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MIAMI – Women’s basketball opens up their 2026-27 season at home against the 2026 ASUN Champions, Jacksonville, on Tuesday, November 3 at 7 p.m.

Tuesday, November 3 at 7 p.m. 


Time / Site: 7 p.m. / Ocean Bank Convocation Center



Presented by Baptist Health, The Official Sports Medicine Provider of FIU Athletics


After a 2025-26 season that saw the Panthers win 21 games, 12 games against CUSA opponents, and make it to the second round of the WNIT, the Panthers will look to build off that success into the new campaign.

Game Preview

Head coach Jesyka Burks-Wiley returns for her seventh season as the leader of the Panthers. In the past three seasons, Burks-Wiley has led FIU to two 20+ win seasons, and two second-round WNIT appearances. The Missouri native is now just three wins away from 100 career victories.

The Panthers welcome back four contributors from the 2025-26 team. A redshirt junior now in her fourth year with the team, guard Fantasia James is the longest tenured Panther on the team. Sophomore Grecia Ferrer Leal is looking to build off her successful freshman season that saw her play in all 33 games and start in 32, and assist on 125 buckets, second in CUSA. Senior Adama Badjie Coly, also a big contributor from last season, is also back for her second season with the Panthers, as is senior Riley Burd.

The Panthers brought in 10 new players this season. Senior forwards Shorna Preston and Frode Flos van der Schans are expected to be big contributors in the post, both of which have numerous amounts of Division-1 experience. In the guard spot, sophomore BreAunna Ward and junior Mable Doumbia look to add depth to an already experienced position group.

Scouting the Dolphins

Jacksonville comes into this season as the reigning Atlantic Sun Champions, winning 24 games and beating Austin Peay to crown themselves champions. The Dolphins went on to play two-seed LSU in the NCAA tournament, dropping the contest 116-58.

Last season, Jacksonville was second in the league in scoring, putting up 72.5 points per game. On the defensive side, the Dolphins gave up 68.2 points per contest, ninth in the ASUN. A good free-throw shooting team, Jacksonville was second in their conference in free-throw shooting percentage at 72.6%.

Jacksonville is projected to be led by guard Tatum Brown, the 2025-26 ASUN Freshman of the Year and ASUN All-ASUN Third Team recipient. Brown was selected as the ASUN Preseason Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year after averaging 10 points on 44.9% shooting and 2.3 assists. 

Now a sophomore, guard Aniah Smith also was a large contributor for Jacksonville’s championship winning team. The guard scored 7.6 points per game and averaged 1.8 assists per contest to go along with 1.9 steals.

Match Notes

The Panthers are 5-10 all-time against Jacksonville, with their last win coming in the 2023-24 season.

Head coach Jesyla Burks-Wiley is 2-4 against the Dolphins in her time at the helm of the FIU women’s basketball program.

Social Media

Fans are encouraged to follow the Panthers on Instagram (@FIUWSoccer), Twitter (@FIUWSoccer), and Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUWSoccer) for all the latest Women’s Soccer news.

General athletic news can also be found at @FIUSports on Facebook and @FIUAthletics on Twitter and Instagram.