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BRONX, N.Y. – Kicking off the 2025-26 campaign with the first of four straight home games at the historic Rose Hill Gymnasium, the 55th season of Fordham University women’s basketball opens the season Monday night hosting Adelphi.

The season and home opener for the Rams will air live on ESPN+ at 7:00 p.m. with Andrew Bogusch and Andrew Posadas on the call of the action.

The first 100 fans in attendance Monday will receive a free Fordham Basketball t-shirt, courtesy of Coca-Cola.

2025-26 at a Glance

In a world of shuffling rosters year-by-year across college athletics, the Rams return five players from last season, led by Kaila Berry, as the Brooklyn native returns for her fourth season in her senior year on Rose Hill. Berry is joined in the senior class by Emma Wilson-Saltos, who enters her second season with the Rams, after The Bronx native came to Fordham from Monroe College last year.

Amongst the other returns includes Coach Mitchell’s entire rookie class, with Karissa Antoine, Anastasija Veljovic, and Precious Omoshola who all return for their sophomore campaign. Looking to build on that core with three new members of the freshmen class, with Maysen Hill (South Kingston, R.I.), Carryn Easley (Philadelphia, Pa.), and London Liley (National Harbor, Md.) entering their first year of collegiate action with Fordham this season.

The Rams also made waves in the transfer portal, signing five players, led by a pair of grad students in Ornella Niankan (Montreal, Quebec) from Wichita State, and Tia “T-Mo” Morgan (Chicago, Ill.) from Purdue Fort-Wayne. Fordham also welcome juniors Alexis Black (Washington, D.C.) from Appalachian State, Ugne Sirtautaite (Kaunas, Lithuania) from Providence, and Lakresha Edwards (Chilliwack, British Columbia) from Miami (OH).

2024-25 in Review

The Maroon and White in their second season under Coach Mitchell improved on their record from year one, posting an even .500 record overall and in league play (15-15, 9-9). The Rams have finished the regular season .500 or better in league play now 12 times in the last 13 years, and have ended the regular season above .500 overall in eight of the last nine seasons as well. Over her two seasons at the helm, the Rams have amassed 28 wins, the fourth most by a Fordham Women’s basketball Head Coach over their first two seasons.

The Rams for the second straight season avoided the opening round of the Atlantic 10 Championship in Henrico, Va. earning the No. 8 seed in the tournament, squaring off with No. 9 Duquesne for the third time that season in the Second Round of the tournament. Despite the Maroon and White claiming both matches in regular season, the Dukes got the upper hand early and never looked back to take the win.

Where the Rams Ranked in 2024-25

Fordham crashed the offensive glass all season long, leading the A-10, and sitting 15th best in the entire nation averaging 15.1 offensive rebounds per game. On top of their dominance on the offensive glass, the Rams overall pulled down 38.72 total rebounds per game, placing them second in the A-10 and 73rd in the nation. 

Defensively, Fordham sat 67th in the NCAA and third in the A-10 forcing 18.62 turnovers per game and also picked 9.0 steals per game, fifth most of any team in the league and 91st in the nation. Allowing just 60.5 points per game to opponents, the Rams held the eighth best scoring defense in the A-10, good for 93rd best in Division I.

On the Sidelines

Alongside Coach Mitchell returning for her third season on Rose Hill, Andre Jurko and KJ Jackson return for their third season at Fordham as well. John Azzinaro enters his second season on Rose Hill, alongside Leah Metcalf and Jared Wilson, who were each elevated to assistant coaches for the 2025-26 campaign.

On the support staff, Allie Griffin returns for her seventh season working with Fordham women’s basketball, including the previous two seasons with Coach Mitchell. The Rams welcome Audrey Abreu ’25, a former manager for the Maroon and White who will serve as the Director of Basketball Operations, and Tommy King, who will take over as the women’s basketball strength and conditioning coach

No Place Like Home

Fordham opens the season with four straight home games, and will play seven of their 11 non-conference opponents within the friendly confines of the Rose Hill Gym.

In all during the non-conference season, Fordham will leave New York borders just once in those four road games, making the short trip Seton Hall on Nov. 20. The Maroon and White will head to Buffalo for their first road game on Nov. 16, before trips to Niagara (Nov. 26) and Hofstra (Dec. 6). The Rams make their first trip out of the Tri-State when conference play opens on Dec. 3 with a trip to Fairfax, Va. to take on George Mason.

Next Up

Continuing a four-game home stretch to open the year, the Rams are back in action Friday night in The Bronx when they welcome NJIT from across the Hudson, in a Fordham basketball doubleheader at the Rose Hill Gym.

The Rams take on NJIT at 5:00 p.m. on ESPN+ ahead of the men’s game at 7:30 against Mount St. Mary’s (NY). The first 100 fans in attendance at each game will receive a free Chick Fil A  sandwich.