Valparaiso Women’s Basketball Season Opener Preview
Game Details:
- Opponent: DePaul
- Date: November 4, 2025
- Time: 6 p.m. CT
- Location: Wintrust Arena, Chicago, IL
This season marks the beginning of the Courtney Boyd era for the Valparaiso Beacons women’s basketball team. The Beacons will commence their 2025-26 regular season campaign with an away game against DePaul.
Preseason Developments
Prior to the season opener, Valpo participated in a closed scrimmage against Northern Illinois and achieved a victory over Grace, clinching the game 89-70 in their only public exhibition.
Coaching Profile: Courtney Boyd
Courtney Boyd, appointed as the ninth head coach in Valparaiso women’s basketball history on April 4, 2025, brings an impressive track record to the program. With a career record of 190-68 (.736) over eight seasons, she has consistently led her teams to success, winning over 20 games in seven of those seasons. Boyd’s most notable achievement includes steering Clarke University to a national title in the 2022-23 season.
Series History
The Beacons will face a tough challenge, as DePaul has maintained a stronghold in the historical series, winning all 17 prior matchups. The last encounter occurred in November 2010, with DePaul winning 84-53 in the Preseason WNIT.
Upcoming Challenges for Valparaiso
- Following DePaul, Valpo will travel to Detroit Mercy on November 8 and then to Iowa State on November 12.
- The Beacons will play their first home game against Milwaukee on November 16 at 4 p.m.
Team Overview and Previous Season
Last season, Valparaiso concluded with a 13-19 overall record and placed eighth in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) with a 9-11 conference record. Noteworthy achievements included a comeback win against Drake, where the Beacons erased a 20-point deficit. Leah Earnest, a standout player from the previous season, secured First Team All-MVC honors and left a lasting impact on the program’s record books.
Key Players Returning
Valparaiso retains seven athletes from the previous season’s roster, though they will need to fill the scoring and rebounding void left by the departures of their four top scorers. Key returning players include:
- Maci Rhoades
- Fiona Connolly
- Raeven Raye-Redmond
- Mor Shabtai
New Faces
The roster features a diverse group of newcomers, including four freshmen and five transfers. These additions aim to complement the returning players as the team strives for improvement.
International Representation
This season’s team includes several international players, expanding the program’s global footprint. Notable names include Mor Shabtai (Israel) and transfers Milana Nenadic (Canada) and Kennedy Sproule (Canada).
Looking Ahead
With high hopes for the 2025-26 season, Valparaiso aims to build on last year’s experiences. The Beacons will seek to reverse a trend of poor season opener performances, as they have only won one of their last seven inaugural games.
DePaul’s Season
This will be a critical matchup for both teams, as DePaul also finished last season at 13-19 and has been projected to finish eighth in the upcoming Big East standings. The Blue Demons will be without key players Kate Clarke and Meg Newman due to injuries.
