BGSU women’s basketball enters its third season under head coach Fred Chmiel and will begin the 2025-26 season, ushering in a new era.

Last year came to an end for Bowling Green after losing to Buffalo 65-63 in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Tournament quarterfinals round, for the second straight season. With that loss, also was the final game of Erika Porter, Amy Velasco, and Lexi Fleming’s BGSU careers.

Now, a new set of fresh faces is ready to take the lead for the Falcons.

But first, the Falcons will look to set an identity, one that is built on the defensive end.

“I think we struggled with having an identity last year,” said Chmiel. “But this year, I think we have a little bit stronger identity, we have a foundation built on defense. I think we’re gonna look different. It’s gonna be more intense on the defensive side, which should cause us to get out and transition a little bit more. I’ve always had a plan to play a really intense, disruptive defense. But I think this year we’ve kind of made it to that point.”

In 2024-2025, Bowling Green had the fourth-ranked offense in the MAC, averaging 71.7 points per game (PPG). On the other end of the floor, they had the ninth-best defense in the conference, giving up an average of 68.1 PPG.

THE HEADLINERS

Leading the Falcons this year is junior guard Paige Kohler, who was All-MAC Honorable Mention last year after starring every single game for BG, plus is a Preseason All-MAC First Team selection.

Kohler has not missed a game for head coach Chmiel during her first two collegiate seasons. With the departure of Velasco and Fleming, it’s her team to lead.

“Her role is doubled in importance simply because she’s the leader. She is the person that a lot of them turn to, she’s the person I turn to,” said Chmiel. “She’s got a lot of experience, she can help our newcomers, our freshmen, and our returners. She’s a pivotal piece in what we do and who we are, and just glad to have her because she is that stability that this team needs.”

Kohler shot 36.7% from 3-point range, including making a team-high 76 field goals beyond the arc.

Also returning to the Orange and Brown is sophomore guard Johnea Donahue, who splashed onto the scene in his first season with the Falcons. Earning a spot on both the MAC’s All-Freshman Team and the MAC All-Defensive Team, and led the entire conference in steals.

This year, however, Donahue has stepped up in a leadership role alongside Kohler and has worked on her offensive game this offseason.

“I worked on a lot trying to change in my offensive game, trying to become more effective offensively and be a threat so people can actually come and guard me,” said Donahue. “Because if they have to guard me, then that. Can get my teammates open and stuff like that. So just being more efficient and effective from the three-point line and like overall effect ability on the court.”

Returning to the squad this season for Bowling Green also includes seniors Emily Siesel and Kendal Moxey. Redshirt-junior Jasmine Fearne, junior Taya Ellis, and sophomores Lauren Gerken and Laila Harrison.

GUESS WHO’S BACK?

A familiar face to the program has made their way onto Chmiel’s coaching staff. Former Falcon great Kadie Hempfling will be a part of the staff as an assistant coach alongside Maggie Lucas and John Nicolais after spending one season with Ohio Northern University.

Hempfling played five seasons for the Falcons, with her final coming during the 2022-23 Fab Four run under former head coach Robyn Fralick. She is first in program history with all-time games played with 155, fifth with games started at 122 and sixth in assists with 432.

Now, returning to her alma mater, Hempfling is ready to help the next generation of Falcons.

“She bleeds orange. And she loves the university, and she provides great energy, and she’s got experience, and she’s had great experiences here to share with our young people,” said Chmiel. “She works hard in the gym. She can develop kids. So we’re extremely thrilled to have her; she’s fit right in seamlessly, we’ve been lucky to get her.”

HELLO NEW FALCONS

The Falcons are welcoming four new faces to the team this season. Three come from the transfer portal, which includes senior guard Kaia Woods, who spent the last two seasons at Akron. Junior forwards Joniyah Bland-Fitzpatrick, after she spent two years at Seton Hall in the Big East Conference, and Jaedyn Cook, after spending the 2023-24 season at East Carolina and 2024-2025 at Odessa College in Texas.

Bowling Green’s only true freshman is guard Ky’Aira Miller, who comes from Purcell Marian High School in Cincinnati. She had over 1,000 points and set the school’s assist record with 500 assists.

“I‘m excited to see how they all develop,” said Chmiel. “Joniyah [Bland-Fitzpatrick] is a wing that is just extremely athletic and just enhances our defense and style of play.” I think Jaedyn Cook is somebody who has sky’s the limit, very high ceiling in that post position. Ky’aira Miller is a very young guard, but she plays like a veteran. And then Kaia Woods is a veteran that you know has a lot of experience.”

It’s worth noting that redshirt-freshman Sofia Moschen will also be a new face on the floor this season for the Orange and Brown. Moschen, a native of São Paulo, Brazil, enrolled at BGSU in January of 2025, spending the second half of last season with the team, but did not see any game time.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

Bowling Green will play a 30-game regular season schedule with 15 games at the Stroh Center.

Non-conference play includes two games in the MAC-Sun Belt Challenge, including the season opener against Louisiana at the Cajun Dome on Monday, Nov. 3. Chmiel will make his return to South Carolina on Friday, Nov. 7, against the No. 2-ranked Gamecocks coached by Dawn Staley.

The Falcons will have a two-game road trip in Wisconsin, taking on the Badgers on Wednesday, Nov. 12, and then Marquette on Friday, Nov. 14.

Bowling Green is set to compete in the Great Alaska Shootout against UC Irvine and either St. Thomas or Alaska-Anchorage on Friday, Nov. 21, and Saturday, Nov. 22.

The home opener for BG is set for Sunday, Nov. 30, against Purdue Fort Wayne. This begins a six-game home stand, including Kentucky State, Defiance, Lourdes, Le Moyne and the MAC opener against preseason favorites Kent State on Saturday, Dec. 20.

To close out the regular season, the Falcons will host Northern Illinois at the Stroh Center on Saturday, March 7, before the start of the 2026 MAC Women’s Basketball Championship at Rocket Arena in Cleveland.

A NEW MINDSET

With only two starters, Donahue and Kohler, returning from the end of last year, the Falcons will hope to get a healthy Gerken after missing the majority of last year due to injury. Plus Ellis, who started the first five games before suffering an injury and coming off the bench, is poised for a big role this season.

While Bowling Green’s roster consists of a good chunk of returning players, the new faces will help create the new play style and mindset for the Falcons this season.

“We have pieces this year that have a lot of experience. Our mentality, like with toughness, is a little bit different,” said Kohler. “Our competitiveness is a little bit different, and defensively we’re completely different this year.”

With a new starting five, style of basketball, and mentality for Chmiel and the Falcons this season, the team is prepared to work for any success they will have in 2025-2026, knowing everything will have to be earned.

“Our team motto is earn it. You know we’re picked sixth [in the MAC], we don’t care. We’re going to earn any attention we garner or any respect we garner, and we’re willing to work for it, said Chmiel.”