George Washington University Athletics
Photo by: Greg Fiume
Trustee’s Family Foundation Bolsters Basketball
3/25/2026 10:36:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball
Alumni couple Ted and Meredith Segal elevate GW basketball
For George Washington's flagship men's and women's basketball programs—a pair of teams with a storied history of success at the highest levels of college hoops—the 2025-26 season marked a future of promise for both squads. With the men's team berth and first round win in the NIT and women's team's victory in their opening game of the WNIT, GW saw its basketball teams both advance to the postseason in the same year for the first time since 2017, and both win a game in the postseason together for the first time since 2006.
With help from people like long-time supporters Ted and Meredith Segal, who recently gave $1.5 million to fuel basketball excellence in Foggy Bottom, simultaneous years of postseason success for the men and women will become the norm.
Sports, for Ted, are a lifelong passion with a unique power to unify communities. Segal is the founder and president of ESG Group, a real estate development and financing company, and also owns the Houston Dynamo and Houston Dash soccer teams. The Segals also give generously to other university priorities.
"As an avid sports fan, I don't know if I would have considered GW as a destination if its basketball teams didn't have the success they did in the 1990s," Segal said. "Basketball created a lot of school spirit during my time on campus and I know that is a common theme across generations of GW students."
"Coach Caputo and Coach G (Ganiyat Adeduntan) are laying the groundwork for great things for each of their programs and we are already seeing the dividends on the court. We believe with continued improvement and sustained success, the programs will galvanize the university community and make GW even more of a destination for prospective students," Segal said.
Chris Caputo, in his fourth year at the helm of the men's team, has elevated the program each season in his time in Foggy Bottom, after inheriting a team ranked in the 200s that has now finished the recent campaign firmly in the top-100 teams in the nation.
"We are thrilled about the support and belief in our program that this gift from Ted and Meredith Segal provides," Caputo noted. "They care deeply about their alma mater, and the success of our student-athletes, both on and off the court."
For Adeduntan, her reputation as a turnaround artist was evident in her first season at GW in '25-'26. With more wins overall and in conference play than either of the last two seasons, and the all-important postseason opportunity, Coach G has women's basketball's arrow pointed squarely up.
"I am grateful for the gift the Segals made to help enhance and elevate our program," she said. "There continues to be a lot of excitement surrounding women's basketball across the country, and an investment like this shows how much they see us and support our growth here at GW."
University President Ellen M. Granberg frequently mentions that when she encounters alumni, they regularly share fond memories of the camaraderie and school spirit ignited by GW's basketball teams, especially in nationally-ranked years.
Iconic moments in GW basketball history include sitting presidents Bill Clinton (Feb. 1995) and Barack Obama (Nov. 2009) attending games in person. President Clinton watched our men's team's victorious upset over the No. 1 ranked University of Massachusetts, followed by celebrating with players.
"Ted and Meredith Segal's leadership gift is an investment not only in the competitive excellence of GW Basketball, but in the power of athletics to strengthen school spirit, engage alumni, and elevate the GW brand on the national stage," GW associate vice president and athletic director Michael Lipitz said. "We are profoundly grateful for their continued commitment to GW and this support of our basketball student-athletes."
GW offers the opportunity to others as well to make online donations for those interested in supporting the men's and women's basketball programs.
With help from people like long-time supporters Ted and Meredith Segal, who recently gave $1.5 million to fuel basketball excellence in Foggy Bottom, simultaneous years of postseason success for the men and women will become the norm.
Sports, for Ted, are a lifelong passion with a unique power to unify communities. Segal is the founder and president of ESG Group, a real estate development and financing company, and also owns the Houston Dynamo and Houston Dash soccer teams. The Segals also give generously to other university priorities.
"As an avid sports fan, I don't know if I would have considered GW as a destination if its basketball teams didn't have the success they did in the 1990s," Segal said. "Basketball created a lot of school spirit during my time on campus and I know that is a common theme across generations of GW students."
"Coach Caputo and Coach G (Ganiyat Adeduntan) are laying the groundwork for great things for each of their programs and we are already seeing the dividends on the court. We believe with continued improvement and sustained success, the programs will galvanize the university community and make GW even more of a destination for prospective students," Segal said.
Chris Caputo, in his fourth year at the helm of the men's team, has elevated the program each season in his time in Foggy Bottom, after inheriting a team ranked in the 200s that has now finished the recent campaign firmly in the top-100 teams in the nation.
"We are thrilled about the support and belief in our program that this gift from Ted and Meredith Segal provides," Caputo noted. "They care deeply about their alma mater, and the success of our student-athletes, both on and off the court."
For Adeduntan, her reputation as a turnaround artist was evident in her first season at GW in '25-'26. With more wins overall and in conference play than either of the last two seasons, and the all-important postseason opportunity, Coach G has women's basketball's arrow pointed squarely up.
"I am grateful for the gift the Segals made to help enhance and elevate our program," she said. "There continues to be a lot of excitement surrounding women's basketball across the country, and an investment like this shows how much they see us and support our growth here at GW."
University President Ellen M. Granberg frequently mentions that when she encounters alumni, they regularly share fond memories of the camaraderie and school spirit ignited by GW's basketball teams, especially in nationally-ranked years.
Iconic moments in GW basketball history include sitting presidents Bill Clinton (Feb. 1995) and Barack Obama (Nov. 2009) attending games in person. President Clinton watched our men's team's victorious upset over the No. 1 ranked University of Massachusetts, followed by celebrating with players.
"Ted and Meredith Segal's leadership gift is an investment not only in the competitive excellence of GW Basketball, but in the power of athletics to strengthen school spirit, engage alumni, and elevate the GW brand on the national stage," GW associate vice president and athletic director Michael Lipitz said. "We are profoundly grateful for their continued commitment to GW and this support of our basketball student-athletes."
GW offers the opportunity to others as well to make online donations for those interested in supporting the men's and women's basketball programs.
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