MARLBOROUGH, Mass. – With the conclusion of the women's basketball regular season on Saturday evening, defending NEWMAC Champions Smith College clinched the top seed in the 2026 NEWMAC Women’s Basketball Championship. The NEWMAC Women’s Basketball Championship consists of eight teams that will compete for the crown, which will begin on Wednesday, February 25, with the quarterfinal round.
Smith (11-0) will host the eighth-seeded Emerson College (5-6) on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. Smith’s Virginia Johnson averages 12.3 points per game to lead the Bears. Emerson’s Bri Frongillo is third in the league in scoring at 19.1 points per game.
Babson College (9-2) claimed the second seed and will host seventh-seeded Coast Guard (5-6) on Wednesday. Babson is led by Emily Flynn, who averages 15.1 points per game. Coast Guard’s Dorothy Stotts is an offensive threat of her own, as she is currently second in the NEWMAC in scoring with 20.2 points per game.
Clark University (8-3) takes the third seed and will host cross-town rival WPI on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. Clark’s Cyriah Coleman averages 12.9 points per game to lead the Cougars. Ava Giansiracusa is the top threat for the Engineers, averaging 12.2 points per game.
MIT (8-3) claims the fourth seed and has seen strong play from newcomer Ruth Lanouette, who averages 13.2 points per game. The Engineers will host the fifth-seeded Springfield College (6-5), which has three players averaging double-figures in scoring, led by Natalie Lucas’ 13.0 points per game.
On Friday, February 27, the winner of the No. 5 and No. 4 matchup will take on the winner of the No. 1 and No. 8 battle, while the winner of No. 3 and No. 6 will advance to play the winner of No. 2 and No. 7.
The semifinal winners will then compete for the NEWMAC title on Sunday, March 1.
Tickets for NEWMAC championship events can be purchased through the NEWMAC box office. The NEWMAC encourages fans to purchase their mobile tickets in advance of the event to streamline the entry process on game day. Spectators may purchase mobile tickets on site, but no cash option will be available. Ticket prices are $10 for general admission. Children under 12 and NEWMAC students with a valid institutional ID are free and do not need to purchase a mobile ticket. Once a matchup is confirmed following each round of the championship, the tickets will become available.
All rounds of the 2026 NEWMAC Women’s Basketball Championship will be streamed live on FloSports. SIGN UP HERE.
2026 NEWMAC Women's Basketball Championship
1. Smith (11-0)
2. Babson (9-2)
3. Clark (8-3)
4. MIT (8-3)
5. Springfield (6-5)
6. WPI (6-5)
7. Coast Guard (5-6)
8. Emerson (5-6)
Quarterfinals: Wednesday, February 25 (at highest seeds)
No. 8 Emerson at No. 1 Smith – 7:00 p.m.
No. 7 Coast Guard at No. 2 Babson – 7:00 p.m.
No. 6 WPI at No. 3 Clark – 7:00 p.m.
No. 5 Springfield at No. 4 MIT - 7:00 p.m.
Semifinals: Friday, February 27 (at highest remaining seed)
Winner No. 4/5 vs. Winner No. 1/8 – TBD
Winner No. 3/6 vs. Winner No. 2/7 – TBD
Championship: Sunday, March 1 (at highest remaining seed)
Semifinal Winners – TBD
About the NEWMAC
The NEWMAC is an association of 12 selective academic institutions: Babson College, Clark University, U.S Coast Guard Academy, Emerson College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mount Holyoke College, Salve Regina University, Smith College, Springfield College, Wellesley College, Wheaton College, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute, that are committed to providing high quality competitive athletic opportunities for student-athletes within an educational and respectful environment that embodies the NCAA Division III Philosophy. The conference also partners with eight Associate Members: Brandeis University (Women's Lacrosse, 2026-2027), New York University (Men's Volleyball, 2026-2027), Norwich University (Football), Simmons College (Rowing), SUNY Maritime College (Football), SUNY New Paltz (Men's Volleyball, 2026-2027), U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (Football), and Vassar College (Men's Volleyball, 2026-2027), while sponsoring 20 sports.