2023-24 Women's Basketball Season Preview

Sophomore Keegan Kaiser, pictured

The Hope College women's basketball team is pushing forward into a new era.

The three-time national champion Flying Dutch — who rank seventh in NCAA Division III all-time with a .764 winning percentage and 16th all-time with 706 wins — will rely on all new playmakers and leadership this season.

With two competitive tournaments at DeVos Fieldhouse to start — and plenty of opposing talent within their MIAA schedule — added in, head coach Brian Morehouse '91 said his team will have an "excellent chance to challenge themselves each week."

"I'm very excited about the 2023 team," Morehouse said. "The work they have put in all summer and fall is showing great potential for success. They have grown noticeably in strength and skill development. I'm confident we will be improving daily as we build during the season due to their work ethic."

2023 Schedule

Hope opens the season with back-to-back home tournaments at DeVos Fieldhouse. Both the Tip Off Tournament on Thursday-Saturday, Nov. 9-11, and the Hope College Tournament on Friday-Saturday, Nov. 17-18, feature some new Division III foes such as Marian University (Wis.) and traditional powerhouse programs such as Illinois Wesleyan University.

After five non-league games, the Flying Dutch will begin MIAA league play on the road at Albion College on Wednesday, Nov. 29. The first Rivalry matchup with Calvin University will be at DeVos Fieldhouse on Saturday, Dec. 9.

Hope also travels to New York City for a holiday tournament, taking on new opponents at the CUNYAC Coaches vs. Cancer Tournament hosted by Lehman College on Thursday-Friday, Dec. 28-29.

The Flying Dutch start the second semester with MIAA play at home against Trine University on Saturday, Jan. 6. Both teams shared last season's MIAA regular-season title. Hope then defeated Trine in the MIAA Tournament championship game.

The Purple Community game benefiting the Van Andel Institute will take place on Wednesday, Jan. 10, against visiting Kalamazoo College.

2023 Roster

The Hope roster features three freshmen, six sophomores, five juniors, and one senior.

Nine of the Flying Dutch's 15 players are returning letterwinners, but all played a reserve role last season. No starters return from a team that went 26-3 and reached the second round of the NCAA Division III Tournament.

Hope's three returning leading scorers are: sophomore guard Karsen Karlblom (Crystal Lake, Illinois / Prairie Ridge) at 6.7 points per game, sophomore guard/forward Sydney Vis (Byron Center, Michigan / South Christian) at 5.7, and junior guard Jada Garner (Midland, Michigan / H.H. Dow) at 5.3.

Coaching Staff

Head coach: Brian Morehouse '91, 28th season (685-94 at Hope)
Associate head coach: Courtney Kust '13
Assistant coaches: Colly Carlson '92, Austin Randel, Kate Majerus '21, Dean Morehouse

National Rankings

Hope is ranked in both preseason polls. The Flying Dutch finished 12th in the Women's Basketball Coaches preseason rankings and 21st in the D3hoops.com poll.

MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll

Hope is predicted to be in the thick of the MIAA title chase this season.

The Flying Dutch placed runner-up in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll after receiving one first-place vote and 18 points. Coaches could not vote for their team.

Hope finished behind Trine University, which received all eight possible first-place votes and totaled eight points.

Coach's Outlook

"Our non-conference play is loaded with high-quality teams who have NCAA Tournament experience. [These games] will push us to grow each day in practice to be ready for the next big game. The MIAA is also loaded this season. So many teams are returning experience and talent. I believe this is the deepest the league has been in 10 years. I'm very excited about this 2023 team, great teams grow from being challenged each time out." — Brian Morehouse

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Players Mentioned

#11 Jada Garner: G; 5' 6"; Junior; Exercise Science

#5 Karsen Karlblom: G; 5' 11"; Sophomore; Physical and Health Education

#25 Sydney Vis: G/F; 5' 10"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#11 Jada Garner
: 5' 6"; Junior; Exercise Science
: G

#5 Karsen Karlblom
: 5' 11"; Sophomore; Physical and Health Education
: G

#25 Sydney Vis
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: G/F