BRISTOL, R.I. – The Roger Williams University Women's Basketball team is set to begin the 2025-26 campaign on Friday evening when they host Babson on Friday, Nov. 7 at 7:00 pm.
The Hawks enter the campaign with Head Coach Kelly Thompson leading the charge for the 16th year, compiling a 265-118 record, currently holding the highest winning percentage in program history. Thompson is joined on the bench by Associate Head Coach Michelle Spreada, who enters her eighth year with the program. The Hawks also have assistant Anna Walther returning for a fourth season and Chantrell Frazier, who enters her first season with the Hawks coaching staff.
In 2024-25, the Hawks ranked third in the Conference of New England (CNE) in points per game, tallying 67.2 per contest, while also ranking fourth in defense (59.4) and third in scoring margin (7.8).
The Hawks return four of their five starters from last season being led by senior Sophia Coppola (Madison, Conn.), who ranked fourth in the conference with 15.2 points per game on the season, while also ranking in the top 15 in rebounds per game. The Hawks also bring back Chloe Richardson (Norwell, Mass.), who ranked second on the team in assists with 44 total on the year, and was one of the team's top perimeter options.
The Hawks also see Lilli Clark (Willimantic, Conn.) and Meg Qualey (Woburn, Mass.) make their return, with both ranking fourth and fifth on last year's team in scoring and both ranking in the top three in rebounding, with Clark leading the way with 7.0 rebounds per game.
The Hawks open the season on Friday, ahead of hosting Wheaton on Wednesday, Nov. 12 at 6:00 pm in the Campus Rec Center. The Hawks will then play Connecticut College on Saturday, Nov. 15, at 1:00 pm in New London, Conn., for their first road matchup, before facing Mitchell on Sunday, Nov. 16, across town.
RWU opens their CNE slate on Wednesday, Nov. 19, at 5:30 pm ahead of hosting Tufts. Before rounding out their fall semester slate on Saturday, Dec. 6, against UNE.
Right before the New Year the Hawks will travel to Worcester for the WPI Tournament, facing Bates and the host institution on Dec. 30 and Dec. 31, and will open the New Year with a home matchup against Wentworth on Saturday, Jan. 3 at 1:00 pm.
The Hawks round out the regular season at Endicott on Saturday, Feb. 21 at 1:00 pm ahead of the CNE Tournament beginning on Tuesday, Feb. 24 and rounding out on Saturday, Feb. 28.
