The start of the 2024-25 season is getting closer by the minute for Atlantic 10 Women’s Basketball. That said, it is time for the return of A10 Talk’s Women’s Basketball Power Rankings! Kaily “KG” Godek and Daniel Frank team up again this season to provide you all with this season’s power rankings for women’s basketball. Here are the results of this season’s preseason’s power ranking:
1. Saint Joseph’s (5)
Record: 0-0
Upcoming Games: 11/6 vs Goldey-Beacom, 11/10 at Syracuse
Season Outlook: Perhaps no team in the Atlantic 10 is as cohesive of a roster returning as Saint Joseph’s. The Hawks are led by 2024 First Team All-Atlantic 10 Laura Ziegler, who led SJU with 14.3 points per game and 9.4 rebounds. She is joined by a star-studded lineup of Talya Brugler, Julia Nyström, Emma Boslet, and Mackenzie Smith, two of whom averaged double figures in scoring. What is truly unique about this roster is there isn’t a single incoming transfer, while a trio of incoming freshmen make up the lone additions to the roster. Saint Joseph’s checks in as an 11-seed and the A-10 automatic qualifier in the ESPN preseason bracketology, in what could very well be a two or three-bid year for the Atlantic 10.
2. Richmond (1)
Record: 0-0
Upcoming Games: 11/4 at Temple, 11/9 vs. Morgan State
Season Outlook: The Regular Season and Conference Tournament Champions are back, and are ready to contend for back-to-back titles under Aaron Roussell. The Spiders were able to bring back a great portion of their core players from last season – only losing Grace Townsend, Kylee Lewandowski, and Siobhan Ryan to the transfer portal. Richmond gains Anna Camden back who transferred in for the 2023-24 season from Penn State, and returns Addie Budnik, Rachel Ullstrom, Katie Hill, and Maggie Doogan from their historic season. The Spiders have a stacked non-conference schedule as they face Temple and Fairfield on the road in the first eight days of the season. On top of those games, Richmond faces Oklahoma State in the Daytona Beach Classic, Georgetown in the Robins Center, Columbia at the Henrico Sports & Events Center, Texas in the Robins Center, and Clemson and Tennessee in the West Palm Beach Classic. These Richmond Spiders are definitely trying to build up a solid non-conference resume if they want to be in consideration for a possible at-large bid for the NCAA tournament in March.
3. George Mason
Record: 0-0
Upcoming Games: 11/4 vs Johnson C. Smith, 11/9 vs Towson
Season Outlook: Coming off arguably one of the best seasons in program history, including an appearance in the inaugural WBIT, the Patriots have reloaded and are looking for even more in 2025. Nalani Kaysia is back, and hungrier than ever before, while Ta’Viyanna Habib, Zaza Walton, Kennedy Harris, and Paula Suárez round out a formidable starting five. Newcomers Khamya McNeal and Louis Volker look like heart and soul pieces in the lineup, while several returners could be key role players for the Patriots. George Mason checks into ESPN’s preseason bracketology as a Last Four In team in the NCAA Tournament, as an 11-seed. A birth in the Big Dance would be the first in program history, and these Patriots have their eye set on just that.
4. VCU
Record: 0-0
Upcoming Games: 11/6 vs UMES, 11/10 at Howard
Season Outlook: Coming off a turnaround for the ages, in which VCU turned a 7-22 record into a 26-6 one, the Rams will look to follow up with another top-four finish in 2025. There have been some significant departures, most notably Sarah Te-Biasu leaving for Maryland, but the Rams still return a pair of double-digit scorers in Mary-Anna Asare and Timaya Lewis-Eutsey and defensive stalwart Mykel Parham. VCU added Alexis Black from Appalachian State through the portal, where she averaged 9.5 points per game while shooting 33% from three. The Rams have a challenging non-conference schedule ahead, as the Rams will face Temple and James Madison at home, and then play Providence, San Diego State, and Wisconsin in the Cancun Challenge over Thanksgiving.
5. Rhode Island
Record: 0-0
Upcoming Games: 11/4 vs. Stonehill, 11/8 at UAlbany, 11/10 at LeMoyne
Season Outlook: A year removed from just their third A-10 Tournament Finals appearance, URI is looking to get over the hump this year and get back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1996. It will be an uphill climb, but their non-conference schedule at least gives them a fighting chance, with a neutral site contest against Iowa, home games against St. John’s and Providence, and road ones at Harvard and Princeton. It will be a very different-looking bunch this year, as Rhody lost their top three scorers from last season and four of their top five. Sophie Phillips does return for Rhode Island, and she will have to be a very big part of the offensive charge this season. Just two incoming transfers this season, Harsimran “Honey” Kaur from San Diego and Cia Elkof from Washington State. There are four freshmen on the roster as well, including yes, two French nationals.
6. Duquesne
Record: 0-0
Upcoming Games: 11/4 vs. Princeton, 11/10 at Penn State
Season Outlook: The Dukes are looking to run last season back after being able to return a majority of the players from last year’s team. Megan McConnell is back and ready than ever for her final season in a Duquesne jersey, and will be playing alongside her cousin Kellie McConnell, who is entering her first year with the Dukes. Duquesne saw a bunch of roster turnover as Naelle Bernard transferred to Loyola Chicago for her final season. Lauren Wasylson, Tess Myers, Precious Johnson, and Ayanna Townsend – who were all key players for Duquesne – all used up their eligibility last season. Even though this Dukes team has newer faces we should be looking forward to Dan Burt’s new system he is putting in place this season. In the first week alone Duquense has two tough matchups in Princeton and Penn State, and later in the season, they will face Pitt on the road for some matchups to watch.
7. Saint Louis
Record: 0-0
Upcoming Games: 11/4 at South Dakota, 11/7 at Drake
Season Outlook: The reigning WNIT Champions return big names to Saint Louis from a season ago. Kennedy Calhoun, Brooklyn Gray, Peyton Kennedy, and Marcavia Shavers are just a few of the names from the WNIT Championship team who have returned. Kyla McMakin, who was a big piece of the run to the WNIT Championship is not returning as she exhausted all of her collegiate eligibility last season. The Billikens did replenish the roster with Marilena Triantafylli and Mya Glanton from the transfer portal, and four freshmen. Saint Louis could find themselves towards the top of the conference with a great portion of the games looking winnable. The Billikens’ biggest challenge in the non-conference schedule will be facing JuJu Watkins and Southern California towards the end of November.
8. Davidson
Record: 0-0
Upcoming Games: 11/5 vs Florida Gulf Coast, 11/10 at High Point
Season Outlook: Last season ended abruptly due to not having enough healthy players to play in three of their final four games of the regular season. The Wildcats are looking to be healthy for the start of the season, but it is still being determined whether or not all of their returners will be ready to play right away for their season opener on November 5th. Elle Sutphin is no longer listed on the Davidson roster and is not using her final year of eligibility this season. Davidson’s non-conference schedule has them facing at least four teams and possibly five power conference teams. The ‘Cats depending on how healthy they are to start the season could find themselves at or even below 0.500 going into conference play.
9. Dayton
Record: 0-0
Upcoming Games: 11/5 vs SEMO, 11/8 vs Delaware State
Season Outlook: After taking a step last year, I would not at all be surprised to see Dayton take an even bigger step forward this year. Ivy Wolfe is the returning leading scorer for the Flyers, as she averaged 11.9PPG a season ago. I would also look for Nayo Lear and Eve Fiala to make a big jump forward in production. Dayton also added Nicole Stephens, a graduate transfer from Columbia, to the portal. She played 3 years at Columbia, and averaged 4.4PPG off the bench, but comes with a host of high-level experience. Dayton also adds three Power 5 transfers: Jayda Johnson from Boston College, Shantavia Dawkins from Iowa State, and Ajok Madol from Minnesota. Once again, Dayton, scheduled tough this year, will play at Duke, home against Providence and Vanderbilt. Their slate also includes a neutral site contest against South Dakota who had 23 wins last year.
10. Fordham
Record: 0-0
Upcoming Games: 11/4 vs Adelphi, 11/8 vs Cal State Fullerton
Season Outlook: The story of Fordham most certainly begins with Taylor Donaldson. She was named to the preseason all-conference first team, as Donaldson averaged 17.9 points and 5.3 rebounds per game in 2024, both team-highs. The Rams hit the transfer portal hard this summer, adding three players: Chae Harris from Appalachian State, Amiyah Ferguson from Cal State Northridge, and Irene Murua Txintxurreta from Detroit Mercy. Harris arrives in the Bronx after averaging 7.6 points per game at App State, Ferguson was second on CSU Northridge in scoring at 8.8 points per game, and Txintxurreta averaged 11.2 points per game. All of that offensive output should provide a boost to an offense that was middle of the pack in the A-10 a year ago.
11. Massachusetts
Record: 0-0
Upcoming Games: 11/4 at Harvard, 11/7 vs. New Hampshire, 11/10 vs. CCSU
Season Outlook: It is the final season for the Massachusetts Minutewomen in the Atlantic 10 before they move to the Mid-American Conference for next season. UMass is looking to go out with a bang this upcoming season. The Minutewomen saw about 37% of their minutes and 35% of their scoring, but they gained forwards Aleah Sorrentino and Megan Olbrys and guard Momo LaClair from the transfer portal. UMass also brought back Chinenye Odenigbo and Stefanie Kulesza, key assets to the team’s scoring. This Massachusetts team also has a similar vibe to Sam Breen and Destiney Philoxy on this team this season with Sorrentino and freshman guard Yahmani McKayle having a bit of the same play style as these iconic alums. The Minutewomen could come out of the non-conference portion of the schedule over 0.500, and face more teams within the Northeast region. UMass will have some big matchups against Harvard and Boston College on the road, and key home games against Holy Cross and Monmouth all happening over the first six weeks into the season.
12. George Washington
Record: 0-0
Upcoming Games: 11/4 vs Delaware, 11/8 at Howard
Season Outlook: After a very disappointing 2024 campaign, the Revolutionaries introduce nine new faces to their roster, and will hope to dig GW out of the cellar of the Atlantic 10. In three seasons under Caroline McCombs, the Revs have gone 13-18, 18-13, and 13-18 respectively. If the pattern is any indication, GW might be in for a revival this season. Gabby Reynolds, despite being a true freshman, could very well be the X-factor for GW this season. She was named Michigan Miss Basketball in 2024 while averaging 29.9 ppg, 3.9 rpg, and 3.9 apg over the course of her high school career. Makayla Andrews, a graduate transfer from Lafayette, could also provide some much-needed offensive prowess to an offense that ranked 291st in the nation a season ago. Andrews averaged 14.2 points per game last season for the Leopards while being named Second Team All-Patriot League.
13. Loyola Chicago
Record: 0-0
Upcoming Games: 11/4 vs Kentucky State, 11/9 vs West Georgia
Season Outlook: After losing four players to the portal, and several more to graduation, Loyola Chicago filled their roster right back with four incoming transfers, notably among them Naelle Bernard from Duquesne. In addition to the transfers are five freshmen, a total of nine newcomers altogether. Of their returners, Sitori Tanin stands out, as she has been a leader on this team for what feels like nearly a decade! A true heart and soul piece, Tanin averaged 9.8 points and 6.3 rebounds in 2024 for the Ramblers, who defeated Fordham in the 2nd Round of the A-10 Tournament to earn their first-ever A-10 Tournament win. Whether they will be able to build off that momentum with so many new pieces remains to be seen, but there are some nice pieces on this roster.
14. La Salle
Record: 0-0
Upcoming Games: 11/4 at Maine, 11/9 vs Delaware
Season Outlook: For better or for worse, this will be a very different-looking La Salle team from a year ago, as NINE Explorers hit the portal after last season. La Salle adds six players from the portal, along with 5 freshmen, to total ELEVEN new players. Of the incoming transfers, only Mackenzie Daleba and Ashleigh Connor come with Division I experience, the latter of the pair being an intra-conference transfer from Saint Louis. There are a LOT of unknowns with this Explorers bunch this year, and it may be another rough season ahead in North Philly.
15. St. Bonaventure
Record: 0-0
Upcoming Games: 11/9 vs. Binghamton
Season Outlook: It is year two of Jim Crowley’s return to Olean, New York, and they are looking to start turning the program around this season. Crowley retained veterans Nadechka Laccen, Dani Haskell, Payton Fields, and Isabellah Middleton from last season’s team, and was able to supplement them with six freshmen and three transfer students. The Bonnies have the latest season opener amongst all of the other Atlantic 10 Women’s Basketball teams and could get a strong start out of the gates if the chemistry is there with all of the new additions to the team.
Featured Graphic: Kaily “KG” Godek, A10 Talk
Image Used in Graphic: Saint Joseph’s Athletics
Kaily “KG” Godek is a current student at Western New England University (WNE). She has been a supporter of UMass Athletics for over 15 years. Kaily focuses on both UMass Basketball teams and occasionally on the other Women’s Basketball teams in the conference. While writing for A10 Talk, she works in the athletic department at WNE. When she graduates from WNE she wants to go into either Sports Broadcasting and Journalism or Coaching. You can follow Kaily on X, formerly known as Twitter, @kgumass23.
Daniel Frank is an alum of George Mason University. The 2025 season marks their 10th season at A10Talk, where they are proud to be the content lead for Women’s Basketball coverage, as well as a senior contributor for Men’s Basketball content. In addition, this season will be Daniel’s 26th year following GW basketball, and their 8th following George Mason. You can follow Daniel on X, formerly known as Twitter, @n1a2v3y4.
