Congratulating the University of Rhode Island Women's Basketball Team on Winning the 2026 Atlantic 10 Conference Championship Tournament and Earning a Berth in the 2026 Ncaa Women's Basketball Tournament

WHEREAS, The University of Rhode Island Women's Basketball team had a historic 2025-2026 season, one that includes an outstanding overall record of 28-4, a 16-2 conference record that was only matched by George Mason University, and which culminated with a victory in the 20 Atlantic 1 Conference Championship Tournament and the program's second-ever trip to the Women's NCAA Tournament; and

WHEREAS, In the Atlantic 1 Tournament, the Rams dispatched Loyola of Chicago in the first round by seven points and defeated Davidson by nine points in the semifinals to set up a championship match against George Mason for the title. In a hard-fought game, George Mason jumped out to the early lead, 15-7 at the end of the first quarter and at one point in the second quarter, led by double-digits. The Rams proceeded to stage a furious rally, and only trailed by point at the half. The Rams jumped out to a seven point lead in the third quarter, and then played ferocious defense the rest of the game to cling to a slim lead and pull out a 53-51 victory thanks in large part to the stellar play by the Rams Albina Syla, named Most Outstanding Player of the Atlantic 1 Conference Tournament and her fellow Atlantic 1 All-Championship teammates, Brooklyn Gray and Sophia Vital; and

WHEREAS, The Rams squad was led all season by the outstanding play by stellar Senior Guard Brooklyn Gray, who earned Atlantic 1 All-Conference First Team honors and All- Academic honors, while leading the team in points scored and points per game. She also shot an incredible 91.3 percent from the free-throw line. Other key contributors to the Rams outstanding season include Sophomore Center Albina Syla who led the Rams in rebounding, Junior Guard Sophia Vital who earned All-Second Team Atlantic 10 honors, Senior Forward Palmire Mbu, who was second on the Rams squad in scoring and rebounding and earned All-Third Team Atlantic 10 honors, Senior Guard Ines Debroise, who earned All-Defensive Team Atlantic honors, and Freshman Guard Vanessa Harris who earned All-Rookie Team honors and the Sixth Woman of the Year Award from the Atlantic 1 Conference; and

WHEREAS, The Rams were blessed to be led all season by the stellar coaching and superb leadership provided by Head Coach Tammi Reiss, Atlantic 1 Coach of the Year Award Winner. Ms. Reiss played basketball at the University of Virginia and in the WNBA, and since becoming the Rams Head Coach in 2019, she has enjoyed four seasons of 20 or more wins, tied for first twice in the Atlantic 10 regular season, participated in two WNIT Tournaments, and this season won the Atlantic 1 Conference Tournament Championship, and a berth in the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby heartily congratulates the University of Rhode Island Women's Basketball Team on the outstanding success of their 2025-2026 season, which includes the incredible achievement of winning the 20 Atlantic 1 Women's Conference Tournament and earning a place in the 20 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Tammi Reiss, Head Coach of the University of Rhode Island Women's Basketball Team.