Brown Women's Fencing Competes at Ivy League Championships

Bears secure 14-13 win over Cornell on day one of competition

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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The Brown women's fencing team went 1-3 on the first day of the 2026 Ivy League Championships, defeating Cornell 14-13 but falling to top-seeded Columbia, third-seeded Harvard, and host Princeton.

Why it matters

The Ivy League Championships are a prestigious annual event that showcases the top collegiate fencing programs in the Northeast. Brown's performance on day one provides an early indication of the team's competitiveness against its conference rivals.

The details

In sabre, Ibla Vadasz led Brown with a 5-6 record, while Soph Bililies finished 3-5. In foil, Jessie Chen posted a 5-7 mark, and in epee, Dasha Smuk registered a 4-4 record. The Bears' lone victory came against fifth-seeded Cornell in a close 14-13 match.

  • The 2026 Ivy League Championships took place on February 7-8, 2026.
  • Day one of the championships was on Saturday, February 7, 2026.

The players

Ibla Vadasz

A member of the Brown women's fencing team who competed in the sabre event.

Jessie Chen

A member of the Brown women's fencing team who competed in the foil event.

Dasha Smuk

A member of the Brown women's fencing team who competed in the epee event.

Columbia

The top-seeded team in the 2026 Ivy League Championships, which defeated Brown 24-3.

Cornell

The fifth-seeded team in the 2026 Ivy League Championships, which Brown defeated 14-13.

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What’s next

The Bears will conclude the 2026 Ivy League Championships on Sunday, February 8, 2026, taking on fourth-seeded Yale at 9 a.m. and sixth-seeded Penn at 10:30 a.m.

The takeaway

Despite the losses to top-ranked opponents, Brown's narrow victory over Cornell demonstrates the team's competitiveness and potential to make a strong showing on the second day of the Ivy League Championships.