The 2025-26 season of Women’s College Basketball starts today! With that said, it is time for the return of the A10 Talk Women’s Basketball Power Rankings! For the third consecutive season, Daniel Frank and Kaily “KG” Godek team up to provide you another year of power rankings for Atlantic 10 Women’s Basketball. After having 15 teams in the power rankings over the last three seasons, we said our goodbyes to UMass in July, who left the conference to join the Mid-American Conference (MAC), which leaves us with 14 talented teams in the A-10! Without further ado, let’s breakdown the first edition of the 2025-26 Power Rankings!
1. #24 Richmond (7)
Record: 0-0
Upcoming Games: 11/4 vs. Mount St. Mary’s, 11/7 at Texas
Season Outlook: The Reigning Atlantic 10 Regular Season Champions are back with some familiar faces and new faces! While the Spiders graduated Addie Budnik, and bunch more talented players, they managed to keep Rachel Ullstrom and Maggie Doogan, who were both crucial players in last season’s NCAA Tournament appearance. Both Doogan and Ullstrom were both named to the 2026 Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Preseason Watch List presented by Her Hoops Stats. While the Spiders have several players that returned, some if not most of the players did not see a whole ton of action in crucial games last season. Richmond did gain Saint Louis transfer, Tierra Simon and Louisiana transfer, Skylah Travis to help bolster the roster. The Spiders’ non-conference schedule still is a tough schedule with traveling to Texas, Columbia, Cancun for the Cancun Challenge, and over to Henrico for the 4 Tha Culture Holiday Classic. Richmond will also host Fairfield, who was a NCAA tournament mid-major team, Temple, and Navy. While there are a bunch of new faces in Richmond, this Spider team could be lethal when March comes around.
2. George Mason
Record: 0-0
Upcoming Games: 11/3 at Temple, 11/6 at James Madison
Season Outlook: Fresh off their first-ever conference championship, and their first NCAA Tournament appearance, George Mason has retooled and reloaded for the new season. Returners Zaza Walton and Kennedy Harris were both tabbed for Preseason A-10 First Team, while Rhode Island transfer Hawa Komara was named to the Preseason A-10 Second Team. MJ Johnson is the other portal addition, who brings with her multiple NCAA Tournament appearances with both Texas A&M and Ball State. The Patriots also bring in perhaps their most talented freshman class in program history, led by Mary Amoateng who looks poised for serious minutes right away. The ante has been upped for Mason in the non-conference slate, featuring a pair of 30-win teams from a year ago, two AP Top 25 ranked teams (not counting Richmond) in addition to Princeton who is receiving votes. Where the fate of the season may lie for George Mason will simply be putting all the pieces together, and finding their lineup rotation. Role players like Louis Volker, Jada Brown, and Page Greenberg will all have their opportunities to leave their mark on this team this season. With their strength of schedule, there may be some growing pains, especially in November, but this George Mason team will be ready come March, you can count on that.
3. Davidson
Record: 0-0
Upcoming Games: 11/3 at Mississippi State, 11/6 vs. William & Mary, 11/8 at Florida Gulf Coast
Season Outlook: Davidson finds themselves on the cusp of a potentially historic season. The Wildcats have set their sights decidedly on the NCAA Tournament, and have set themselves up with one heck of a non-conference schedule to test their mettle. They open the season in Starkville against Mississippi State, before hosting the reigning CAA champions William & Mary in their home opener. The ‘Cats will then travel to Fort Myers to face FGCU, and will make a return to the sunshine state later in November for the WBCA Showcase featuring matchups with Miami and Baylor. December is highlighted with hosting the reigning MAC champions Ball State, before the headliner of the entire schedule rolls around right before Christmas: hosting NC State on national television. If Davidson wins the games they are supposed to win, and can take two of four against their Power Four opponents, you’re looking at a very strong NCAA Tournament resume, and very likely a top-50 NET ranking. Charlise Dunn is the motor that makes this team go, but a VERY talented supporting cast includes returners Candice Lienafa, Kyra Bruyndoncx, and Katie Donovan.
4. Rhode Island
Record: 0-0
Upcoming Games: 11/3 at Manhattan, 11/7 vs. Merrimack
Season Outlook: The Rhode Island Rams are back and reloaded with several familiar faces from the Atlantic 10 last season. The Rams added VCU transfer Valentina Ojeda, George Mason transfer Ta’Viyanna Habib, and Saint Louis transfer Brooklyn Gray. Each of these players have an extra year of eligibility from the JUCO ruling that occurred during last season, and have experience at some of the highest levels of women’s basketball. In addition to gaining them from the portal, Rhode Island was able to retain Sophie Vital, Palmire Mbu, and Ines Debroise who were significant role players in the Rams scoring. While they were able to retain and gain talented players, the Rams lost Hawa Komara, Ayanna Franks, Katie Ledden, and Anaelle Dutat to the portal and Sophie Phillips and Honey Kaur to graduation. The Rams had Gray named to the Preseason All-Conference Second Team and Debroise named to the Preseason All-Defensive Team. Rhode Island’s schedule contains a mix of regional opponents – Merrimack, Holy Cross, Maine – Power 5 and NCAA tournament teams from last season – Rutgers, NC State, Princeton, Providence – and reuniting with a Rhode Island alum Dee Dee Davis to face Manhattan to open the season up. Having the mix of opponents for their non-conference schedule, Tammi Reiss and the Rams could be serious title contenders when March rolls around.
5. Dayton
Record: 0-0
Upcoming Games: 11/3 at Illinois State, 11/6 vs. Mercyhurst
Season Outlook: It has been a steady build for Dayton under Tamika Williams-Jeter in her three years at the helm. Coming off an 18-13 season and a 6th place finish in the Atlantic 10, the Flyers look poised to take another big step forward this season. There is a healthy mix of key returners along with new faces for Dayton. Names like Nayo Lear, Nicole Stephens, and Shantavia Dawkins need little introduction, and all three will be called upon in larger roles this season. The transfer class is highlighted by Fatima Ibrahim from North Dakota, who was the Summit League Defensive Player of the Year in 2025. Additionally, Jordyn Poole is a transfer from Purdue, where she appeared in 8 games. Maliyah Johnson is a transfer from Houston (and previously Pitt) who missed last year with an injury but will provide some essential experience for this team. Dayton’s non-conference slate may not be as stacked as George Mason’s or Davidson’s, but contests against Belmont, Xavier, Butler, Kansas, and Purdue should help test this team before conference play rolls around.
6. Saint Joseph’s
Record: 0-0
Upcoming Games: 11/4 vs. West Chester, 11/7 at Maine
Season Outlook: The Hawks are a new looking team from what we have seen in the last few years. Laura Ziegler transferred to Louisville, and Tayla Brugler, Emma Boslet, Julia Nyström, and Mackenzie Smith all exhausted their eligibility. While Saint Joseph’s lost a significant portion of their scoring and minutes, juniors Gabby Casey and Aleah Snead and sophomore Rhian Stokes return for the Hawks, and look to expand on their roles from last season. Saint Joe’s gained Penn State transfer Jill Jekot, sister of Katie Jekot who played for the Hawks from 2018-23, IU Indy transfer Faith Stintson, and American University transfer Cecilia Kay. The non-conference slate for Saint Joseph’s is not an easy slate as they have Maine, Penn, and Columbia on the road and host Cincinnati, Penn State, and Drexel. The Hawks are not out of the woods yet as they have the Big 5 Classic where they could face Temple, Villanova, or La Salle. Saint Joseph’s looks to start the season out strong through this non-conference slate, to prepare for the conference schedule.
T- 7. Duquesne
Record: 0-0
Upcoming Games: 11/3 vs. Saint Francis,11/6 vs. Slippery Rock, 11/9 at Western Michigan
Season Outlook: The Megan McConnell era at Duquesne has come to an end. The Dukes also saw Jerni Kiaku and Andjela Matic enter the transfer portal and Kiandra Browne and Gabby Hutcherson also exhausted their eligibility with Meg McConnell. Duquesne had both Mackenzie Blackford and Gabby Grantham-Medley return and they will likely pick up more significant roles for the team this season. The non-conference slate is not an easy one for the Dukes as they face Western Michigan, Robert Morris, Navy, and Eastern Michigan on the road, Liberty in the Navy Classic, and Kent State and Pitt at home. This slate for Duquesne could make the Dukes strong when conference play hits in late December.
T-7. VCU
Record: 0-0
Upcoming Games: 11/5 vs. Maryland Eastern Shore, 11/9 vs. Villanova*
Season Outlook: Mary-Anna Asare was the lone All-Atlantic 10 Preseason First Teamer to come from a team ranked outside the top-three of the league’s preseason poll, and it speaks not only to her talent, but to her critical role on this team. She averaged 16 points per game last year and shot 37% from three, a top-75 rank nationally. The fourth-year returner has played her entire collegiate career at VCU, who will return the favor by taking the Rams to her native province of Ontario, Canada in the opening week of the season to face Villanova. That contest is just the tip of the iceberg for a very challenging non-conference slate for VCU that includes Texas A&M, Colorado, James Madison, Temple, Georgia, and Penn State. This is a VCU roster that has a very underrated level of talent on its roster, and it goes beyond just Asare. Returning players like Cyriah Griffin and Lucia Sotelo while adding several players through the portal, including a name that should be very familiar to A-10 fans: Makennah White. She makes her return to the Atlantic 10 following her time at UMass from 2021-2023 and a stint at Seton Hall in 2024. Ironically, she was a part of the “Savage Seven” UMass squad that reached the A-10 Finals in 2021 before falling in the title game in the Siegel Center to VCU. She went on to win the A-10 title with the Minutewomen the following year.
*Game Played at the Mattamy Athletic Centre in Toronto, Ontario
9. George Washington
Record: 0-0
Upcoming Games: 11/3 vs. District of Columbia, 11/7 at Temple
Season Outlook: The 50th season of the Charles E. Smith Center in Foggy Bottoms brings the dawn of a new era of George Washington basketball as Ganiyat Adeduntan takes the helm of the program. The most significant move of the offseason for the Revolutionaries were able to retain Gabby Reynolds, one of the top recruits in recent memory for GW. She was second on the team in scoring a season ago, and was a member of the A-10’s All Rookie Team. Intra-league transfer Emma Theodorsson from Loyola Chicago will provide a much-needed offensive boost to the GW lineup, in addition to having been already named a team captain for this season alongside senior Caia Loving. Loving is a rarity in college basketball these days, entering her fourth season at the same school, and despite not having the on-court role she may have liked up to this point, has been a proven leader off the floor. Expect her experience and leadership to play a big role for the Revs this year. I’d be remiss previewing this GW team if I failed to mention the homecoming game for Joe McKeown, the greatest coach in program history, as he brings Northwestern to town in late December to cap-off his farewell season before his retirement this coming spring. McKeown coached GW from 1989-2008 with an all-time record of 441-154 (.741), where he won 22 total A-10 titles (tournament, regular season, and A-10 West Division), 15 NCAA Tournament appearances, and brought GW to back-to-back NCAA Tournament Sweet 16s in 2007 and 2008. All this bears mentioning, not just to highlight McKeown’s career, but to lay out the expectations of what this program has been and what it is expected to return to being once more.
10. Fordham
Record: 0-0
Upcoming Games: 11/3 vs. Adelphi, 11/7 vs. NJIT
Season Outlook: The Fordham Rams this season will have an interesting season for this upcoming season. The Rams lost Rose Nelson, Taya Davis, and Chae Harris to the transfer portal and Irene Murua and Taylor Donaldson who both exhausted eligibility. Fordham picked up VCU transfer Alexis Black, Providence transfer Ugne Sirtautaite, and Wichita State transfer Ornella Niankan to help bolster the team’s roster. The Rams non-conference schedule this season has key games at Seton Hall and at Buffalo for people to keep their eyes on.
11. La Salle
Record: 0-0
Upcoming Games: 11/6 at Loyola (Md.), 11/8 vs. Saint Francis
Season Outlook: The Explorers return a fair portion of their core players from last season, and majority for their scoring as well. La Salle had Aryss Macktoon, Ashleigh Connor, and Joan Quinn who were the top scorers returning, helps to bolster the team up even more under Mountain MacGillivray coaching. The Explorers have several games to watch this season as they host American, Villanova, and Mississippi State, and they travel to face Temple and Lehigh. La Salle will have the opportunity to face Drexel, Penn, or Saint Joseph’s in the Big 5 Classic. With the Explorers retaining a great portion of their team, they could have a chance to be a surprise of the season.
12. Loyola Chicago
Record: 0-0
Upcoming Games: 11/3 at Milwaukee, 11/6 vs. Green Bay
Season Outlook: The Ramblers enter their fourth season in the Atlantic 10, and Loyola Chicago look to climb back into the top 10 of the conference. The Ramblers lost Jess Finney and Emma Theodorsson to the transfer portal and Naelle Bernard, Thoranna Kika Hodge-Carr, and Sitori Tanin who all exhausted their eligibility last season. Kira Chivers is looking to have a strong senior season with the Ramblers, and close out her college career on a high note. Loyola has several big opponents on their schedule, including traveling to Storrs to face the reigning National Champions in UConn, as well as facing DePaul and Northwestern on the road. The Ramblers look to make it out of non-conference around .500, but this could be a rebuilding year for Loyola Chicago.
13. Saint Louis
Record: 0-0
Upcoming Games: 11/3 at Missouri State, 11/6 vs. Middle Tennessee, 11/9 vs. Northern Iowa
Season Outlook: The glow of the Billikens magical March runs of 2023 and 2024 have begun to fade, as the 2025 season produced just 15-wins and a 10th place finish. The issue last year, as it has been throughout the Rebecca Tillet era, was defense: SLU hasn’t allowed fewer than 70 points per game in Tillet’s tenure. For there to be a shot of success this season, the defense is going to have to take a significant step forward. The non-conference slate is a bit lighter this year, but does include a pair of Power Four games against SMU (still feels weird to see them as a power school) and Missouri. This could be a rebuilding year for Saint Louis, but there’s a lot to like with the young talent.
14. St. Bonaventure
Record: 0-0
Upcoming Games: 11/3 vs. Mansfield, 11/7 at Niagara
Season Outlook: It’s been a rough stretch over the last few seasons for the Bonnies, and this season looks to be another year of building. Losing Dani Haskell to graduation leaves a very difficult hole in the Bonnies’ lineup that will take some time to fill. St. Bonaventure finished dead last in the A-10 in scoring last season, scoring just 53.1 points per game (ranked 343rd in the nation), while also having the second-worst defense in the league, allowing 69.2 points (ranked 285th). It goes without saying that the Bonnies will need significant improvement in both departments this season.
Featured Graphic: Kaily “KG” Godek, A10 Talk
Image Used in Graphic: Domenic Allegra, The Next
Kaily “KG” Godek is a current student at Western New England University (WNE). She has been a supporter of Women’s Basketball for close to 15 years. Kaily focuses on all 14 Women’s Basketball teams in the conference. While writing for A10 Talk, she works in the athletic department at WNE and Amherst College. 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 2026 season marks their 11th 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 27th year following GW basketball, and their 9th following George Mason. You can follow Daniel on X, formerly known as Twitter, @n1a2v3y4.
