Saturday, May 23rd, 2026

Sports

APRIL 29 RECAP: How every VCU team did this week

April 29, 2026

Ben Martindale, Staff Writer Men’s tennis Atlantic-10 conference tournament VCU men’s tennis entered this year’s A-10 tournament as the No. 1 seed in pursuit of what would be their ninth consecutive A-10 championship. Quarterfinal — VCU vs Davidson College VCU got off to a good start in the A-10 tournament, kicking off its first match by winning the doubles point. In singles play, second-year Mads Bredschneijder opened things off for the Rams, winning 6-3, 6-2. VCU first-year Patrik Petera followed up his A-10 rookie of the week winning performance with another excellent showing, winning in dominant fashion 6-1, 6-1. Third-year Alfred Almasi clinched the match for the Rams winning 7-5, 6-0. Semifinal — VCU vs University of Richmond VCU’s season, and reign as A-10 champions, came to an end in the second round of the conference tournament. Richmond won the opening doubles point and never ceded the lead to VCU. The Rams fought hard, but lost a competitive match 4-3. Women’s tennis A-10 conference tournament VCU women’s tennis entered this year’s A-10 tournament as the No. 2 seed looking to win their second consecutive A-10 championship. Quarterfinal — VCU vs Saint Louis University VCU hit the ground running against Saint

After A-10 win, women’s tennis sets sights on NCAA Tournament

April 29, 2026

Hayden Braun, Staff Writer  VCU women’s tennis is setting a new standard for the program. The Rams won their second straight conference championship tournament in the Atlantic 10, marking their 10th title since 2013. The Rams finished the regular season 14-10 while being 5-0 in conference play. VCU carried that flawless mindset into the conference tournament and defeated Fordham University 4-3 in a close contest. The matchup between VCU and Fordham was a mostly even matchup boasting similar records with both teams being unbeaten in conference play.  VCU striked early securing the doubles point before battling back late in singles play. With the match tied 3-3, second-year Andrea Magallanes clinched the championship with a comeback three-set victory, sealing the title for the Rams. The win highlights a season built on a strong lineup and consistent performances across both singles and doubles play.  In singles play, VCU posted a 98-66 overall record, including a 15-2 mark in conference matches and a .882 winning percentage, according to VCU Athletics. Multiple players stood out this season for VCU. Magallanes finished 17-7 overall and remained perfect in conference singles play and first-year Viktoria Lackova finished the season with an 11-2 conference record. Both third-year

PRESS BOX: New WNBA bargaining agreement redefines women’s sports

April 29, 2026

Jenny Allen, Staff Writer The Women’s National Basketball Association and the Women’s National Basketball Player Association announced a new collective bargaining agreement in March.  The new seven-year CBA began in the 2026 season and extends through 2032. It marks one of the most groundbreaking labor agreements in professional sports.  In recent years, professional women’s sports have been exceeding expectations, quickly winning over fans.  Despite the argument regarding the value differences between men’s and women’s professional sports, both athletes work equally as hard and both should be recognized for their skills.  Disregarding gender bias — fans support talent, dedication and hard work; the women’s professional sports industry growth has proven what they have to offer is equally as enjoyable and compelling as men’s sports.  The hypergrowth is currently expanding 4.5 times faster than men’s sports, according to Denver 7. The global revenue for women’s sports are projected to reach $2.3 billion this year alone.  As a result, the CBA agreement will result in major changes towards WNBA players compensation with a salary cap set at $7 million for the 2026 season. This is a 364% increase — the largest in U.S. professional sports history. The cap will be adjusted annually depending

Lacrosse outclasses Patriots 13-2 in Senior Day celebration

April 25, 2026

Marcus Leary, Contributing Writer VCU defeated its in-state rival, George Mason University, in a 13-2 rout on Senior Day.  The Rams finished their season with a program high in wins with 12. They are ending the year at 12-4 overall, 7-1 in conference and as the No. 2 seed in the Atlantic 10 tournament at Davidson College. While the Rams forced a running clock for the fourth quarter by going up 10, the game was won in the details. VCU won the ground ball battle 19-11 and led the draw control margin 13-5. Fourth-year midfielder Kiley Kozak was a key player for VCU, securing four draw controls on top of two goals. Kozak was one of four players honored at Senior Day. She mentioned that in her four years with the team, they went from “not even making it to the tournament” to earning the No. 2 seed and a bye into the semifinals. “I never want another team to look down on us,” Kozak said. “It’s such a cool experience, every year just seeing how the skill and the talent have improved. This program really is stepping up.”  The Rams started the scoring early in the first quarter. Second-year

VCU welcomes one of highest ranked recruiting classes in program history

April 22, 2026

Ben Martindale, Staff Writer In 2025, VCU head men’s basketball coach Phil Martelli Jr. started his tenure with the Rams by bringing in the No. 46 ranked recruiting class in the country. Now, following a successful first season, Martelli and his staff welcome an exciting group of fresh faces to the fold. Ranked No. 29 in the nation according to Rivals, this year’s incoming class is one to look out for. Incoming transfers Blake Harper Blake Harper is a 6-foot-7-inch third-year guard with huge upside. In his first year, playing at Howard University, he became the first Mid-Easter Athletic Conference player to win rookie of the year and player of the year in the same season.  Harper is a proven scorer, averaging just shy of 20 points per game at Howard, making him a welcome addition to an already talented Rams backcourt. The third-year guard is coming off of a less productive season at Creighton University in which he averaged 7.7 points per game. Torey Alston Torey Alston is a third-year forward who boasts a lengthy 6-foot-8-inch frame and has exciting two-way potential. Alston averaged an impressive 13 points and eight rebounds last season at Middle Tennessee State. His highlight

APRIL 22 RECAP: How every VCU team did this week

April 22, 2026

Hayden Braun, Staff Writer Drew Thompson, Sports Editor Men’s golf at Mountaineer Invitational  VCU men’s golf competed at the Mountaineer Invitational in Bridgeport, West Virginia, finishing 14th out of 19 teams. The Rams faced a strong field that included multiple top-40 programs, with No. 36 Clemson taking the team title. Fifth-year Mason Minkel led VCU finishing tied for 26th at +3. Minkel shot rounds of 74-75-70 and was one of three Rams to record 10 birdies during the tournament. The Rams will now turn their attention to the Atlantic 10 Championships, set for April 27–29 in Orlando, Florida. Women’s tennis vs. Duquesne University VCU women’s tennis delivered a dominant performance at home, sweeping Duquesne 4-0 in A-10 play at the Thalhimer Tennis Center. The Rams controlled the match from the start, securing the doubles point before carrying that momentum into singles competition. VCU continued its strong play in singles, winning three straight matches to clinch the victory. The Rams did not allow the Dukes to score a single point in the match. The Rams will continue in A-10 play heading toward the final stretch of the regular season. Men’s tennis vs. Duquesne University VCU men’s tennis continued its strong performances

The ins and outs of VCU women’s basketball after the transfer portal

April 22, 2026

Jenny Allen, Staff Writer New VCU women’s basketball head coach Chelsea Banbury joined the Rams just in time to begin recruiting for the transfer portal — which opened on April 6 and remained open until April 20.  After ending the 2025-2026 season with an unfortunate 8-23 record, Rams key fourth-year redshirt guard Mary-Anna Asare entered the portal, according to The IX Sports.  Asare is looking for a final season elsewhere after being approved for a medical redshirt. Despite Asare’s injury last season, her prior performances proved her crucial contributions on offense and defense.  During Asare’s third year, she was named to the All-Atlantic 10 Second team and led the Rams with 16.0 points per game, scoring double digits in 25 out of 30 games played, according to VCU Athletics. Her skills went beyond scoring as she averaged 4.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.7 steals per game. The day of the portal’s closing, Asare announced her official commitment to the University of Virginia where she will complete her final year of eligibility. The loss of Asare is significant to the Rams, however their prior season without her gave them the opportunity to excel on their own.  The 6-foot-7-inch redshirt third-year forward

APRIL 29 RECAP: How every VCU team did this week

April 29, 2026

Ben Martindale, Staff Writer Men’s tennis Atlantic-10 conference tournament VCU men’s tennis entered this year’s A-10 tournament as the No. 1 seed in pursuit of what would be their ninth consecutive A-10 championship. Quarterfinal — VCU vs Davidson College VCU got off to a good start in the A-10 tournament, kicking off its first match by winning the doubles point. In singles play, second-year Mads Bredschneijder opened things off for the Rams, winning 6-3, 6-2. VCU first-year Patrik Petera followed up his A-10 rookie of the week winning performance with another excellent showing, winning in dominant fashion 6-1, 6-1. Third-year Alfred Almasi clinched the match for the Rams winning 7-5, 6-0. Semifinal — VCU vs University of Richmond VCU’s season, and reign as A-10 champions, came to an end in the second round of the conference tournament. Richmond won the opening doubles point and never ceded the lead to VCU. The Rams fought hard, but lost a competitive match 4-3. Women’s tennis A-10 conference tournament VCU women’s tennis entered this year’s A-10 tournament as the No. 2 seed looking to win their second consecutive A-10 championship. Quarterfinal — VCU vs Saint Louis University VCU hit the ground running against Saint Louis after an opening round bye. Second-years Sophia Thorne and Andrea Magallanes, and first-year Victoria Lackova and second-year Sara Alba won their opening matches to secure VCU the doubles point. In singles play VCU was clinical, with Thorne, Magallanes and Alba all securing victories to close out the first round sweep 4-0. Semifinal — VCU vs University of Richmond VCU women’s tennis avenged the men’s team conference tournament loss to Richmond by eliminating the No. 3 seeded Spiders in the A-10 semifinal. The Rams battled through early adversity to win the doubles point. In singles play the two teams battled back and forth, both refusing to give an inch. In the end VCU was too much, punching its ticket to the A-10 championship via a hardfought 4-2 victory. Championship — VCU vs Fordham University The Rams took on No. 1 seed Fordham in the championship match to secure their second consecutive A-10 title. VCU took the doubles point to go up 1-0 early. Singles matches were competitive throughout with the two teams battling back and forth until the two teams were tied at 3-3 with one final match yet to conclude. Seemingly immune to the pressure, second-year Andrea Magallanes stepped

After A-10 win, women’s tennis sets sights on NCAA Tournament

April 29, 2026

Hayden Braun, Staff Writer  VCU women’s tennis is setting a new standard for the program. The Rams won their second straight conference championship tournament in the Atlantic 10, marking their 10th title since 2013. The Rams finished the regular season 14-10 while being 5-0 in conference play. VCU carried that flawless mindset into the conference tournament and defeated Fordham University 4-3 in a close contest. The matchup between VCU and Fordham was a mostly even matchup boasting similar records with both teams being unbeaten in conference play.  VCU striked early securing the doubles point before battling back late in singles play. With the match tied 3-3, second-year Andrea Magallanes clinched the championship with a comeback three-set victory, sealing the title for the Rams. The win highlights a season built on a strong lineup and consistent performances across both singles and doubles play.  In singles play, VCU posted a 98-66 overall record, including a 15-2 mark in conference matches and a .882 winning percentage, according to VCU Athletics. Multiple players stood out this season for VCU. Magallanes finished 17-7 overall and remained perfect in conference singles play and first-year Viktoria Lackova finished the season with an 11-2 conference record. Both third-year

PRESS BOX: New WNBA bargaining agreement redefines women’s sports

April 29, 2026

Jenny Allen, Staff Writer The Women’s National Basketball Association and the Women’s National Basketball Player Association announced a new collective bargaining agreement in March.  The new seven-year CBA began in the 2026 season and extends through 2032. It marks one of the most groundbreaking labor agreements in professional sports.  In recent years, professional women’s sports have been exceeding expectations, quickly winning over fans.  Despite the argument regarding the value differences between men’s and women’s professional sports, both athletes work equally as hard and both should be recognized for their skills.  Disregarding gender bias — fans support talent, dedication and hard work; the women’s professional sports industry growth has proven what they have to offer is equally as enjoyable and compelling as men’s sports.  The hypergrowth is currently expanding 4.5 times faster than men’s sports, according to Denver 7. The global revenue for women’s sports are projected to reach $2.3 billion this year alone.  As a result, the CBA agreement will result in major changes towards WNBA players compensation with a salary cap set at $7 million for the 2026 season. This is a 364% increase — the largest in U.S. professional sports history. The cap will be adjusted annually depending

Lacrosse outclasses Patriots 13-2 in Senior Day celebration

April 25, 2026

Marcus Leary, Contributing Writer VCU defeated its in-state rival, George Mason University, in a 13-2 rout on Senior Day.  The Rams finished their season with a program high in wins with 12. They are ending the year at 12-4 overall, 7-1 in conference and as the No. 2 seed in the Atlantic 10 tournament at Davidson College. While the Rams forced a running clock for the fourth quarter by going up 10, the game was won in the details. VCU won the ground ball battle 19-11 and led the draw control margin 13-5. Fourth-year midfielder Kiley Kozak was a key player for VCU, securing four draw controls on top of two goals. Kozak was one of four players honored at Senior Day. She mentioned that in her four years with the team, they went from “not even making it to the tournament” to earning the No. 2 seed and a bye into the semifinals. “I never want another team to look down on us,” Kozak said. “It’s such a cool experience, every year just seeing how the skill and the talent have improved. This program really is stepping up.”  The Rams started the scoring early in the first quarter. Second-year

VCU welcomes one of highest ranked recruiting classes in program history

Sports Editor April 22, 2026

Ben Martindale, Staff Writer In 2025, VCU head men’s basketball coach Phil Martelli Jr. started his tenure with the Rams by bringing in the No. 46 ranked recruiting class in the country. Now, following a successful first season, Martelli and his staff welcome an exciting group of fresh faces to the fold. Ranked No. 29 in the nation according to Rivals, this year’s incoming class is one to look out for. Incoming transfers Blake Harper Blake Harper is a 6-foot-7-inch third-year guard with huge upside. In his first year, playing at Howard University, he became the first Mid-Easter Athletic Conference player to win rookie of the year and player of the year in the same season.  Harper is a proven scorer, averaging just shy of 20 points per game at Howard, making him a welcome addition to an already talented Rams backcourt. The third-year guard is coming off of a less productive season at Creighton University in which he averaged 7.7 points per game. Torey Alston Torey Alston is a third-year forward who boasts a lengthy 6-foot-8-inch frame and has exciting two-way potential. Alston averaged an impressive 13 points and eight rebounds last season at Middle Tennessee State. His highlight

APRIL 22 RECAP: How every VCU team did this week

Sports Editor April 22, 2026

Hayden Braun, Staff Writer Drew Thompson, Sports Editor Men’s golf at Mountaineer Invitational  VCU men’s golf competed at the Mountaineer Invitational in Bridgeport, West Virginia, finishing 14th out of 19 teams. The Rams faced a strong field that included multiple top-40 programs, with No. 36 Clemson taking the team title. Fifth-year Mason Minkel led VCU finishing tied for 26th at +3. Minkel shot rounds of 74-75-70 and was one of three Rams to record 10 birdies during the tournament. The Rams will now turn their attention to the Atlantic 10 Championships, set for April 27–29 in Orlando, Florida. Women’s tennis vs. Duquesne University VCU women’s tennis delivered a dominant performance at home, sweeping Duquesne 4-0 in A-10 play at the Thalhimer Tennis Center. The Rams controlled the match from the start, securing the doubles point before carrying that momentum into singles competition. VCU continued its strong play in singles, winning three straight matches to clinch the victory. The Rams did not allow the Dukes to score a single point in the match. The Rams will continue in A-10 play heading toward the final stretch of the regular season. Men’s tennis vs. Duquesne University VCU men’s tennis continued its strong performances

The ins and outs of VCU women’s basketball after the transfer portal

Sports Editor April 22, 2026

Jenny Allen, Staff Writer New VCU women’s basketball head coach Chelsea Banbury joined the Rams just in time to begin recruiting for the transfer portal — which opened on April 6 and remained open until April 20.  After ending the 2025-2026 season with an unfortunate 8-23 record, Rams key fourth-year redshirt guard Mary-Anna Asare entered the portal, according to The IX Sports.  Asare is looking for a final season elsewhere after being approved for a medical redshirt. Despite Asare’s injury last season, her prior performances proved her crucial contributions on offense and defense.  During Asare’s third year, she was named to the All-Atlantic 10 Second team and led the Rams with 16.0 points per game, scoring double digits in 25 out of 30 games played, according to VCU Athletics. Her skills went beyond scoring as she averaged 4.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.7 steals per game. The day of the portal’s closing, Asare announced her official commitment to the University of Virginia where she will complete her final year of eligibility. The loss of Asare is significant to the Rams, however their prior season without her gave them the opportunity to excel on their own.  The 6-foot-7-inch redshirt third-year forward

VCU welcomes one of highest ranked recruiting classes in program history

April 22, 2026

Ben Martindale, Staff Writer In 2025, VCU head men’s basketball coach Phil Martelli Jr. started his tenure with the Rams by bringing in the No. 46 ranked recruiting class in the country. Now, following a successful first season, Martelli and his staff welcome an exciting group of fresh faces to the fold. Ranked No. 29 in the nation according to Rivals, this year’s incoming class is one to look out for. Incoming transfers Blake Harper Blake Harper is a 6-foot-7-inch third-year guard with huge upside. In his first year, playing at Howard University, he became the first Mid-Easter Athletic Conference player to win rookie of the year and player of the year in the same season.  Harper is a proven scorer, averaging just shy of 20 points per game at Howard, making him a welcome addition to an already talented Rams backcourt. The third-year guard is coming off of a less productive season at Creighton University in which he averaged 7.7 points per game. Torey Alston Torey Alston is a third-year forward who boasts a lengthy 6-foot-8-inch frame and has exciting two-way potential. Alston averaged an impressive 13 points and eight rebounds last season at Middle Tennessee State. His highlight

APRIL 22 RECAP: How every VCU team did this week

April 22, 2026

Hayden Braun, Staff Writer Drew Thompson, Sports Editor Men’s golf at Mountaineer Invitational  VCU men’s golf competed at the Mountaineer Invitational in Bridgeport, West Virginia, finishing 14th out of 19 teams. The Rams faced a strong field that included multiple top-40 programs, with No. 36 Clemson taking the team title. Fifth-year Mason Minkel led VCU finishing tied for 26th at +3. Minkel shot rounds of 74-75-70 and was one of three Rams to record 10 birdies during the tournament. The Rams will now turn their attention to the Atlantic 10 Championships, set for April 27–29 in Orlando, Florida. Women’s tennis vs. Duquesne University VCU women’s tennis delivered a dominant performance at home, sweeping Duquesne 4-0 in A-10 play at the Thalhimer Tennis Center. The Rams controlled the match from the start, securing the doubles point before carrying that momentum into singles competition. VCU continued its strong play in singles, winning three straight matches to clinch the victory. The Rams did not allow the Dukes to score a single point in the match. The Rams will continue in A-10 play heading toward the final stretch of the regular season. Men’s tennis vs. Duquesne University VCU men’s tennis continued its strong performances

The ins and outs of VCU women’s basketball after the transfer portal

April 22, 2026

Jenny Allen, Staff Writer New VCU women’s basketball head coach Chelsea Banbury joined the Rams just in time to begin recruiting for the transfer portal — which opened on April 6 and remained open until April 20.  After ending the 2025-2026 season with an unfortunate 8-23 record, Rams key fourth-year redshirt guard Mary-Anna Asare entered the portal, according to The IX Sports.  Asare is looking for a final season elsewhere after being approved for a medical redshirt. Despite Asare’s injury last season, her prior performances proved her crucial contributions on offense and defense.  During Asare’s third year, she was named to the All-Atlantic 10 Second team and led the Rams with 16.0 points per game, scoring double digits in 25 out of 30 games played, according to VCU Athletics. Her skills went beyond scoring as she averaged 4.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.7 steals per game. The day of the portal’s closing, Asare announced her official commitment to the University of Virginia where she will complete her final year of eligibility. The loss of Asare is significant to the Rams, however their prior season without her gave them the opportunity to excel on their own.  The 6-foot-7-inch redshirt third-year forward

VCU’s lead scorer Terrence Hill Jr. commits to Tennessee

April 21, 2026

Alexis Washington, Assistant Sports Editor Second-year guard Terrence Hill Jr. announced his commitment to the University of Tennessee on Sunday, following an impressive season with VCU that helped lead the program to an NCAA Tournament win. “I see myself scoring a lot, play-making a lot, whether that’s being at the one or being at the two,” Hill said in an interview with 247sports after committing to Tennessee. “But primarily going forward, I think for me to get to that next level is going to be me at that point guard spot.”  Hill was among the top 10 players in the portal, according to draftxpress, catching the interest of teams like the University of Oregon, Louisiana State University and the University of Kansas.  Hill averaged 15 points per game and 2.8 assists — both team highs for the Rams — shooting 46.6% from the field and 37% from three.  Hill quickly became a household name for the Rams following a 82-78 victory over No. 6 University of North Carolina in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, drawing national attention. VCU trailed by 19 but stormed back to force overtime fueled by Hill’s performance. He finished with 34 points off the

Baseball falls short against GW; loses weekend series

April 17, 2026

Drew Thompson, Sports Editor The Rams got swept in the weekend series to George Washington University, losing 4-3, 8-7 and getting dominated 9-3 in game three.  Graduate student pitcher Everett Vaughn was credited with the game three loss after 1.2 innings pitched, four hits, three earned runs, four walks and a strikeout.  Third-year infielder Trent Adelman and redshirt first-year infielder Alec Warden both had the only multi-hit performances for the Rams in the game three loss.  Third-year infielder Nate Kirkpatrick and redshirt third-year utility Quinn Maher both had good games despite the game two loss. Maher drove in a career-high four runs.  Redshirt fourth-year pitcher Patrick Stietz started game one strong for the Rams, but the game broke open after he was relieved.  VCU lost 4-3 to GW on Friday to start a three game series, falling back to earth after its upset win over the University of Virginia earlier this week.  Neither team made much of an impact in the first inning, with both sides failing to get a hit.  VCU cruised through the top of the second despite redshirt fourth-year pitcher Elias Holbert hitting two batters.  The Rams started the bottom of the second with a lead-off double

Women’s tennis dominates Duquesne through injuries and intense heat

April 16, 2026

Benney Koch, Contributing Writer VCU dominated the nationally ranked, No. 67 Duquesne University on Thursday, winning 4-0. A strong doubles performance gave the Rams the momentum needed to secure a team victory in the singles. VCU second-years Andrea Magallanes and Sofia Jane Thorne took over. The pair quickly found rhythm and built a commanding lead behind strong coordination at the net. Magallanes’ long-range shots created openings, while Jane Thorne consistently closed points at the net, helping the duo finish with a 6-2 win. VCU third-years Tan Andrade Sabando and Mariam Ibrahim got their second doubles victory with a match score of 6-3. Sabando and Ibrahim secured an early lead and maintained pressure by forcing errors from their opponents. Ibrahim’s well-timed feints and Sabando’s aggressive returns sealed the result. The Rams’ second-year Sara Alba and first-year Viktoria Lackova had a difficult match. They fell behind early and battled hard, but weren’t able to recover before VCU secured the doubles point. VCU entered the singles stage needing only two winning matches for the team victory, as Duquesne was short a player. Ibrahim won a tight first set, but the match ended early in the second after building up a 5-1 lead.  VCU

APRIL 15 RECAP: How every VCU team did this week

April 15, 2026

Ben Martindale, Staff Writer Men’s tennis vs. Liberty University VCU men’s tennis suffered a tough 6-1 homecourt defeat at the hands of No. 60 ranked Liberty. The Rams were competitive early, but eventually dropped the doubles point to fall behind 1-0. Despite multiple competitive three set matches, VCU could not string together enough momentum to turn the tide. The Rams’ lone point came from second-year Erwann Bouchet, who won his match 4-6, 6-2, 6-1. Men’s track at Duke University, University of South Florida and University of Mount Olive VCU men’s track and field had a historic weekend, breaking the school triple jump record twice in the same meet. Third-year Isaiah-Taji Kargbo-Owens broke the record first with a score of 15.64 meters. Fourth-year Philip Daniel then broke his record with a score of 15.73 meters. In the 400 meter dash third-year Jude Okafor clocked in a time of 46.96, the second fastest time in VCU program history. Women’s track at Duke University, University of South Florida and University of Mount Olive VCU women’s track and field had an incredible meet with three athletes finishing top three in program history in their respective events. Fourth-year Sydney Carr finished second in program history