FAIRFAX, Va. – The Atlantic 10 has announced its preseason polls for the 2025-26 women's basketball season. Three Patriots have been named to preseason teams and the team is picked to finish second overall.

The reigning A-10 Champions are returning two of last year's starting five, redshirt junior Zahirah Walton and junior Kennedy Harris, both of who were named to the A-10 Preseason First Team. Graduate student Hawa Komara, who transferred from A-10 foe Rhode Island, was selected to the A-10 Preseason Second Team. Komara and Walton were also selected to the A-10 Preseason All-Defensive Team as well. 

Zahirah Walton built on her 2023-24 Rookie of the Year campaign to become one of the Atlantic 10's premier players in 2024-25, earning All-Defensive Team, All-Conference First Team, and A-10 Championship Most Outstanding Player honors. She started all 33 games for the Patriots, leading the team in points, free throws, and steals while averaging 14.8 points per game and finishing eighth in the league in scoring. Walton delivered consistent offensive production with 24 double-digit scoring games, including eight 20+ point outings and a career-high 30 points at Saint Louis. Her leadership and all-around play helped George Mason capture its first conference championship and NCAA Tournament appearance in program history.

Kennedy Harris made a major impact in her sophomore season, appearing in 27 games with 24 starts while averaging 13.9 points per game on 41.6% shooting. Despite missing time due to injury, she finished among the team's top three scorers and was twice named A-10 Player of the Week, also earning national recognition in the NCAA Starting Five for the week of Dec. 2. Harris posted 19 double-digit scoring games, including six performances with 20 or more points. She scored a career-high 29 points against Davidson on Jan. 22 and drained six three-pointers against George Washington just days later—tied for the second-most in a single game across the A-10. She also poured in 26 points against then-No. 10 Maryland and finished the year 12th in the conference in three-point shooting percentage.

Hawa Komara joins George Mason after four strong seasons (including a redshirt year) at Rhode Island, where she proved to be a consistent force in the paint. Last year, she averaged 7.2 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, leading the Rams in rebounding on 10 occasions and recording four double-doubles. Komara opened the year with 10 points and a team-high 13 rebounds in a season-opening win over Stonehill, marking her first career double-double. She went on to post standout performances throughout the season, including 13 points and eight rebounds at Princeton, 11 points and 11 boards against Davidson, and a career-high 14 points against George Mason. She capped the year with another double-double of 12 points and 12 rebounds versus Massachusetts, showcasing her versatility and ability to impact both ends of the floor. Komara finished the season ranked 7th in field goal percentage and 13th in rebounding in the A-10. 

The Patriots are coming off their most successful season in program history after winning the Atlantic 10 tournament and receiving a bid to the NCAA Tournament for the first time. They have been picked to finish second this season behind last year's regular season champions, the Richmond Spiders. Second is the highest the program has ever been picked in a preseason poll since joining the A-10 in 2013. 
 
George Mason open their 2025-26 season on November 3 at Temple University, and will host their home opener on November 10 vs Florida A&M. Their Atlantic 10 season begins on December 3 where they'll host Fordham at EagleBank Arena.

PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM

Charlise Dunn, Davidson
Kennedy Harris, George Mason
Zahirah Walton, George Mason
Maggie Doogan, Richmond
Rachel Ullstrom, Richmond
Mary-Anna Asare, VCU

PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM

Katie Donovan, Davidson
Hawa Komara, George Mason
Gabby Reynolds, George Washington
Brooklyn Gray, Rhode Island
Ally Sweeney, Richmond
Aleah Snead, Saint Joseph's

PRESEASON ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM

Charlise Dunn, Davidson
Hawa Komara, George Mason
Zahirah Walton, George Mason
Ines Debroise, Rhode Island
Aleah Snead, Saint Louis

Atlantic 10 Preseason Poll

1. Richmond (9) - 188 
2. George Mason (4) - 185 
3. Davidson (1) - 167 
4. Rhode Island - 137 
5. Dayton - 123 
6. Saint Joseph's - 120 
7. VCU - 110 
8. Duquesne - 95
9. Saint Louis - 86
10. George Washington - 75
11. Fordham - 63
12. La Salle - 56
13. Loyola Chicago - 43
14. St. Bonaventure - 22