Cavaliers Honor Coaching Legend With Upset Win

UVA women's basketball team defeats Notre Dame in front of appreciative crowd celebrating Debbie Ryan's legacy.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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The University of Virginia women's basketball team defeated ACC rival Notre Dame 81-70 on Sunday, delivering an impressive victory that honored the legacy of former head coach Debbie Ryan. The game was part of a weekend celebration of Ryan's illustrious 34-year career leading the Cavaliers program, which included 24 NCAA tournament appearances and three Final Four berths. Current head coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton praised the team's aggressive play and the inspiration provided by Ryan's former players, who encouraged the current squad to have "that dog mentality."

Why it matters

The win over a highly ranked Notre Dame team was a significant accomplishment for the current Cavaliers squad, which is looking to return to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2017-18. The victory also served as a fitting tribute to Ryan, whose banner was raised to the rafters at John Paul Jones Arena in recognition of her legendary career and lasting impact on the UVA women's basketball program.

The details

The Cavaliers employed a stifling zone defense that forced 19 Notre Dame turnovers, leading to 22 points off those mistakes. Junior guard Kymora Johnson had a game-high 29 points, while senior guard Paris Clark added 15 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 steals. UVA led by just one point after the first quarter but took the lead for good on a jumper by center Tabitha Amanze early in the second quarter. Amanze finished with 14 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals.

  • The game was played on Sunday, February 10, 2026.
  • Ryan's banner was raised to the rafters at halftime.

The players

Debbie Ryan

A former head coach of the UVA women's basketball team for 34 seasons from 1977-78 to 2010-11, leading the program to 24 NCAA tournament appearances and three Final Four berths. She was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008 and now works in fundraising for UVA Athletics.

Amaka Agugua-Hamilton

The current head coach of the UVA women's basketball team, who is in her fourth season leading the Cavaliers.

Kymora Johnson

A junior guard for the UVA women's basketball team, who scored a game-high 29 points in the win over Notre Dame.

Paris Clark

A senior guard for the UVA women's basketball team, who scored 15 points and had 8 rebounds and 3 steals in the victory.

Tabitha Amanze

A center for the UVA women's basketball team, who had 14 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals in the game.

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What they’re saying

“Debbie's done so much for this place. Her name is synonymous with UVA women's basketball. And just about 99% of those [women's basketball] banners up there, she was a part of and led the charge.”

— Amaka Agugua-Hamilton, Head Coach, UVA Women's Basketball (virginianreview.com)

“They kind of added some fuel to our fire. They talked to our players and just gave them extra boosts, too, and it's great to be around those that wore the same jersey as them and are hanging in the rafters and take so much pride in this school, because that's how they're going to be, too, when they leave their legacy.”

— Amaka Agugua-Hamilton, Head Coach, UVA Women's Basketball (virginianreview.com)

“So we came out and we knew had to lead our team, and I think we did just that today.”

— Kymora Johnson, Junior Guard, UVA Women's Basketball (virginianreview.com)

What’s next

The Cavaliers will look to build on this signature win as they continue their push for an NCAA tournament berth, with three straight road games coming up against California, Stanford, and Louisville.

The takeaway

The Cavaliers' upset victory over Notre Dame not only honored the legacy of coaching legend Debbie Ryan, but also demonstrated the team's potential to make a deep postseason run. The aggressive, team-first performance highlighted the growth and confidence of the current UVA squad as they aim to return the program to the NCAA tournament for the first time in nearly a decade.