Following a 10-19 season that featured a finish at the bottom of the Big Ten, Penn State has its eyes set on righting the ship in 2025.
From new transfers and freshmen to very few returners, here’s five players to watch this season for the Lady Lions.
1. G Kiyomi McMiller
Kiyomi McMiller signed with Penn State out of the transfer portal on Apr. 21,following one season at Rutgers. A five-star recruit out of high school, McMiller impressed many fans in her freshman season, averaging 18.7 points per and 4.7 rebounds in 21 games en route to an All-Big Ten honorable mention.
Penn State is familiar with McMiller’s talent after she dropped eight fourth-quarter points in Rutgers’ comeback win at the Bryce Jordan Center this past January, including the go-ahead three-pointer.
The sophomore had seven games of 20 or more points and three games with over 30 points last season, including a career high 33 against Nebraska. McMiller has a real shot at being the team’s leading scorer this winter.
2. G Viktoria Ranisavljevic
Viktoria Ranisavljevic has been playing for the Swiss national team since she was 13 years old. She averaged double digit points from 2021-24, including a team high 23.8 points per game at the 2024 FIBA U20 EuroBasket Tournament. This past summer she became one of the youngest players to represent Switzerland on the senior team at the 2025 FIBA tournament.
Ranisavljevic brings much needed energy and playmaking at the guard position. The team as a whole was tied for fourth in the Big Ten with 17.7 assists per game, but lost their top two distributors. That said, she could see a healthy number of assists with Penn State’s scoring threats and brings strong defensive IQ and intensity — she averaged 5.5 steals per game for the U20 team in 2024.
3. C Maggie Mendelson
Fresh off a national championship victory in volleyball, Maggie Mendelson is suiting up this winter for the Lady Lions.
A top 40 basketball recruit out of high school, Mendelson began her collegiate career as a dual-sport athlete at Nebraska. She averaged just 2.0 points and 2.2 rebounds per game her freshman season, but racked up 14 blocks in 22 games.
After two years off the court, she returns for her senior season, becoming Penn State’s first two-sport athlete since Mac Hippenhammer in 2018-19. At 6-foot-5, she gives the team a much needed secondary paint presence alongside Gracie Merkle and adds championship experience to the locker room.
Middle blocker Maggie Mendelson (44) spikes the ball in the Elite 8 round if the NCAA women’s volleyball tournament between Penn State and Creighton on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024 in Rec Hall in University Park, Pa. The Nittany Lions beat the Bluejays 3-2.
Jacob DeLuca
4. G Moriah Murray
With a 37.8% conversion rate, Moriah Murray was one of the best three-point shooters in the nation last season. Across 27 games she averaged 10.4 points per game, shooting near 40% from the field. She also brought energy on the defensive end, averaging nearly a steal per game.
Guard Moriah Murray (3) puts up a 3 at the Penn State women’s basketball game against Washington on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2024 in the Bryce Jordan Center in University Park, Pa. The Huskies beat Lady Lions the 82-71.
Luke Kupstas
Murray made five or more three-pointers seven times, hitting eight twice. However, she also saw nine games of zero three-pointers made, four of which came consecutively. After shooting 44.3% from beyond the arc in the first seven games of the season, she shot just 25.8% in the team’s final six games. Keep an eye on how her three-point shooting looks to begin the season.
5. C Gracie Merkle
Merkle was the team’s leading scorer last season, averaging 15.5 points on 67% shooting. Her 8.6 rebounds per game were sixth in the Big Ten, as were her 1.5 blocks. She had 15 double-doubles and reached double digits in scoring in all but five games.
Center Gracie Merkle (44) lays up a shot off a rebound against Maryland, on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2024 in Rec Hall in University Park, Pa. The Terrapins beat the Nittany Lions 82-73.
Luke Kupstas
Last year, Penn State lacked a true center, forcing the then-redshirt sophomore to play more minutes. With the addition of Mendelson, the pressure will be off Merkle to do all the work down low.
Despite the team’s losing ways and her heavy load of minutes, Merkle had four double-doubles in the team’s last five games, including a 28-point performance against Wisconsin.
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