WASHINGTON, D.C. – The George Mason women's basketball team was selected to finish fourth in the Atlantic 10 Conference preseason poll, the league announced Monday. Sophomore Mary Amoateng earned a spot on the Preseason All-Conference Second Team and Preseason All-Defensive Team, while junior Anovia Sheals was named to the Preseason All-Conference Third Team.
The preseason recognition comes on the heels of a historic 2025-26 campaign for the Patriots, who captured a share of their first-ever Atlantic 10 regular-season championship and advanced to the A-10 Championship game. George Mason returns 4 players from last year's squad while welcoming nine newcomers to the roster for the upcoming season.
Amoateng enters her sophomore season following an impressive freshman campaign that earned her a spot on the 2026 Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team and All-Defensive Team. The guard averaged 8.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.2 steals per game across 33 appearances in 2025-26. She reached double figures in scoring 12 times, including a career-high 17-point performance at Richmond. A disruptive presence on the defensive end, she recorded multiple steals in 22 games, including three or more steals on 12 occasions. She also shot 39.2 percent from beyond the arc and 77.7 percent from the free-throw line.
Sheals joins the Patriots after spending her first two collegiate seasons at Austin Peay, where she established herself as one of the ASUN Conference's top players. In 2025-26, the junior averaged 14.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 41.8 percent from the field. She reached double figures in scoring in 27 games and recorded three double-doubles. The transfer earned Second Team All-ASUN and ASUN All-Tournament Team honors in 2026 after being named the conference's Sixth Woman of the Year and earning a spot on the All-Freshman Team in 2025. Sheals also recorded at least one steal in 27 games last season, including multiple steals in 14 contests.
George Mason will open its 2026-27 home schedule with an exhibition matchup against Mount St. Mary's on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 2 p.m. The Patriots officially begin the regular season at home against Temple on Monday, Nov. 2, at 7 p.m.
