Western Michigan returns home Tuesday to face Purdue Fort Wayne after opening the season with a 68-54 loss to Coastal Carolina. Kailey Starks led the Broncos with 17 points, while freshman Casey Vyverman added 11 in her collegiate debut. Both teams are seeking their first win of the season.

By the Numbers
  • WMU leads the series 6-2 and is 5-0 against Purdue Fort Wayne at home.
  • Starks had 17 points, 4 assists and 4 steals in the opener.
  • Purdue Fort Wayne is 0-2, with losses to Xavier (75-63) and DePaul (87-62).
  • The Mastodons went 21-14 last season and reached the WNIT Super 16.
Yes, But

WMU’s opener showed promise: the Broncos stayed close before Coastal Carolina pulled away in the fourth quarter. Purdue Fort Wayne is also winless, but brings a new coach and a largely rebuilt roster after last season’s postseason run.

State of Play
  • Tuesday’s game is the teams’ first meeting since December 2024, when Purdue Fort Wayne won at home.
  • Claire Gregwer leads the Mastodons with 11.5 points per game; Avery Wagner averages 5.5 rebounds.
  • Kate Peterson Abiad takes over as Purdue Fort Wayne’s coach after 15 seasons leading Cleveland State.
What's Next

WMU will try to turn its home-court advantage into its first win, while Purdue Fort Wayne looks to rebound from two opening losses.

Bottom Line

Both teams need a reset; WMU’s strong series record at home gives the Broncos a clear opportunity to respond in front of their crowd.