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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The champions are back. After a historic 2025-26 campaign, the Jacksonville Dolphins return to the floor Tuesday night against the FIU Panthers. The game is scheduled to tip-off at 7 PM from FIU’s Ocean Bank Convocation Center. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
Tatum Brown: One Of One
Sophomore guard Tatum Brown enters her second season with the Dolphins with a robust resume. She won ASUN Freshman of the Year a season ago, and she was the only freshman named to an All-ASUN team. She enters 2026-27 as the Preseason ASUN Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year.
Fab Five Freshmen
The Dolphins boast a five-player freshman class, and all are expected to contribute throughout their rookie seasons. Forward Geren Hawthorne and Samirah Mamoudou are key figures in the JU frontcourt, while guards J’Niya Weaver, Coco Rudolph and McKenzie Lewis will factor in the backcourt rotation alongside Brown and fellow preseason All-ASUN team member Aniah Smith.
Ride The Wave
Head coach Special Jennings has been one of the most successful coaches in program history. She’s one of two coaches with a winning percentage above .500, joining current Ole Miss head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin. A win Tuesday would also be Jennings’s 50th in charge of the Dolphins.
The Matchup
Jacksonville has fared well against FIU in the past. The Dolphins hold the 10-5 all-time series lead. The teams have played each of the last eight seasons, with JU winning six of those matchups. In the last two seasons, Jacksonville has defeated the Panthers by an average of 19.5 points per game.
The Opponent
FIU is coming off one of its strongest seasons in recent history. The Panthers posted a 21-12 record last season, earning the No. 2 seed in the Conference-USA Tournament before punching a ticket to the WNIT.
It’s a new look FIU team this season, with 10 new players joining the fray in South Florida.