The Vian Lady Wolverines will have two new things as the 202425 basketball season gets underway this month.

Not only will it be a new season, but there will be a new coach as last season’s assistant coach, Athena Mc-Coy, will take over for last season’s coach John Mays, who is going back to just being the Vian Wolverines coach.

The Lady Wolverines, who were 3-21 last season, return four key starters from a season ago — seniors Rebel Simon, Kala Gibbins and Avery Wright along with junior Halli Russell.

Senior Kalli Kennedy, juniors Jaiden Soap, Kiah Richardson and Rayleigh Terrill and sophomore Shelbie Glass are expected to make significant contributions this season.

Rounding out the roster are sophomores Tina Rautenberg, Eden Girty and Aliyah Tucker and freshmen Bostyn Rodgers, Blaze Dieter, LaKoeta Cheater, Brooklyn Cox, Katie Reason and Emry Smith.

“I’m looking forward to the upcoming season and for the team to showcase their basketball skills,” McCoy said. “They had put in lots of hours during the summer and preseason workouts. The team chemistry this season will be that of an uptempo offense and an aggressive defense. I’m looking to rotate in several players throughout the game.”

McCoy believes her team’s biggest strength will be its depth.

“I have several players that will play valuable minutes this season,” she said. “The depth of our team, I believe, will be our biggest strength.”

If there is a concern, it’s the fact that 14 of the 18 roster players are underclassmen.

“We have several underclassmen that will be getting varsity playing time this season, so game experience could be a weakness that we face this season,” McCoy said.

The Lady Wolverines are scheduled to begin their season at 6 p.m. Dec. 10 at Spiro, but that could change should the football team keep advancing in the playoffs.