NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The Yale women's basketball program welcomes five incoming first years for 2024-25.  

The incoming Bulldogs have excelled on the court, with three earning MVP and/or league player of the year honors. They have been a part of successful teams, with all having won championships in basketball and/or another sport.

The newcomers also have leadership experience, as four have been team captains. They have contributed to their communities in a variety of ways, including volunteering with Special Olympics, helping with food drives and coaching children. 

The class joins the Bulldogs for the team's third season with Dalila Eshe as Yale's Joel E. Smilow, Class of 1954 Head Coach of Women's Basketball. Assistant coaches Amber Raisner, Helen Tau and Hannah Early Vaughn return, as does director of operations Jehrin Colbert.
 
Here is a look at the newest Bulldogs:

Marisa Chapman
5-9
Guard
Middletown, N.Y.
The Storm King School

The Storm King School: Team captain senior year… Two-time Team MVP… All-NEPSAC AA 2023-2024… NEPSAC AA Basketball All-Star 2024… As a senior, averaged 17 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 4 APG, 3.2 SPG… Team finished Top 10 in NEPSAC AA Division… Played four years of varsity basketball… Competed for varsity cross country team for four years; captained team her junior and senior years… Helped cross country team win Hudson Valley Athletic League (HVAL) championship… Played two years of varsity lacrosse; captained team her junior year… Played one year of varsity tennis; helped team win HVAL Championship. 

Notes: Often volunteers to work with kids to develop their basketball skills... During her freshman year, started working with an organization called Beautiful People, a program that provides adaptive sports for children and young adults with disabilities. While teaching these young athletes, she learned the basic principles of having patience, making things simple, and the importance of having fun when coaching. From this, the transition to teaching with other youth basketball programs such as The Den and Hoopers Academy was made easier. As a result, she earned the "2024 Certificate of Exceptional Service" award… Father is an Ivy Leaguer – ran cross country for Cornell.

Why Yale? "I chose Yale University since this school offers me a unique opportunity to pursue my athletic passion while also receiving a world-class education. I believe Yale will give me the best opportunity to have a successful future." 
 
Abigail Long
5-7
Guard
Mission Hills, Kan.
Shawnee Mission East

Shawnee Mission East: Three-year captain, four years on varsity team… Sunflower League Player of the Year 2023-24… No. 1 ranked shooting guard in Kansas…  Led Sunflower league in points per game 2021-22 (19.7), 2022-23 (21.4), 2023-24 (23.5)... McDonald's All-American nominee 2024… School record for points in a career (1,380)... School record for three-pointers in a career (216)... School record for three-pointers in a season (70, 2022-23); made 63 in 2021-22 and 61 in 2023-24… 6A Player of the Year Finalist 2023 and 2024… First team 6A all-state 2022-23, 2023-24… Second team 6A all-state 2021-22… First team All-Sunflower League 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24… Team MVP 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24… Also played varsity tennis for four years, including one year as captain… 6A doubles state champions 2023; runners-up 2020, 2021, 2022… Tennis team was 6A state champions 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023… Also played one year of varsity lacrosse; helped team finish as state runners-up 2024 …  First team all-state defense in lacrosse 2024… Art Newcomer Scholarship Winner (top student-athlete)... Top 20 in 2024 Class (summa cum laude).

Notes: Interests include photography, did two summers interning for KC Current of NWSL… Has coached at a summer basketball camp for 1st-8th graders… Multiple college athletes in immediate family… Father, Chris Long, played basketball at Princeton… Mother, Angie Long, played golf and rugby at Princeton… Sister, Mary Long, will be a freshman playing soccer at Duke in 2024.  

Why Yale? "I love how Yale has a strong academic and athletic presence as well as a great alumni network."
 
Ciniya Moore
5-10
Guard
Bradenton, Fla.
IMG Academy

IMG Academy: Scored double digits in multiple games, and was assigned to guard best player every game, as a senior on IMG National Team… Defensive Player of the Year on IMG National Team 2023… Transferred to IMG as a sophomore to play for legendary coach Shell Dailey… Played in every game as a sophomore, starting six on IMG National Team that went to GEICO Nationals (first National Team in IMG Academy history to make it to GEICO Nationals) 2022...  Recorded game-high 19 points against Palmetto High… IMG National Team was ranked fourth in country 2022 and 2024… Team made it to championship game at Chipotle Nationals 2024. 

The Out-of-Door Academy: Team captain… Started on varsity from seventh grade through ninth grade, leading team in scoring each year… One of top scorers in state as a freshman, averaging 20 points per game… Only freshman selected to all-area team 2020… Most improved player 2018-2019… East County athlete of the week 2019… Helped team to district championship 2020… Coached by former NBA player Marcus Liberty.

AAU: Played three years with FGB on Under Armour circuit averaging 16 points per game…  Played one year with Essence Girls Basketball on Nike EYBL circuit. 

Notes: Part of National Honor Society since middle school… Engages in community service such as volunteering for Special Olympics or food drives… Father, CJ Moore, played football for Liberty… Mother, Chianti, played basketball for the University of Tampa… Family is full of athletes; cousin is former No. 4 pick for Cincinnati Bengals Peter Warrick; uncle Clint Heaven played football for North Carolina; grandfather David Lawyer played basketball professionally overseas.

Why Yale? "Yale felt like home the minute I walked on campus, the loving family atmosphere is what drew me to Yale over other schools. The people who I am surrounded by and the greatness of Yale are unmatched, there's no better place to be. The coaching staff as well as the players added to that family feeling."
 
Ke'iara Odume
5-11
Guard
Syracuse, N.Y.
Loomis Chaffee

Loomis Chaffee: Team captain… NEPSAC Player of the Year 2023-24… Shot 42.3% from three-point range… 51.6% EFG… Averaged seven rebounds a game… Two-time NEPSAC All-Star… Two-time All-Founders League… Team MVP 2023-24… Most improved player 2022-2023 … Scored 1,000+ points… Team won three consecutive NEPSAC Class A Championships… Team won two consecutive Founders League Championships.
 
AAU: Played on EYBL Circuit and 3SSB Circuit. 

Notes: Will be a first-generation college student in her family… Inspired to play basketball by her grandmother, who played in high school… Organized a basketball camp for children of all ages with the help of her IDream AAU coaches. 

Why Yale? "I chose Yale because of the amazing opportunity to receive a great education and play competitive basketball at a high level."
 
Magdalena Schmidt
5-11
Guard
Gmunden, Austria
BG BRG Gmunden and Ballsportgymnasium Wien

Basketball Austria: Part of U18 and U20 national teams; participated in European Championships Division B… Part of 3x3 U21 and U23 national teams; participated in World Cup, Nations League and Women's Series … Led first women's league in Austria in three-point percentage in 2021-22.

BG BRG Gmunden and Ballsportgymnasium Wien: U19 State Champions… 3x3 U18 State Champions… Two-time U19 National Champions in Vienna/Upper Austria… Earned third place at State Championships twice… Also competed in gymnastics… Helped team win three national championships… Two-time national champion individually.

Notes: From fifth through eighth grade, in addition to basketball and gymnastics, also participated/competed in dancing, figure skating, rowing, swimming, tennis and track and field … Has been to 39 different countries in four different continents; loves to expand her horizons through seeing new places… She and her family hosted an exchange student from Argentina for one year and two exchange students from Spain for three months because her father is in Rotary Club Gmunden… Was part of "GoOn" social project in which children between 13 and 18 years old volunteer during summer break… Played violin for five years and was part of concert in Gmunden… Was in theater group and was main character in "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs"… Former teammate graduated from Yale and played basketball… One relative is an Ivy Leaguer; graduated from Harvard and Harvard Law School.

Why Yale? "It has always been a dream for me to study and play basketball at an Ivy League University. I chose Yale University because in addition to the very prestigious academic program and the incredibly professional athletic environment of the Yale Bulldogs, Yale has a unique community. All of the coaches, professors, students and teammates are extremely collaborative and incredibly interesting and caring people. Coming from a small country like Austria to study at Yale University is more than just a dream come true and I am really excited to be part of the Bulldogs family soon."