The Tulane University Green Wave women’s basketball team made a hard-fought run this year in the 2025 American Athletic Conference Tournament. It displayed toughness and determination that had fans excited. Unfortunately, it ultimately fell to the University of South Florida in the quarterfinals, halting the season in its tracks.
The Wave, holding the No. 6 seed, opened their tournament campaign on March 9, 2025, at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, against the No. 11 seed Wichita State Shockers. Tulane emerged victorious with a 69-63 win, propelling them into a challenging matchup against the No. 3 seed University of South Florida Bulls.
Victoria Keenan, Tulane’s standout player on the day, was phenomenal against Wichita State. Matching up with them for the third time this season, Tulane was hoping to take the sweep, and that’s precisely what they did. Keenan scored a career-high 26 points, including five 3-pointers. In addition to a perfect performance from the free-throw line, her rebounding provided a secure win for Tulane.
However, the subsequent game on March 10 against USF presented a more formidable challenge. Despite a valiant effort, the Green Wave succumbed to the Bulls with a final score of 69-59. USF’s strong start in the first period, accelerated by a 14-0 run, set the tone for the uphill battle Tulane had to face. Despite Tulane’s attempts to close the gap, including a thrilling and-one from Kendall Sneed that briefly tied the game in the second quarter, it wasn’t enough. Tulane unfortunately fell to USF, and that concluded their season.
In this game, Kendall Sneed led Tulane with 18 points, while Sherese Pittman dropped a double-double of her own, scoring 11 points and securing 11 rebounds. However, these players’ efforts were insufficient to overcome USF’s lead, which they established early. They never allowed Tulane to get back in it.
Throughout the season and the tournament, Tulane showcased strong team stats, leading the conference in several defensive and offensive metrics. Their achievements included top rankings in field goal percentage and a significant presence in the conference’s top scorers and rebounders lists, which should not go unnoticed. Players like Pittman and Keenan made notable contributions all year and gave it their all for Tulane.
Despite the disappointment of an early exit, the Green Wave demonstrated significant progress under coach Ashley Langford in her inaugural season, achieving a winning record and multiple rounds of postseason play. The team’s performance in December, when they went undefeated, and their resilience in the AAC Tournament highlight a promising foundation for the next season.
Tulane’s journey in the 2025 AAC Championships reflects a team with potential and heart, ready and waiting to make Tulane a contender and a tournament staple. With key players set to return, the future looks bright for Tulane women’s basketball as they aim to go deeper into postseason play in the coming years.
