HENRICO, Va. -- Rhode Island is advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the second time in program history as the top-seeded Rams won the 2026 Betterment Atlantic 10 Women's Basketball Championship 53-51 over George Mason Sunday afternoon at the Henrico Sports & Events Center. It's the Rams first-ever Atlantic 10 Women's Basketball Championship title. 

All-Tournament Team selection Brooklyn Gray led Rhode Island with 16 points, making all eight of her free throws. Albina Syla the championship's Most Outstanding Player recorded nine points to go along with 10 rebounds.

"Give credit to Vanessa and her squad," Rhode Island coach Tammi Reiss opened. "I knew this game was going to be a drag out knock out war. What they've done this year has been impressive, but how she's turned that program and the way those kids pay, my hat tip off to George Mason. Today it was about Rhode Island and second half team. I have never been prouder of a group coming out of halftime. We didn't start the game with any discipline, so we really went in and settled them down a little bit. We had to remind our team who you are and what you do. They came out and executed, especially defensively.

"All I wanted was for this group to win the championship and feel what it felt like for confetti to fall down and achieve their last goal. I swear I was going to sell my soul to the devil for that to happen. I couldn't be any happier for our student-athletes, for our university. It's the 30-year anniversary for a team at URI going dancing. I think the heavens above had something to do with that it was good luck. We hit every goal this year and I have never been prouder. I love my team."

Rhode Island becomes the ninth different champion in as many years.

Defensively, Rhode Island held George Mason to a 32.2% shooting clip which assists the Rams in winning their first championship.

"It was our goal and as a team even though we won last week, the job was unfinished because we were co-champions," Palmire Mbu explained. "Today was our game to prove we were the real champions and it just feels great."

George Mason saw All-Tournament recipient Kennedy Harris score 15 points, All-Rookie Team honoree Mary Amoateng 13 points and the Patriots second All-Tournament choice Zahirah Walton added 10 points.

"I thought it was a great game by two powerhouses," George Mason coach Vanessa Blair-Lewis opened. "It was a slugfest and both teams really stepped up and competed today. I'm proud of these ladies three games in three days. I just think at the end of the day, we did not put the ball in the hole, the way we needed to. We are still regular season champions and to be able to get to this point again, somebody had to win, and somebody had to learn."

George Mason set the tone early forcing five turnovers, three of which came on steals. While neither team really broke through offensively, the Patriots would take a 5-2 lead into the first quarter media stoppage.

Coming out of the timeout, George Mason's MJ Johnson was given space and made a three-point shot. Rhode Island's Vanessa Harris ended a 3:29 scoreless streak with a three-point response. Mbu added a basket to go along with this, but then would go scoreless across the final 2:32.

George Mason would score the final seven points including an Amoateng driving layup in the closing seconds, to take a 15-7 lead into the second quarter.

Walton greeted the second quarter with a midrange basket, separating the teams by double digits.

Vanessa Harris provided the Rams a spark once again with a midrange and-one opportunity to give Rhode Island some energy.

Rhode Island's 8-0 run brought the game to within two points before Jada Brown got the Patriots back on track, scoring a couple of baskets, once again making the game a two-possession affair.

Mbu's triple and Mary-Kate Tshibuabua's high, off-glass finish in the post brought the disadvantage back down to three points.

Following a Rhode Island layup, George Mason had multiple looks spin around the rim but not fall through. Kennedy Harris's jumper was matched by Vanessa Harris's buzzer beating look.

This placed George Mason in front 25-24 at halftime.

Syla scored to start the third quarter and Rhode Island was the beneficiary of a technical foul called following a Patriots block.

The Rams went on an 8-0 run dating back to the second quarter buzzer beater that Amoateng ended.

Kennedy Harris made a shot off glass as George Mason's fans tried to will a stop, instead Gray converted a three-point basket, bring Rhode Island's lead to seven points.

A trio of Kennedy Harris free throws gave George Mason a spark, but it was Rhode Island remaining in front 39-34. It contained the Patriots to a 27.3% shooting clip.

George Mason dug in defensively as Rhode Island was held without a field goal for 9:29 of game action, a streak which dating back to the end of the third quarter. The Rams would put three free throws together, but it was the Patriots who controlled much of the early portion.

Rhode Island remained on top by three points heading into the media timeout as it drew a charging call.

The Rams elusive basket came as George Mason was trying to find its first basket in over four minutes with Gray getting the ball in the post and finishing.

This placed Rhode Island in front by five points and allowed the Rams to control the game once again.

Down the stretch the Rhode Island defense held George Mason to a 1-for-10 shooting mark and for 5:19 without making a field goal. Gray made a couple of free throws, securing Rhode Island's multiple-possession lead.

Down the stretch, George Mason took advantage of a missed Rams free throw, with Jada Brown extending to game with 15.4 seconds to play, converting a three-point shot, to bring the teams within three points.

"This team has been outstanding," Kennedy Harris determined. "We went through trials and bounced back multiple times. I know it hurts right now, but I'm still very proud of this team."

George Mason needed time to foul with Gray, a 90.5% free throw shooter, making a pair of shots to secure the victory for Rhode Island.

"I feel like it was a big weight off my shoulders," said Gray of the victory. "It felt so surreal and I'm (saying) 'we really won?' It was really crazy. To go through this year there was so much learning and adjusting, so adversity and to come out on top when we weren't even picked to win the tournament as the #1 seed. Going through it with these women and finding a way to come out on top every single time has been an amazing experience."

Rhode Island will await hearing its name called in a week's time during the Selection Sunday show which will air at 8 p.m. on ESPN.

"This one is special because it's never been done at our school." Reiss determined. "You can only be the first once. I told them, 'you've done something no one's done in 50 years.' That's incredible. When I came to Rhode Island the goal was to become a championship program, to vie for one every year. It's easy to get there once, sometimes twice. Sustained excellence and I don't think people recognize this; how hard it is in this landscape now. For seven years we've been fighting. Last year we took a step back, so this year is extremely satisfying. It's the first and only and I get to give them that feeling. They get to go dancing."

Atlantic 10 All-Championship Team

Kennedy Harris George Mason

Zahirah Walton George Mason

Brooklyn Gray Rhode Island

Sophia Vital Rhode Island

Albina Syla Rhode Island

Most Outstanding Player

Albina Syla Rhode Island