One of Army’s greatest women’s basketball seasons ended on Monday. Despite leading for much of the game, the Black Knight offense went cold in the fourth quarter. A four‑point lead became a 17‑point loss as Marshall held Army scoreless for the entire fourth quarter in an 82–65 defeat. Although the Black Knights finished a few wins from playing for the WNIT title, the program has much to look forward to as it heads into the 2026–27 season.
— Army Women's Basketball (@ArmyWP_WBB) March 31, 2026
Guard Reece Ericson finished a strong Army career with a team‑high 15 points, while Taylor Wilson and Kya Smith also reached double figures. Army lived by the three‑pointer early, making 50% of its 20 attempts through three quarters. That shooting propelled Army to a 44–37 halftime lead and a 65–61 lead after the third quarter. Unfortunately, that lead died by the three late. The team missed all thirteen of its fourth quarter attempts and all 18 of its shots from the field in that same quarter.
This young team can only grow from this collapse. Though it comes as a tough lesson, this experience shows the Black Knights the importance of effective shot selection. Army pressed when they fell behind and took poor shots. As they fell further behind, the problem worsened.
The WNIT provides critical big-game experiences as well as several extra, postseason practices, and the Black Knights may have had a moment of growth in this experience that could save them heartache in the Patriot League Tournament next year. That may be just as valuable as winning this tournament outright.
Army’s 0–18 fourth‑quarter shooting grabs everyone’s attention, but Marshall deserves credit for neutralizing Kya Smith in the paint. The Black Knights’ most proficient rebounder collected only five boards. This contributed to Army scoring just eight second‑chance points. Marshall had 26 offensive rebounds to the Black Knights’ 11. This rebounding discrepancy proved just as catastrophic as the Black Knights’ fourth‑quarter shooting.
This award is named in honor of the late Maggie Dixon, who in her inaugural season as Army's head coach, led the Black Knights to the 2006 Patriot League title and their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division I Tournament.https://t.co/Nl8EQ8c024
— Army Women's Basketball (@ArmyWP_WBB) April 1, 2026
Army’s prolific season is now complete. Although it did not end in a Patriot League championship or a WNIT title, Coach Katie Kuester has laid a firm foundation. Army has a consistent winning culture and stability that set it apart from other mid‑majors in the NIL era.
The Black Knights will enter the 2026–27 season with one of the most experienced teams in the country. There is plenty for fans to be excited about after this WNIT run, but also lofty expectations for the program to meet. While it is easy to look ahead, this Black Knights women’s basketball team cemented itself as one of the greatest in program history. The 2025–26 season may prove to be a turning point for the program.
Go Army!
