It was not the postseason that Columbia University women’s basketball was expecting, but it was glorious, nonetheless. Heartbreaking losses to Harvard in the final conference game and again in the Ivy League Tournament left the Lions without another Ivy League title or a third trip to the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Tournament. Seniors Susie Rafiu and Perri Page wanted to go out strong, and on April 1, they did, achieving their 100th win as Columbia Lions.
An invitation to the WBIT, a 32-team tournament in its third year produced by the NCAA, provided Columbia hoops an opportunity to start fresh, be motivated and end the 2025-26 season on a high note. The team moved through each round with focus and determination, and in the end, the Lions hoisted the trophy in Charles Koch Arena in Wichita, Kansas, as 2026 WBIT Champions. Dominant throughout the tournament’s five rounds, despite playing without injured guards Marija Avlijas and Fliss Henderson.
“Our two seniors, Perri and Susie, completely made up their minds [to win the WBIT] when we lost in the Ivy League Tournament semifinal game, and without their leadership, we could not be here,” said Columbia head coach Megan Griffith. “To turn the page and embark on a new mission, I couldn’t say enough about who the two of them have become.”
The injuries to Avlijas and Henderson provided an opportunity for sophomore guard Mia Broom to step into the starting lineup. Having averaged 8.2 points per game over the season, Broom poured in a team-high 23 points in the WBIT championship win over BYU. “I got a lot of confidence from my players, especially Marija and Fliss, helping me throughout the entire tournament,” said Broom. “I learned that I’m a tough player also, and I need how to learn how to take care of the ball a little bit better.”
Junior guard Riley Weiss, Ivy League Player of the Year, shook off nerves and showed throughout the WBIT why she has received All-America honorable mention. She had 20 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and two steals in the championship game. “Really proud of this group for turning that page and honestly dominating in the WBIT,” said Weiss. “The Ivy League has a lot of great talent and great teams that play really high-level basketball. It’s nice that we get to show that in the postseason and bring home a championship.”