Western Wayne Today

Wayne State University's women's basketball team is set to commence its 2024-25 season with an exhibition match against Michigan State University. The game will take place on Monday, October 28, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing, Michigan.

Historically, Michigan State leads the series against Wayne State with a record of 10-1 since their first encounter in 1974. Their last regular-season meeting was in February 1982 when Michigan State secured a win at home. The only victory for Wayne State came in January 1976.

Michigan State's performance last season included a 22-9 record and advancement to the NCAA Tournament. "Entering her second season at the helm, Robyn Fralick has compiled a 22-9 record and became the first women's basketball head coach to reach the tournament in their first season for the Spartans." Julia Ayrault, who averaged 15.4 points per game last season, returns as one of their key players.

For Wayne State, Shea Tripp and Gabi Lutchka are returning All-GLIAC players who made significant contributions during the previous season. Tripp led her team with an average of 13.4 points per game and was recognized for her defensive skills.

The upcoming exhibition will feature a unique family connection as sisters Julia (MSU) and Annabel (WSU) Ayrault compete against each other while their father Andy Ayrault serves as an assistant coach for Wayne State.

Wayne State concluded its previous season with a loss to Northern Michigan in the GLIAC Tournament Semifinals but ended ranked nationally across several categories including free throw percentage and steals per game.

All home games for Wayne State will be broadcasted on FloSports this season as part of an agreement with the streaming service. Additional coverage will be provided by Kevin Brechmacher through WSUAthletics.com for away games.