The IX Sports

We don't just have a Big 2 or a Big 3 or a Big 1, we've got like, five or six kids that can go on any given night, maybe seven. So it makes it really difficult to shut one or two people down.

On her team's defense: I'm so proud because we didn't recruit defense. I'm just telling you we didn't. We went out and we got offensive players, people that could pass, dribble and shoot, 'cause we didn't wanna score 48 points a game anymore. I couldn't watch it as a coach, and so I thought as a coach when we assessed it — our staff — we can scheme defensively. I can get in 'em enough to make 'em at least guard. They may not be the best 1-on-1 defenders, but a good coach can scheme different defenses. You can change coverages, you can go zone, you can do some things. You can't teach — I've said it a million times. I can't teach a kid to pass a high-low ball, or a post entry or a nice flare pass. I can't teach a kid to shoot the three that can't shoot, you can't teach skill. So the thing I love most about this team, they embrace the defensive end, 'cause I've always been a defensive coach and this is different for me, wanting offense.

We finally put a team away. There was no go up 24 let 'em cut it to 12. And we've done that a lot. or up 12 going in — and then let 'em come back, and then have to have fourth quarter heroics maybe 10 times this season. Today was nice as a coach, although I don't think I let off the gas at all on the sideline, I didn't relax. I thought I would. But to be up 25 and get your whole bench in ... it was nice to put a team away today. So moving forward, you gotta do that when you have the opportunity. And so that was the one thing I was really proud of our team today. We said what we wanted to do, and they actually did it. And that takes effort, that takes lock in, that takes focus. So I think moving forward, it's again, you know, cutthroat. Be a lion. Be a lion. All the time.

Here are a few quotes from Rhode Island head coach Tammi Reiss' press conference after yesterday's win over Saint Louis:

@theixsports.bsky.social

A graph of the NET rankings for the 14 Atlantic 10 women's basketball teams.

A-10 women's basketball NET rankings update:

This week's biggest climbers were:

Dayton (185). The team moved up 23 spots after wins over La Salle and Saint Joseph's.

St. Bonaventure (217). The team moved up 13 spots after wins over Davidson and Duquesne (OT).

@theixsports.bsky.social

A line graph showing the NCAA NET rankings week-to-week for all eight Ivy League women's basketball teams.

Here are this week's NET rankings for Ivy League WBB teams. It's harder to make big jumps this far into the season with more data available. But Brown (No. 123) leaps back ahead of Penn (132), and Princeton (43) holds steady at the top. @theixsports.bsky.social #NCAAWBB

YouTube video by The IX Sports WNBA CBA Meeting Takeaways: What Was Discussed at the Latest In-Person Talks | The IX Sports Podcast

On our latest episode of @theixsports.bsky.social podcast, @howardmegdal.bsky.social and I time traveled to 2022 when one of the most talked about stories involved charter planes. We explained why this story matters now in the context of the current #WNBA CBA negotiations.

Columbia's Riley Weiss wins her fourth Ivy League Player of the Week award this season. She had 38p (9-12 3pt), 5a and 3r in a win at Cornell.

Harvard's Aubrey Shaw gets her first Rookie of the Week nod. She had 15p (3-6 3pt) and 4r in a win over Dartmouth. @theixsports.bsky.social #NCAAWBB

On how the team is finding joy this season: We still do so many of the things that keep us together. We have something called Ultimate Competitor, where there's competitive team building often. Last night, they were going through an obstacle course blindfolded. We try to stay really locked in on the entire process. Obviously, outcomes are important in what we do, but it's not our motivating factor. And so [it's about] are we getting better? So for example, after Richmond, we had three days of prep for Rhode Island, and we all agree, we got a lot better from what happened against Richmond to then being prepared to walk in today. So I think there's joy in the process too, joy in the work. I think student-athletes feel really, really accomplished when they're in hard conditions, and find their way through them. And that's where we are in this part of the season for us.

On where she'd like to see the team improve as February continues: I think with the exception of Richmond, our defense has been pretty solid, which is why we're able to stay in games with people for long periods of time. We flat out have to fix our offensive execution, efficiency. We're typically known for being able to kinda get the shots that we want, and currently we are not — sometimes we're not getting them, and sometimes we're not taking them. So finding that cohesion that's necessary on both sides of the ball is something that's really important, and we're focused on right now.

On how the freshmen have grown: There was actually a huge growth moment today in the game. Zhykera Brown, something that we had taught her on film just two days ago, she immediately applied in this game. And that's what you're looking for. They've got big abilities, and then we're also putting big responsibilities on them at a time when student-athletes in the game are still pretty veteran on teams. You've still got fifth years. ... We've got a seventh year. So sometimes our freshmen are put into situations where, as a staff or as the veteran players on the team, we go, 'Well, yep, they don't know that yet, like they're learning that.' And so to watch them make those moments count when they do learn it, they're just stacking knowledge ... on top of each other. And then I think when you add all of that up with the cohesiveness that we typically have, I think you're gonna see some good things with this group, especially if we can retain 'em.

Here are a few quotes from Saint Louis head coach Rebecca Tillett after yesterday's loss to Rhode Island

Week 1 of Athletes Unlimited had big wins and tough losses - The IX Basketball The fifth season of Athletes Unlimited opened up with big wins for the Glow and Eclipse and a visit from the WNBPA.

Catch up on the latest coming out of Athletes Unlimited from @stephaniekaloi.bsky.social!

www.thenexthoops.com/athletes-unl...

Soccer Monday: What Mallory Swanson said at NWSL media days - The IX Sports It's been quite a while since Mallory Swanson spoke to the media, so the NWSL's Media Days was a good opportunity to catch up.

What Mallory Swanson said at NWSL media days, from @anniempeterson.bsky.social

www.theixsports.com/features/soc...

On the latest episode of Women's Sports Daily, host Chelsea Leite updates listeners on the weekend's biggest news from the 2026 Winter Olympics, including the hockey norovirus outbreak and Lindsey Vonn's Olympic-ending injury.

open.spotify.com/episode/1zin...

How Big Ten coaches are adapting to the changing landsacpe - The IX Basketball Coaches in the Big Ten are navigating an evolving landscape with recruiting due to the introduction of NIL and the transfer portal.

With Big Ten play in full swing, our David Mendez-Yapkowitz looks at how the new recruiting landscape has impacted the conference and how its coaches have needed to adapt.

www.thenexthoops.com/ncaaw/big-te...

Mariyah Noel is finding her footing as Xavier's go-to guard - The IX Basketball With the help of her coaches and teammates, Mariyah Noel has helped pull Xavier out of the bottom of the BIG EAST.

After two seasons seeing limited action at Mississippi, Mariyah Noel is thriving as Xavier's go-to-guard, @teebaker-wbb.bsky.social writes.

YouTube video by The IX Sports Towson defeats Northeastern, 63-55

@knoxrob1.bsky.social reports live from SECU Arena in Towson, Maryland, where the Tigers took home an 8-point win over the Huskies.

youtube.com/shorts/Mkm-h...

YouTube video by The IX Sports Rhode Island routs Saint Louis, 74-43

Our @natalieheavren.bsky.social was on scene for Rhode Island's rout of Saint Louis this afternoon. Key takeaways from the game: youtube.com/shorts/A3Dvp...

An Ivy League spokesperson tells @theixsports.bsky.social that "there is no validity to" an earlier report that the Ivy women's and men's basketball tournaments will be hosted by the regular-season champions starting in 2028. (Currently, schools are rotating as hosts on a preset schedule.)

YouTube video by The IX Sports How UMES women's basketball survived four road games in seven days to stay in first place in MEAC

UMES had quite the road trip! It went 3-1 in the span of seven days, capped by a 66-53 win over Morgan State on Saturday, to stay in first place in the MEAC.

On the scene in Baltimore, our @knoxrob1.bsky.social tells you what you need to know. #NCAAWBB

YouTube video by The IX Sports Friday fireworks: Takeaways from William & Mary's nailbiter win at Towson in CAA women's basketball

William & Mary women's basketball traveled to Towson on Friday night, and our @knoxrob1.bsky.social was on the scene. Here are his three takeaways from W&M's 52-51 win. #NCAAWBB

(1/3) In the race for four Ivy League Tournament spots, Brown WBB takes a two-game lead on Penn and Cornell for fourth. Today's scores and top performers:

Columbia 80, Cornell 55
Brown 66, Yale 52
Harvard 75, Dartmouth 35

(Princeton beat Penn on Friday.) @theixsports.bsky.social #NCAAWBB

Riley Weiss strikes again for Columbia WBB! She had 38 points at Cornell today on 13-20 shooting (9-12 from 3), plus 5 assists and 3 rebs.

Per @herhoopstats.com, she and Iowa State's Audi Crooks are the only players in #NCAAWBB to score 38+ multiple times this season. @theixsports.bsky.social

At half, Harvard WBB leads Dartmouth 34-12. Harvard held the Big Green without a field goal until Alexandra Eldredge hit one with 53 seconds left.

Still, Harvard coach Carrie Moore isn't pleased with her team's 14 fouls (leading to 15 Dartmouth FT attempts). @theixsports.bsky.social #NCAAWBB

At half, Columbia WBB leads Cornell 42-29. Riley Weiss has 19 points on 7-11 shooting (5-7 3pt) for the Lions, plus 3 rebs and 3 assists.

Overall, Columbia is shooting 59% from the field and is +14 on the glass. @theixsports.bsky.social #NCAAWBB

Cornell WBB ends the 1Q on a 9-2 run, including a buzzer-beating layup from Kelsey Langston. But Columbia still leads 21-20.

Columbia's Riley Weiss leads all scorers with 10p (4-7 FG), 3r and 3a. Clarke Jackson leads Cornell with 6p (2-3 FG). @theixsports.bsky.social #NCAAWBB

Riley Weiss shot 1-for-14 when Columbia first faced Cornell on Jan. 3. Today, she has 10 points (4-6 FG) in the first 7:22. @theixsports.bsky.social #NCAAWBB

Per the ESPN+ broadcast, Columbia guard Marija Avlijas is out today with an ankle injury. Mia Broom steps into the starting lineup in her place. @theixsports.bsky.social #NCAAWBB

Barbra Banda anxious to return for Orlando Pride - The IX Soccer After missing half of the 2025 campaign, Barbra Banda is "fully back" and looking forward to rejoining the Orlando Pride.

"We are focusing on looking on this new season and we want to achieve more."

Barbra Banda is healed and ready to compete. Read what she said at NWSL media day in @anniempeterson.bsky.social's latest:

www.theixsports.com/the-ix-socce...

We're mixing things up this month, bringing you Olympics coverage on top of your weekly gymnastics news brief. Don't miss a moment of the action!

Princeton's Olivia Hutcherson is scoring more, right on time - The IX Basketball Olivia Hutcherson averaged 4.2 points per game for Princeton last season. Now she's up to 12.2, the fourth-largest jump in the Ivy League.

(2/2) For more on Hutcherson, who's having one of the best scoring stretches of her career, check out my story from Monday @theixsports.bsky.social:

(1/2) Princeton WBB rode a 41-20 second half to a 69-50 win over Penn. The Tigers shot 48% and got 17 2nd-chance points.

Olivia Hutcherson led all scorers with 19p (8-12 FG), 7r and 5s for Princeton. Simone Sawyer and Mataya Gayle each had 16p for Penn. @theixsports.bsky.social #NCAAWBB

Chea and Tall both appear to be available off the bench. The insertions of Toby Nweke and Taylor Charles give Princeton a more defense-focused and slightly taller starting lineup. @theixsports.bsky.social #NCAAWBB

Senior guard Madison St. Rose is back in the lineup tonight for Princeton after leaving last Friday's game with an apparent knee injury. However, two other usual starters aren't starting tonight: point guard Ashley Chea and guard/forward Fadima Tall. @theixsports.bsky.social #NCAAWBB

#ICYMI: BREAKING–– league sources tell @theixsports.bsky.social that the New York Liberty are adding two former #WNBA players to Chris Demarco’s staff: ex-Sky assistant Courtney Paris and now former Sun Manager of Basketball Development Kristen Mann.

Both bring #WNBA institutional knowledge.