The return of standout graduate guard Destiny Leo to an already talented Cleveland State roster is fueling lofty expectations for the 2024-25 season. Leo, the 5-foot-10 product of Eastlake North, was averaging a team-high 20.7 points last season when she was sidelined after six games by a knee injury that required season-ending surgery. Despite the loss of the then-reigning Horizon League Player of the Year and two-time first-team honoree, the Vikings finished 29-6 and claimed a second straight Horizon League regular-season title. CSU withstood the loss of Leo because senior point guard Colbi Maples and graduate shooting guard Mickayla Perdue emerged as stars in their own right. Maples, a transfer from Grambling State, was named Horizon League Player of the Year after averaging 16.6 points and 4.1 assists. Perdue, a transfer from Division II Glenville State, averaged 17.3 points and was a first-team honoree. Leo, Maples and Perdue all are 2024-25 Horizon League preseason first-team honorees. The Vikings were picked to repeat as regular-season champions in the poll. “We all share the same goal of meeting those expectations and being the best team we can be,” Leo said. Chris Kielsmeier, beginning his sixth season as coach of the CSU women, is equally at ease with those expectations. “As a program, we love being in this position,” Kielsmeier said. “It means we’ve done the job we envisioned doing seven years ago.” In the past three seasons, the Vikings were a combined 82-20 while earning bids to the NCAA Tournament (2023) and Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament (2022, 2024). Leo pronounced herself completely recovered from the knee injury. She is sixth on the CSU’s women’s all-time scoring list with 1,557 points. “It was hard not being able to help last season and having something I love so much taken from me,” Leo said. “But I was happy for them and everything they accomplished. I feel feel really grateful to be back on the  with my teammates.” Other returnees expected to make major contributions this season are 6-3 junior center-forward Jordana Reisma (9.8 points, 6.0 rebounds) and 6-0 graduate guard Sara Guerriero (8.7 points, 5.6 rebounds). Mya Moore, a 6-2 junior forward who transferred to CSU after averaging 12.7 points and 7.6 rebounds last season at the University of Seattle, has been impressive in preseason practices. “She fits our system very well and has the potential to impact the game in every way,” Kielsmeier said. Vying for spots in the rotation are graduate guard Filipps Goula, senior forward Grace Ellis, senior guard Kali Howard, freshman forward Brenae Jones-Grant and freshman guard Sarah Hurley. Cleveland State women's basketball coach Chris Kielsmeier. (Cleveland State University)Cleveland State's Colbi Maples. (Cleveland State University)Cleveland State guard Mickayla Perdue shoots against Toled during a WBI first-round game March 21, 2024. (Frank Jansky - Cleveland State University)Show Caption1 of 3Cleveland State women's basketball coach Chris Kielsmeier. (Cleveland State University)Expand Cleveland State women’s basketball 2024-25 schedule (Home games in CAPS) November 1- EDINBORO (exhibition), 7 p.m. 5- Ohio St., 5 p.m. 9- Chicago St., 5:30 p.m. 12-BOWLING GREEN, 7 p.m. 16- Akron, Noon 20- Niagara, 6 p.m. 23- OHIO DOMINICAN, 3:30 p.m. 29- Louisiana, Noon 30- Lamar, 2:15 p.m. December 4- NORTHERN KENTUCKY, 7 p.m. 7- IU INDIANAPOLIS, 2 p.m. 13- BETHUNE-COOKMAN, 7 p.m. 16- Wright St., 7 p.m. 19- Morgan St., 2 p.m. 21- PR Mayaguez, 11:30 a.m. 29- MILWAUKEE, Noon January 3- Oakland, 7 p.m. 5- Detroit Mercy, 1 p.m. 12- PURDUE FORT WAYNE, 2 p.m. 15- Robert Morris, 11 a.m. 18- IU Indianapolis, 2 p.m. 23- YOUNGSTOWN ST., 7 p.m. 30- Green Bay 7 p.m. February 1- Milwaukee, 3 p.m. 6- DETROIT MERCY, 11 a.m. 8- OAKLAND, Noon 12- Northern Kentucky, 6 p.m. 15- Purdue Fort Wayne, 2 p.m. 19- GREEN BAY, 7 p.m. 22- ROBERT MORRIS, 2 p.m. 26- WRIGHT St., 7 p.m. March 1- Youngstown St., 2 p.m