Monday morning marked the first women’s basketball practice for the 2025-26 season head coach Tricia Cullop prepares for her second season at the helm.
Cullop, who spent 16 years at Toledo, was named the eighth women’s basketball coach at Miami on April 5, 2024, replacing long-time head coach Katie Meier. Meier, the winningest head coach in Hurricanes women’s basketball, retired in March of 2024 after 19 seasons at UM.
In Cullop’s first year at UM, the team finished 14-15. With a plethora of new transfers and freshman in her second season, the team looks to return to its 2023 form in which the Hurricanes reached the Elite 8.
Cullop is training her team on the importance of emotional intelligence, and how to be mentally tough.
She talked about their practice schedule, resetting the standard to reach the goals they want. She encourages the players to build chemistry outside the basketball court by participating in community service events and holding cooking classes to encourage team bonding.
Collup also mentioned how the success of Miami football has put more media attention on the athletics program as a whole, including women’s basketball.
With all eyes on the Hurricanes, the team has an opportunity to make their own waves — hoping to surge up into the top 25 for the first time since the 2023-24 season.
The team seems to be in good spirits, ready to play their best basketball games this season.
While the men’s basketball team is a completely new roster, the women’s team managed to do one better – returning one player from their 2024-25 roster
Ahnay Adams, the only returning student-athlete from the 2024-25 season, spoke on her role as a leader for the new-look team.
“By showing up, working hard, and leading by example, it isn’t hard for others to follow when they see me leading by example,” said Adams.
She wants to play fast and competitive in every game, and like the men’s team she claims the women’s team is also inspired by the Miami Hurricanes football team being ranked No.2 in the country.
In what’s shaping up to be a stellar season for Miami athletics as a whole, the women’s basketball team is doing their best to make sure they’re part of the story.
Miami women’s basketball team will play its first game of the season on Nov. 3 against the Hofstra Pride. Tip-off at the Watsco Center is set for 5 p.m.