West Virginia women’s basketball is headed back to one of the sport’s marquee early-season stages.
The Mountaineers announced Wednesday on X that they have accepted an invitation to the Battle 4 Atlantis, a three-day event set for Nov. 24-26 at the Imperial Arena at the Atlantis Paradise Island Resort in the Bahamas. West Virginia will join Notre Dame, Florida and Davidson in the field, with matchups and tip times to be announced later.
“Spending another Thanksgiving in The Bahamas! 🌴We can't wait to be a part of this year's Battle 4 Atlantis! #HailWV | @B4AOfficial pic.twitter.com/YSu38rWNwd”
The trip gives West Virginia another shot at a national showcase after one of the most successful seasons in program history and now with the added spotlight of being the defending Big 12 Tournament champions. It also brings a familiar challenge in Notre Dame, another team that reached the NCAA Tournament last season and spent plenty of time in the rankings.
That potential meeting would be a strong early gauge for the Mountaineers. Notre Dame advanced to the Elite Eight, while West Virginia exited in the Round of 32.
Florida and Davidson round out the field, though neither has had postseason success in recent memory. Florida’s last NCAA Tournament appearance came in 2021.
The Mountaineers are no strangers to the Bahamas. They played in the Baha Mar Hoops Pink Flamingo last season and went 1-1, beating McNeese State 83-63 before dropping an 83-81 game against Ohio State.
This year’s West Virginia roster is expected to look dramatically different in 2026. Redshirt senior Gia Cooke, last season’s leading scorer, is the only returning starter for Mark Kellogg’s team. Even so, the expectations around the program remain high.
Kellogg has leaned heavily on the transfer portal, and the Mountaineers have made it clear they intend to stay in the Big 12 mix while they retool. Skylar Forbes, a transfer from Marquette, and Zahirah Walton, who arrived from George Mason, add more scoring punch. Duquesne transfer Alexis Bordas, a West Virginia native from Wheeling, brings four years of eligibility and a reputation as a three-point shooter.
There’s a real chance the offense ends up sharper and more efficient than it was a year ago. If that happens, and the defense continues to carry Kellogg’s usual edge, West Virginia could be in position to chase another Big 12 title.
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The most encouraging part for the fan base is how broad the progress felt. Volleyball reached .500 for the first time in a few years, baseball made a deep postseason run, and the womens basketball team paired its Big 12 tournament title with a strong spring that had the program hosting an NCAA Tournament game. Even with football still trying to find steadier footing after Rich Rodriguezs first season back ended 4-8, the bigger picture around WVU athletics looks different than it has in years, and that alone has changed the mood around Morgantown. [Read more 🡒]