CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – As both seasons get underway, two Virginia basketball stars were named to a pair of preseason award watchlists.
The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, along with the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association, announced that Virginia women’s basketball guard Kymora Johnson is up for the Nancy Lieberman Award, given every year to the nation’s best point guard.
After entering the transfer portal following Virginia’s exit in the Sweet Sixteen of the 2026 NCAA Tournament, the Charlottesville native is returning to Grounds to lead the line for Coach Aaron Roussell’s new-look Virginia Cavaliers.
The Hall of Fame also shared that Chance Mallory is up for the Bob Cousy Award, given to the top point guard in men’s basketball.
Fellow St. Anne’s Belfield product and Charlottesville native Mallory burst on the scene last season averaging 9.3 points in 36 games played.
The men’s team will open its season Nov. 3 against Drexel at 7:30 p.m. from John Paul Jones Arena, and the women’s squad start its campaign Monday Nov. 2 against Maryland Eastern Shore at John Paul Jones Arena.
Soccer
The Clemson Tigers struck early at Klockner Stadium against the Virginia women’s soccer team on Thursday night, with steady pressure on the Cavalier back line resulting in the opening goal for the visitors in the 44th minute.
Virginia regrouped in the second half and peppered the Clemson goal with 11 shots until Addison Halpern, with seven seconds left in regulation, hammered the ball into the back of the net to salvage a draw for the home team.
One regular season contest remains for Virginia, as it faces the Louisville Cardinals Thursday night at 6 p.m.
The Virginia men’s soccer team was in Syracuse on Saturday, and Sami Oulouheu thundered the Hoos ahead after seventeen minutes of the match had passed. The lead did not hold forever. Bryson Rodriguez answered moments before halftime for the Orange, scoring what turned out to be the final goal of the contest. The ACC foes shared the points as the match finished 1-1.
The Cavaliers will finish their regular season on Friday evening at 6 p.m. at Klockner Stadium against the Pittsburgh Panthers.
Field Hockey
Both the Virginia Cavaliers and the Louisville Cardinals put on a defensive clinic for the fans assembled on Grounds to watch the final home field hockey matchup of the regular season.
Virginia’s offense created plenty of opportunities, taking sixteen shots on Louisville keeper Emily Young. The senior made eight saves against the Cavalier attack through the four periods of regulation and two overtime periods.
The two teams could not be separated by anything other than a shootout, and Young’s final two saves saw the Cardinals victorious over the Hoos on the road.
Despite the bittersweet result, the program’s seniors were honored on the field after the game. Ria Chhina, Mia Abello, Cassidy Thibodeau, Nilou Lempers, Emma Watchilla, Emma Giesting and Charlie Webb were recognized for their contributions to the program.
Virginia plays at the ACC Championship next week in Cary, North Carolina beginning on Nov. 3.
Volleyball
Volleyball took a trip to the Northeast over the weekend beginning in New York facing Syracuse on Friday. The Hoos started strong in set one, powered by Reese Wuebker’s five kills, they took a 25-18 victory to start the match. The Orange battled back and took the next three tightly contested sets sending the Hoos packing in New York 3-1.
Sunday against Boston College did not start as well, with the Eagles jumping out to a 2-0 lead. In set three however, Caroline Lang’s four blocks kept the Cavaliers in it, and ensured they could cut the lead in half, 2-1. The Eagles took control of the momentum quickly in the fourth set, and completed the victory in the end, winning 3-1.
Two Florida teams come to Grounds this weekend, as the Hoos will face Miami at John Paul Jones Arena Friday night at 7 p.m., before taking on Florida State at Memorial Gymnasium Sunday 1 p.m.
