George Washington University Athletics
George Washington University
District of Columbia
Women’s Basketball Opens 2025-26 Season vs. UDC
10/31/2025 10:44:00 AM | Women's Basketball
WASHINGTON – Under the direction of first-year Head Coach Ganiyat Adeduntan, the George Washington women's basketball team opens the 2025-26 campaign on Monday, welcoming the District of Columbia Firebirds to the Charles E. Smith Center. Tip-off is slated for 5:00 p.m., with live coverage available on ESPN+.
BACK WITH THE BUFF & BLUE
Following four seasons as the bench boss at Colgate, Adeduntan returns to the nation's capital, where she spent three years as GW's top assistant coach and four seasons overall from 2017-21. Her time in Foggy Bottom was punctuated by an Atlantic 10 Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance in 2018.
"I am overjoyed to be the next Women's Basketball Head Coach at the George Washington University," said Adeduntan during her introduction in March. "GW holds a special place in my heart, and I am grateful to President Granberg and Michael Lipitz for entrusting me with this program. This University is in one of the best cities in the world and offers a world-class education with a history and tradition of winning in women's basketball. GW is a place where we can win at the highest level of competition."
While with Colgate, Adeduntan revived a program that struggled to find consistent results prior to her arrival. Over 16 years prior to hiring Adeduntan, the Raiders had won just 129 games and recorded just two winning seasons since 2000. Over a three-year stretch under her guidance, Colgate posted consecutive 20-win seasons in 2023-24 and 2024-25, setting a new school record with 23 wins last year. The program was rewarded for its efforts by earning consecutive WNIT appearances, knocking off UAlbany and Providence to advance to the Super 16 in 2024.
EARLY HONORS FOR REYNOLDS
Standout sophomore Gabby Reynolds was named to the Atlantic 10 Preseason All-Conference Second Team, the league announced earlier this month. Reynolds returns to Foggy Bottom following a stellar first-year season that was capped off by a selection to the A-10 All-Rookie team last March.
Reynolds poured in 11.3 ppg during conference action last season, the third-most amongst first-years during the 2024-25 season. She was named the A-10's Rookie of the Week on Nov. 11 after pouring in 17 points and dishing out three assists in her first collegiate contest against Delaware.
Reynolds also finished her rookie campaign with 14 double-figure scoring games, 11 of which came during conference action. She finished the 2024-25 season averaging 10.2 ppg in total, grabbing 3.3 rpg and dishing out 1.7 apg.
WELCOMING EIGHT NEW FACES
Along with a new coaching staff in Foggy Bottom this season, the Revolutionaries welcome eight newcomers to the roster ahead of the 2025-26 season. The group consists of five transfer additions and three first-year players who will make their collegiate debuts on Monday.
Transfer students include Jaeda Wilson (Georgetown), Nya Morris (Claflin), Tanah Becker (Kentucky), Emma Theodorsson (Loyola Chicago) and Silvia Gonzalez (Bryant). First-year student-athletes include Payton Dulin (Baldwin, N.Y.), Mia James (Dacula, Ga.) and Colleen Phiri (Haverhill, Ma.).
GW will also lean on the veteran experience of six returning players, including Reynolds, Sara Lewis, Filipa Calisto, Kamari Sims, Caia Loving and Natalia Sierra-Vargas.
SCOUTING THE FIREBIRDS
Under the guidance of John Nakpodia, who enters his ninth season at the helm of the program, the NCAA Division II Firebirds renew a DMV matchup that hasn't been played since Dec. 9, 1994. The Buff & Blue hold a 6-3 edge in the all-time series, winning the first five matchups from 1976-80 and the most recent meeting in '94.
UDC is coming off a 10-17 season a year ago, falling to Mercy in the opening round of the ECC Championship. The Firebirds enter the new year with a roster of 10, with six of those entering their first collegiate season in 2025-26. UDC lost its top five scorers from a season ago, with junior Kristian Harris (5.8 ppg) leading the small group of returners. The Firebirds' full stats from last season can be found here.
