'This is our future': Emporia State women's basketball hosts kids camp, previews season under new head coach

EMPORIA (KSNT) - Emporia State Women's Basketball kicked off its skills camp for kids Monday morning. The skills camp will run through Friday, July 11 for kids ages six to 14.

The Lady Hornets new head coach MJ Baker is excited to give back to the community. She is focused on helping kids strengthen both their basketball and life skills.

"This is our future," Baker said. "The community and people is what we're here for, it's much bigger than basketball."

Baker is optimistic heading into her first season at Emporia State, but she knows the team needs to take things one step at a time to get back to championship form.

"We have a one-percent philosophy where we're trying to stack one percent better each day and then the rest will take care of itself," Baker said.

The Lady Hornets roster includes eight returners and seven newcomers for the 2025-26 season. Baker has no doubt the team will mesh well together.

"We're already doing some Zoom calls and some chemistry stuff and connection stuff," Baker said. "So, we're doing stuff to build that chemistry already."

Before joining the team in Emporia, Baker spent the past eight years as head coach at Eastern Florida State College. She led the team to a 183-58 record, including three conference championships.

"We're honoring the legacy that's been here before us and we're going to follow those footprints and do the best we can to make it our own but also respect the history of Emporia State."

Emporia State was 14-16 overall last season, with a 10-12 record in conference play.

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