University of Massachusets Athletics
Monday, November 3
Norfolk, Va.
6:30 PM
University of Massachusetts
at
Old Dominion
Women's Basketball Competes Against Old Dominion in MAC-SBC game
October 31, 2025 | Women's Basketball
The Minutewomen and Monarchs tipoff at 6:30 p.m.
| University of Massachusetts Women's Basketball Notes & Information | |
| Matchup (Exhibition) | Massachusetts (0-0) at Old Dominion University (0-0) |
| Date | Time | Nov. 3, 2025 | 6:30 p.m. |
| Location | Norfolk, Va. | Chartway Arena |
| Game Notes | Massachusetts | Old Dominion |
| Watch | ESPN+ |
| Live Stats | StatBroadcast |
| @UMassWBB | |
| @umasswbb | |
| UMass Women's Basketball | |
AMHERST, Mass. – The University of Massachusetts women's basketball program kicks off the 2025-26 campaign as it competes against Old Dominion in inaugural MAC-SBC Challenge at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 3 in Norfolk, Virginia, on ESPN+. It will be the first time the two teams meet in program history.
Live updates available at umassathletics.com or @UMassWBB on X (Twitter).
NEW FACES IN NEW PLACES
- The Minutewomen welcome six newcomers, featuring four freshmen.
- Massachusetts brings freshmen Anya George, Eva Hannon, Aiyanna Perkins and Brooke Pulpi into the mix for the 2025-26 season.
- Rhode Island transfer Ayanna Franks arrives to Amherst off a 3.1 points per game season, adding 1.6 rebounds in 10.7 minutes.
- Leah Bullard spent her first season at Oakland, averaging 2.1 points and 1.5 rebounds in 8.4 minutes of action.
OLBRYS ON THE RISE
- Senior Megan Olbrys is coming off an impressive season in the Atlantic 10 last year, leading the team with career-best averages in points (14.0), rebounds (8.2), and free throws per game (.786).
- Olbrys posted eight double-doubles during the 2024-25 campaign and recorded a season-best 23 points against Loyola Chicago (2/9).
- The Norwood, Mass. native earned the A-10 Third Team All-Conference honors at the end of the 2024-25 season and received the 25-player watchlist for the 2026 Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Award to start the 2025-26 season.
SET FOR SUCCESS
- Allie Palmieri and Yahmani McKayle are expected to have strong campaigns for the 2025-26 season.
- Palmieri had a competitive season, averaging 12.2 points and 3.8 rebounds, and leading the Minutewomen with 32.8 minutes.
- McKayle is coming off an A-10 Rookie of the Year season. She led the Minutewomen with 110 assists, contributing an average 13.6 points and 2.9 rebounds.
- With the guard duo's explosive 2024-25 UMass debuts, the Maroon and White look for them to be large contributors.
YEAR THREE UNDER COACH LEFLAR
- Massachusetts women's basketball enters its third season under Head Coach Mike Leflar in 2025-26 after his tenure as Associate Head Coach (2021-23) and Assistant Coach (2018-21) with the Minutewomen.
- Leflar has been an integral part of building the most successful era in Massachusetts women's basketball, helping the program to its first regular-season Atlantic 10 championship this past season after the program earned its first Atlantic 10 Tournament Championship in 2021-22, while adding an NCAA Tournament berth in 2022 to go along with WNIT appearances in 2021 and 2023, and 2025
- Leflar most recently worked closely with the Minutewomen forwards, including 2023 Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year, Sam Breen. Under Leflar's guidance, Breen developed into one of the most decorated players in program history and earned back-to-back Atlantic 10 Player of the Year honors in 2022 and 2023
UP NEXT
- The Minutewomen return with a home opener against Siena at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8, at the Mullins Center.
- The game will be streamed on ESPN+ with links and live updates available at umassathletics.com or @UMassWBB on X (Twitter).
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/ Women's BasketballCoach Leflar on HUGE jump from year 1 to 2.
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