The rich get richer. The DePaul Women’s Basketball team went out and strengthened its roster for the future by signing four players to a National Letter of Intent in the 2019 class.

Head coach Doug Bruno has built a successful program over his three decades at Lincoln Park, winning five straight Big East regular-season titles, three conference tournament championships in five years and qualifying for the NCAA Tournament in 16 consecutive seasons. These four new acquisition are Bruno’s way of putting the Blue Demons in a good spot in the coming years.

“Here at DePaul we get very excited about a player that says yes to us,” Bruno said. “This year’s class is no exception. These are the kinds of quality recruits that have helped us attain so much success and winning down through the years.”

Out of the four new acquisitions, Rimmer was the one most up in the air for quite a while. Her decision came down to a battle between DePaul and Marquette, and luckily for the Blue Demons she chose them instead of their Big East rival. Rimmer, who attends Proviso East high school, had an impressive junior season that helped her garner attention from the two Big East powerhouses. She averaged 17.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 4.8 steals playing as a forward.

“I would like to start off by thanking my family and coaching staff for everything they have done,” Rimmer said on a twitter post after committing to DePaul. “Lastly and most importantly I would like to thank coach Bruno and the DePaul staff for being there and sticking with me through my journey.”

For the second season in a row Bruno also added a player from Incarnate Word, Marisa Warren. She joins her former high school teammate freshman Sonya Morris at DePaul. Warren helped lead her team to a pair of State Championships including in 2018 when she averaged close to 12 points and five assists.

Bruno is excited to add Warren to the roster because of her passing and facilitating abilities.

“Marisa continues the Incarnate Word-DePaul pipeline that has produced WNBA draftee Felicia Chester and freshman Sonya Morris,” Bruno said. “Marisa possesses leadership and guard skills, quickness and quick vision. She is a great passer and facilitator who can take it to the rim or knock down three-pointers.”

The third of DePaul’s signings on Wednesday was Kayla Caudle from Vernon Hills. Bruno identified Caudle as a player he wanted to add to the 2019 class because of the size she brings and her ability to rebound. In just three seasons at Vernon Hills Caudle is already their all-time leading rebounder, with 764 rebounds. Last season she averaged 15.4 points and 14.4 rebounds.  

“Kayla is another promising prospect whose best basketball is still ahead of her,” Bruno said. “She brings natural size as a player who sees the floor and is an excellent passer. With development, she could help us stretch the floor.”

However, for some time Caudle was apprehensive of coming to DePaul because of a concern it was too close to home. After she received an offer from DePaul she started to think about the positives of attending a program close to home, especially one that is known for winning and good coaching.

“The biggest part for me was the education piece,” Caudle said during an interview with the Chicago Tribune. “It’s a great school academically, and their business school is great. That sold me. Coach Bruno is an amazing coach, worked with the Olympic teams and his (DePaul) teams are successful. To be a part of his teams and legacy is kind of cool. That made it a good fit for me.”

In addition to Caudle, Bruno went out and added another skilled rebounder in Hannah Purcell. She brings the ability to rebound on both ends of the floor, while also being able to space the floor and knock down perimeter shots. The Minnesota native averaged 16 points and nine rebounds per game during her junior season for Annandale High School.   

“Hannah is a recruit who is slightly under the radar and another stretch player that can also post up,” Bruno said. “She has the ability to get to the rim and can also face up and make 3-pointers. Hannah continues the terrific Minnesota connection that has brought us Jessica January, senior Rebekah Dahlman and freshman Jolene Daninger.”

While Bruno and the rest of the team are happy with their new signings for 2019, the focus is still on this season and making a deep run in March.