smith’s record-breaking determination, from Tèa Clèante’s international experience to Maggie Mendelson’s two-sport grit — this is a roster full of hope, humility, and hunger.
The Lady Lion Way
We play for each other.
We play for the past that shaped us.
We play for the future that’s waiting to be claimed.
Every pass, every rebound, every shot is a statement:
We belong here.
We believe in ourselves.
We are building something powerful — together.
The Affirmation
This season, we rise higher.
We honor where we’ve been and embrace where we’re going.
We play with courage. We play with joy. We play with purpose.
Because when the Lady Lions take the floor, we carry more than a ball — we carry a legacy.
We are Penn State.
We are ready.
And we will roar.
Source Credit: https://gopsusports.com/news
