CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – The Virginia women’s basketball team was picked to finish seventh in the ACC when preseason honors were released Tuesday, the highest preseason projection for coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton’s squad in her four-year tenure.
“I was pretty happy with that,” Agugua-Hamilton said at her Media Day press conference Tuesday, “I know what we’re capable of. That pick, to me, is respect.”
Virginia is coming off a year where the ‘Hoos went 17-15 overall and 8-10 in league play increasing their win totals in each category over the previous two seasons. The postseason, namely the NCAA tournament, however, has still eluded Agugua-Hamilton.
Virginia has only played in the postseason once when they were invited to the Women’s Basketball Invitational Tournament (WBIT) in 2024. Agugua-Hamilton is bullish on this year’s roster being the one to get them over that hump. “I think we have a talented team. I think it’s the most talent we’ve had since I’ve been here,” said Mox, “A mature group, I think it’s a group that wants to win, wants to compete no matter what.”
The maturity comes from a blend of five returning players and seven transfers with collegiate basketball experience. The first order of business was getting the group to gel as a cohesive unit. “Bringing that group together was definitely a point of emphasis from the beginning,” Agugua-Hamilton said, “But it was like a seamless merge.”
The coach said team bonding activities and life skills programs allowed the team to come together and develop relationships off the court that translated to chemistry on it.
The team will once again turn to its local star to lead the 25-26 squad. Kymora Johnson has played just two seasons for the Cavaliers, but each has ended with a spot on the All-ACC team. Agugua-Hamilton has always been impressed with the talent from the third-year guard, but Johnson has also taken on the role of the team’s vocal leader.
“I think she’s just really matured in that role and is demanding more of herself and her teammates,” Agugua-Hamilton said.
She has also noticed improvements on the court, as well.
“Her shooting percentages, even in practice, have gone up,” Agugua-Hamilton said, “But I would say the biggest jump is defensively.”
Of the seven new additions brought in via the transfer portal, perhaps none were splashier than forward Sa’Myah Smith from LSU. Smith played for four-time national champion head coach Kim Mulkey in Baton Rouge and was a member of the All-SEC freshman team in 2023 playing in all 36 games for the title-winning Tigers that season.
“She has a skill set that I don’t think a lot of people have seen,” said Agugua-Hamilton, “She does have really nice touch from 15 feet, even stretching to the three some, but 15 feet, she can rip and drive from there. She’s a national champion, and I think there’s a lot to say for that.”
Optimism for 2025-26 may also stem from a well-known alum serving as a benefactor in Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian. In December of 2024, UVA announced Ohanian had contributed the largest financial gift in the program’s history to assist the Cavaliers in recruiting and retaining top-level talent.
“Obviously, the financial support was what everybody was kind of drawn to, but he’s just a positive guy,” said Agugua-Hamilton of the relationship her team has had with Ohanian.
The team regularly hears positive messages from the tech entrepreneur who is a champion and financial supporter of women’s sports across the country.
Heightened expectations also bring pressure to a coaching staff looking to make their mark on the ACC and compete in their first NCAA tournament at Virginia. Agugua-Hamilton is hoping to build on momentum of year-over-year improvement and make Virginia women’s basketball fans proud.
“Our fans have been really supportive since I first got here,” said Agugua-Hamilton. “I think we’re gonna have a fun group to watch, but I also think women’s basketball is on the rise and I just want us to be a part of that too.”
