The top-seeded Rams completed the run through the 2026 Atlantic 10 Women’s Basketball Championship, winning the tournament for the first time in program history. Rhody (28-4) defeated second-seeded George Mason 53-51 Sunday afternoon to punch their ticket to the NCAA Championship for the first time in 30 years. The 2026 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Selection Show will air on ESPN on Sunday, March 15, at 8 p.m.
After winning its second regular-season Atlantic 10 title in four years, the University of Rhode Island women’s basketball team played in the quarterfinals of the Atlantic 10 tournament on March 6 at the Henrico Sports & Events Center in Virginia. As the No. 1 seed, URI played No. 8 Loyola Chicago, which defeated No. 9 St. Bonaventure, 61-59, in the second round of the tournament.
The last time the URI played in the NCAA tournament was 30 years ago. In the 1995-96 season, the Rams lost to Oklahoma State in the opening round in Georgia, 90-82, after a 21-8 regular season.
URI head coach Tammi Reiss, who was an assistant coach at her alma mater, Virginia, during the 1995-96 season, was named A-10 Coach of the Year for the third time, while Rams freshman Vanessa Harris was named Sixth Woman of the Year.
The Rams were represented in every category in the A-10’s end of season awards for the first time in program history, collecting honors in First Team, Second Team, Third Team, Defensive Team, Rookie Team, and Academic Team.
Reiss, who is a finalist for Naismith Women’s College Coach of the Year, became the program’s all-time winningest coach earlier this season and was fastest to 100 victories.
—Neil Nachbar