It is a weird time to be a college basketball fan in Northern Virginia. For years, the conversation around Fairfax was basically a loop of "remember 2006?" in reference to the men's Final Four run. But if you’ve been paying any attention to EagleBank Arena lately, the energy has shifted. The loudest cheers aren't for nostalgia. They’re for a group that is currently dismantling the Atlantic 10. George Mason womens basketball isn't just "good for a mid-major" anymore. Honestly, they’ve become the team nobody wants to see on their January calendar.
Let’s look at the reality of right now. As of mid-January 2026, the Patriots are sitting at an 11-6 overall record, which might look "fine" on paper until you see the 6-0 conference start. They just gutted out a 59-54 win against Loyola Chicago on January 14. Before that, they went into D.C. and handled George Washington 59-46.
This isn't a fluke. It's a continuation of a massive cultural overhaul led by Vanessa Blair-Lewis.
The Vanessa Blair-Lewis Effect: More Than Just X's and O's
People talk about "culture" in sports like it’s some magical dust you sprinkle on a locker room. It’s not. It’s a grueling, years-long process of convincing players that losing isn't an option. When Blair-Lewis took over in 2021, she inherited a program that won exactly zero conference games the year before. Zero.
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Fast forward to the 2024-25 season: 27 wins, a program record. Their first-ever Atlantic 10 Championship. Their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance.
The school saw the writing on the wall and locked her down with a contract extension through 2029-30. It was probably the easiest decision the athletic department has made in a decade. You don't let a coach who triples a win total in one year just walk away.
Who is Actually Doing the Damage?
If you're watching George Mason womens basketball this season, you're seeing the "Zahirah Walton Show" on a nightly basis. There is no other way to put it. Walton is a problem for opposing coaches. Against Loyola Chicago, she dropped 25 points. Against GW, she had 23.
She isn't just a volume shooter, either. She’s efficient. She’s hitting roughly 50% of her field goals and living at the free-throw line. In that Loyola game, she went 10-for-11 from the stripe. That’s how you close out games.
The Supporting Cast
- Kennedy Harris: A junior guard who basically defines the "Patriot Way." She’s averaging double digits and hit a massive three against Loyola to keep the momentum from swinging.
- Mary Amoateng: The freshman. Usually, freshmen at this level are just trying to find the bathroom, but Amoateng is different. She had 12 points and 3 steals against GW. She’s playing with a level of confidence that usually takes three years to develop.
- Louis Volker: She’s the glue. She grabbed 9 rebounds in the last outing and hit an early three-pointer that set the tone for an 8-0 opening run.
The Identity: Defense and "Grit"
This team doesn't necessarily care if they shoot 36% from the field. They just won a game where they shot exactly that. How? By making the other team's life a living nightmare.
They forced 24 turnovers against George Washington. 24. That’s basically a turnover every other minute. They thrive on what they call "Patriot Points"—points off turnovers and second-chance opportunities. Against GW, those 24 turnovers turned into 21 points. That is the margin of victory right there.
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They are currently tied at the top of the A-10 standings with Rhode Island, both sitting at 6-0. It’s a collision course.
What People Get Wrong About the 11-6 Record
It’s easy to look at six losses and think this team took a step back from last year’s 27-win squad. That is a mistake.
The non-conference schedule was intentionally brutal. They played #25 Princeton in December and lost a 71-69 heartbreaker. They played Maryland and kept it within 10 points. Blair-Lewis scheduled these games because she knew the A-10 was going to be a dogfight, and she wanted her team battle-hardened.
The strategy worked. They haven't lost a game since the calendar turned to 2026.
The Road Ahead: The Schedule That Matters
The next few weeks are going to decide if George Mason repeats as conference champions or if they're just a "good" team that got hot early.
- January 18 at Saint Joseph's: This is the big one. It’s on CBS Sports Network. Saint Joseph's is always a tough out in Philly, and they’ll be looking to knock the Patriots off their 6-0 pedestal.
- January 25 vs. Richmond: A regional rivalry that always gets spicy. Richmond is currently 5-1 in the conference, right on Mason’s heels.
- January 31 vs. Saint Louis: Another 2025 postseason rematch.
Is EagleBank Arena Finally a Fortress?
For a long time, the atmosphere at Mason games was... polite. That’s changing. The "Patriot Platoon" student section is actually showing up. When you have a team that plays this hard on defense, it feeds the crowd. There is something infectious about watching a guard like Mary Amoateng dive for a loose ball or Zahirah Walton block a shot into the third row.
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If you’re planning on going to a game, get there early. The Green and Gold are starting to draw real crowds, and for the first time in a long time, the women’s team is the primary ticket in Fairfax.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you are following George Mason womens basketball or looking to bet/analyze their trajectory, keep these factors in mind:
- Watch the Free Throw Line: Mason is currently elite at drawing fouls and converting. In close games, their 90%+ team shooting from the line (like they showed against Loyola) is a massive statistical advantage.
- The Rebound Margin: They struggled a bit on the glass against Loyola (even at 30-30). If they get out-rebounded by more than 5, they tend to struggle because they rely so heavily on second-chance "hustle" points.
- Amoateng’s Growth: Keep an eye on the freshman's minutes. As she becomes more integrated into the starting rotation, the Patriots' ceiling goes up significantly.
The era of George Mason being a "sleeping giant" is over. They’re awake, they’re 6-0 in the A-10, and they’re looking for another ring.
Next Steps for You: Check the Atlantic 10 standings tonight to see if Rhode Island slips up, and make sure to tune into CBS Sports Network this Sunday at 2 p.m. to see if the Patriots can keep the streak alive in Philadelphia. If you're local, tickets for the Richmond game on the 25th are already moving fast, so grab those sooner rather than later.